Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS)
Alex Vancina serves as the Technology & Metadata Services Manager at Helen Plum Library, a position held since December 2017, and has also fulfilled roles as IT & Technical Services Manager and IT Services Manager. As of July 2020, Alex is the Past President of the Board of Directors for the Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS), with re-election set for a new three-year term beginning July 2023. Additionally, since June 2019, Alex has been the President of the Board of Trustees for the New Lenox Public Library District, transitioning from Vice President during the 2021-2023 term. Previous experience includes serving as IT Manager at the New Lenox Public Library District and various roles at the Manhattan-Elwood Public Library District, where technology management was a key responsibility. Alex's educational background includes a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from San Jose State University and a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Information Systems from DeVry University.
This person is not in the org chart
This person is not in any teams
Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS)
RAILS provides delivery service to support Illinois' vast interlibrary loan program and technology support for more than 600 libraries' shared online catalogs. Our services include continuing education and consulting resources to library employees and trustees, as well as e-book services, group purchases, and vendor discounts. We serve approximately 1300 private, public, school, and university library members, which have a total of more than 4200 library facilities in a 27,000 square mile area. Although the city of Chicago is within our boundaries, and a number of our member libraries are located in Chicago, the Chicago Public Library constitutes a separate library system. Members have several opportunities to network with each other through email lists, networking groups, member updates, and at networking events. We are governed by a Board of Directors, elected by member libraries. Library systems are established by state law (75 ILCS 10/, the Illinois Library System Act). Funding for Illinois Library Systems is provided through the Illinois State Library and the Secretary of State, with funds appropriated by the Illinois General Assembly. RAILS was formed in 2011, from a merger of the Alliance, DuPage, Metropolitan, North Suburban, and Prairie Area library systems. --- Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS) is a government agency that provides delivery, shared catalogs, resource sharing, CE, and communication services to all types of libraries in northern and west-central Illinois.