Michael Piper Named Interim Executive Director of Merged Library System

Michael Piper was named Interim Executive Director of the Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS). The RAILS Board of Directors voted unanimously to appoint Piper to the position effective July 1.

Piper, previously the Executive Director of the Prairie Area Library System (PALS), holds an MLS in Library Management from the University of California, Los Angeles and has more than 20 years of library management experience. Prior to his tenure at PALS, Piper served as Executive Director of the Indiana Cooperative Library Services Authority (INCOLSA), where he directed a 750 member statewide, multi-type library cooperative.

“The RAILS Board looks forward to working with Michael Piper to advance library system services throughout the RAILS service area,” said John Chrastka, President of the RAILS Board of Directors. “Piper has been actively involved in the intricacies of the recent merger of five northern and central library systems and is a tremendous asset to the organization."

“I am honored to accept this invitation to serve,” said Piper. “I look forward to working with the Board, with our members, and with my RAILS teammates to build a winning operation that yields outstanding results for our clients,” he added.

RAILS was formed on July 1, 2011 with the consolidation of five library systems: Alliance Library System (ALS), DuPage Library System (DLS), Metropolitan Library System (MLS), North Suburban Library System (NSLS), and Prairie Area Library System (PALS).

The Reaching Across Illinois Library System provides services to all types of libraries in northern and central Illinois in three areas of concentration: van delivery, LLSAPs (electronic catalogs) and Talking Book Services. The system serves more than 1500 public, private, university, and school library members, representing more than 3,700 libraries in a 27,000 square mile area.