The Illinois Library Association (ILA) will sponsor a raffle at this year’s Annual Conference, which will be held at Chicago’s Navy Pier, September 23-26. The drawing will be held during the ILA Membership Meeting on Thursday, September 25 at 4:45 p.m. Winners need not be present.

The raffle will feature two prizes:

• A 92” x 92” quilt (large enough for a queen-sized bed) created by Nann Blaine Hilyard, of the Zion-Benton Library District. The quilt block is "Drinking Gourd," a reference to the folk song about the Underground Railroad, “Follow the Drinking Gourd" (meaning the Big Dipper).
• A gift certificate for two nights stay at the Chicago City Centre Hotel and Sports Club, with breakfast for two each morning and a $100 American Express Gift Check.

The cost of tickets is $5 for one or $25 for 6. Tickets may be purchased the Reaching Forward Conference for Library Assistants, May 9 in Rosemont and during the 2008 ILA Annual Conference, September 23-26, Chicago, Navy Pier.