Reaching Forward Forum (RF)

Our mission is to provide professional opportunities for library staff to grow, learn, and connect with new ideas.

Reaching Forward Forum Reports

News

Reaching Forward Call for 2021 Virtual Conference Program Proposals
September 16, 2020
The Reaching Forward Committee invites you to submit a program proposal for its first virtual conference on Friday, May 7, 2021. While we won’t be able to meet in-person in 2021, the committee strongly believes we need to be together, even if t…
Forum Spotlight from the ILA Alert
September 26, 2019
The Reaching Forward Forum is working to plan and implement the Reaching Forward library staff development conference for May 2020 and has just begun meeting to consider the first batch of program submissions. Now going strong in its 31st y…
Reaching Forward: Thirty Years Strong... and Counting!
December 12, 2018
The December 2018 issue of the ILA Reporter features an article on the 30-year history of Reaching Forward, written by Heidi Knuth, Bloomingdale Public Library/Reaching Forward Co-Chair.

More news »

Events

  1. Sep 17 2021

    Reaching Forward Meeting

    Friday, Sep 17, 2021 10:00am–11:30am

    Zoom Meeting

More events »

2021 Reaching Forward Award Winners

Robert P. Doyle 
ILA Conference Grant

Aaron Bryant,
Chicago Public Library

Oberman and Rich Reaching Forward Conference Grant

Adrian Clark,
Calumet City Public Library

Oberman and Rich Reaching Forward Conference Grant

Christine Steck,
St. Charles Public Library 

Selection Process: The deadline to submit a 2022 nomination is March 31, 2022. Nominations will open in January 2022. You may submit nominations for yourself or for a colleague. A panel of judges from the Reaching Forward Committee will be responsible for choosing the recipients. 

Forum Leadership

  1. Joy Lang Joy Lang, Manager Adult Services Associate at Joliet Public Library
    Term ends 06/30/2022
  2. Karolyn Nance Karolyn Nance, Board liaison Director at Bartlett Public Library District
    Term ends 06/30/2022
  3. Darnetta Bolton Darnetta Bolton, Member Youth Services Reference Librarian at Orland Park Public Library
    Term ends 06/30/2022
  4. Diana Wence Diana Wence, Member Librarian at Highwood Public Library
    Term ends 06/30/2022
  5. Fallon White Fallon White, Member Chicago Public Library
    Term ends 06/30/2022
  6. Kristin Anderson Kristin Anderson, Member Lewis University Library
    Term ends 06/30/2022
  7. Lynn Krambeer Lynn Krambeer, Member Lake Forest Library
    Term ends 06/30/2023
  8. Maurice Thomas Jr. Maurice Thomas Jr., Member Librarian IV at Chicago Public Library
    Term ends 06/30/2022
  9. Rosie M Camargo Rosie M Camargo, Member Youth Services Desk Assistant at Niles-Maine District Library
    Term ends 06/30/2022
  10. Sara Kennedy Sara Kennedy, Member Green Hills Public Library District
    Term ends 06/30/2022
  11. Wendy Roe Wendy Roe, Member Alsip-Merrionette Park Public Library District
    Term ends 06/30/2023
  12. William A Pleas William A Pleas, Member Page and Volunteer Coordinator at Highland Park Public Library
    Term ends 06/30/2022
  13. Georgia Pichinos-Anderson Georgia Pichinos-Anderson, Past Manager Patron Services Assistant Supervisor at Niles-Maine District Library
    Term ends 06/30/2022
  14. Cyndi Robinson Cyndi Robinson, Staff liaison Deputy Director at Illinois Library Association
    Term ends 06/30/2025
iREAD Summer Reading Programs

Since 1981, iREAD provides high quality, low-cost resources and products that enable local library staff to motivate children, young adults, and adults to read.

Visit the iREAD website »