Published 1/21/2021 6:50 PM CT
2021 is well behind us, and that means it’s time to announce the top-circulated SHARE cloudLibrary titles of 2021! This year, we’re not just giving you one title per category—we’re giving you the top three adult fiction, non-fiction, young adult, and juvenile titles of 2021.
Thank you to all who have signed up for the pilot season of Illinois Libraries Present! Membership has closed for the current membership period. IHLS joins ILP in welcoming the following 46 IHLS-member libraries to the ILP programming co-op...
Published 1/14/2022 5:16 PM CT
To retain system membership, each library needs to complete its annual certification for system membership between Jan. 3 and March 31, 2022. Certification is completed through the L2 website. Designated certification contacts should see a link to the certification form on the L2 homepage and your Account > My Dashboard page when logged in.
Out of an abundance of caution and due to the continued high numbers of new COVID-19 cases statewide, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White has announced that all Secretary of State departments, including driver services facilities, will remain closed until Monday, Jan. 24, contingent on COVID trends in the state. White continues encouraging the public to visit ilsos.gov for online services.
Published 1/14/2021 4:26 PM CT
The 2022 Illinois Public Library Annual Report (IPLAR) survey is now open. Each public library is required to submit the IPLAR 60 days after the library's fiscal year-end. Public libraries were sent an email on Jan. 3 that explains this year's new questions. Added by the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the Public Libraries Survey (PLS), these new questions, provide more detailed reporting for the programming section including live virtual programming and age-specific group programming of all types.
Published 1/12/2022 3:30 PM CT, Updated 1/13/2022 10:38 PM CT
Are you looking to share your love of libraries and represent the needs of your community (or do you know somebody who would be great at doing this)? Bring your skills and experience to the Illinois Heartland Library System (IHLS) Board of Directors and have an impact on the quality of library service in central and southern Illinois.
There are 5 open seats on the IHLS Board of Directors. Seats to be filled are:
- 1 Public Library Representative (3-year term)
- 4 Public Library Trustees (3-year term)
Nomination Forms Due Feb. 15!
Published 1/12/2022 11:59 AM CT, Updated 1/19/2022 8:28 PM CT
Update:
Published 1/10/2022 1:51 PM CT
Looking for help cataloging materials in world languages? There are two statewide programs that can help. Both programs are supported by a grant from the Illinois State Library and are free to Illinois library system members: The Cataloging Maintenance Center (operated by IHLS) and the World Language Cataloging Services Program (a service of RAILS).
Omicron information and mask information and resources have been added to the COVID-19 Updates & Resources page.
Published 1/5/2022 10:20 AM CT
Illinois Heartland Library System supports AISLE in opposing attempts to censor or remove books from school libraries. AISLE's statement reads, in part:
Published 1/14/2021 5:38 PM CT; updated 12/22/2021 11:15 PM CT
Once again, Illinois Heartland Library System is joining the Illinois Library Association at the annual ILA Library Legislative Meet-Ups, and we encourage library trustees, directors, and staff from public, school, and academic libraries to attend and participate.
This series of legislative events provides opportunities to meet with your legislators and hear their thoughts firsthand about issues affecting libraries in your area. All elected officials on the state and federal levels are invited by ILA to attend.
Published 12/22/2021 12:45 PM CT, Updated 1/12/2022 12:10 PM CT
UPDATE:
The Illinois State Library has extended the Public Library Per Capita and Equalization Aid Grant application period through Feb. 15, 2022.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
Give yourself the gift of a clean slate for the New Year. Submit your Public Library Per Capita and Equalization Grants now instead of waiting until Jan. 15, 2022.
Published 12/17/2021 5:01 PM CT
One of the core services of the Cataloging Maintenance Center (CMC) is the cleanup of library catalog records. Hear the CMC explain what they do.
In early 2019, the Cataloging Maintenance Center (CMC) was asked to work on a clean-up project for the PrairieCat consortium, located in the Reaching Across Illinois Library System service area. The project involved bibliographic records that did not have an OCLC number. The project began in April 2019, and the CMC has resolved over 10,752 records in the PrairieCat system since then (as of Oct. 31, 2021)! ...
Published 11/11/2021 10:34 AM
You may have noticed in a recent Illinois e-News announcement that Governor Pritzker announced a new interactive broadband mapping and speed test tool. The information on Illinois Broadband Lab website includes data from many sources, including data submitted by IHLS for the public libraries in Illinois. The map has a lot of interesting options that you can turn on and off to see what’s available around your community. ...
Published 10/26/2021 1:03 PM CT
The SHARE consortium now has an app, the SHARE Mobile Library app, and it's available now in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Learn more about the app, view training videos, and access marketing materials for patrons on the SHARE website.
Access the SHARE Mobile Library App Page
