Extra Credit! School Librarian Networking
Extra Credit! is a once-a-month virtual networking session hosted by the IHLS Schools Liaison. This is an open forum for school library educators to connect with colleagues, share ideas, seek answers, or just talk to peers.
Extra Credit! is held during the school year on the first Thursday of each month, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. These sessions are not recorded, but one professional development hour (PDH) is available to live attendees.
IHLS Directors' Chats
If you are a library director, associate director, branch director, or similar leader, join us and other library directors across central and southern Illinois for our regularly scheduled text-based chat. These chats provide an informal setting where library staff leaders can ask questions and get answers, clarifications, and ideas directly from their library peers and IHLS leaders.
Directors’ Chats are held most Thursdays—except third Thursdays—from 1 to 2 p.m.
IHLS Members Matter Events
IHLS Members Matter events are monthly forums for directors and staff from IHLS-member libraries to learn about important library issues and hear updates from Illinois Heartland Library System and the Illinois State Library. Library staff also have an opportunity to share information regarding their libraries.
Members Matter events are held online and in person at rotating locations immediately after Third Thursday Continuing Education sessions. Registration is strongly encouraged.
IHLS Member Day Annual Conference
Member Day is our biggest continuing education and networking event of the year! IHLS Member Day started as an annual day of member appreciation and has developed into a full one-day conference chock-full of learning opportunities. It is also designed to provide a large-scale networking opportunity for all IHLS members, both with system staff and with each other.
Since 2020, Member Day has been held online for greater accessibility.
Library Site Visits & One-on-One Calls
IHLS staff are always ready to talk with library directors, staff members, and trustees. Whether you want to show off new construction or talk over an issue facing your library, our membership team wants to hear about it.
Our staff makes a point to visit many of our member libraries each year, and we try to visit each of our 520+ libraries at least once every few years. Libraries can also request a visit by contacting our Membership Services team.
Regional, State, and National Networking
Library directors, staff, and trustees also have access to a wide range of networking opportunities beyond Illinois Heartland Library System. Below are some of the regional, state, and national organizations, some of which have special interest groups for individual library types.
While IHLS is glad to promote these networking events, they are not IHLS events. Contact information for regional group leaders is provided below.
Regional, State, and National Networking
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Regional Networking Groups
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These groups allow IHLS members with similar professional specialties the opportunity to meet, connect, ask questions, and share ideas.
If your special interest group is not on the list and you would like to be added, please contact the HLS Continuing Education Coordinator.
Adult Services Forum
About this group: Come share ideas for programs and services that appeal to adults. Open to anyone managing adult services at a public library. Meeting Dates: The Adult Services Forum meets quarterly. See the L2 calendar for dates. Group Contact: Unknown.
Free Form Free For All
About this group: Youth services librarians have the opportunity to share ideas, success stories, new books, old books, and questions as they meet to informally discuss what is going on in the children and young adult areas of public libraries. Everyone who works with children and teens is invited to attend. Meeting Dates: The Free Form Free For All group meets quarterly. See L2 calendar for dates. Group Contact: Stephanie Strick, Mount Zion District Library – 217.864.3622
Local History and Genealogy Forum
About this group: Come share ideas for programs and services focusing on local history and genealogy. Open to anyone who handles local history and genealogy services at a public library. Meeting Dates: The Local History and Genealogy Forum meets quarterly on Zoom. See L2 calendar for dates. Group Contact: Alanna Sablotny, Chatham Area Public Library – 217.483.2713
Medium Pubs Meeting
About this group: The medium public library size libraries gather together to network about what is going on in their size library. They share ideas, discuss situations, and share events at their libraries. Meeting Dates: The medium pubs group meets quarterly. See L2 calendar for dates. Group Contact: Amy Byers, Chatham Area Public Library – 217.483.2713
MEPL – Metro-East Public Library Management Meeting
About this group: The purpose of the meetings is to share ideas, voice concerns, and essentially learn from one another. *Open to all public library managers. Meeting Dates: The Metro-East Public Library Management group meets on the third Thursday of even numbered months. See L2 calendar for dates. Group Contact: Joel Pikora, Mascoutah Public Library – 618.566.2562
Northern Directors Meeting
About this group: Join this free informal discussion group to ask questions and get suggestions on any library topic. Connect with colleagues and share ideas for programming and other activities taking place in our libraries. Meeting Dates: The Northern Directors meets on the third Wednesday monthly except June-August. See L2 calendar for dates. Group Contact: Tricia Freeland, Hoopeston Public Library District – 217.283.6711
Small Public Libraries Get-Together
About this group: The small public library size libraries gather together to network about what is going on in their size library. They share ideas, discuss situations, and share events at our libraries. They really have a lot of fun talking and sharing. Meeting Dates: The Small Pubs group meets quarterly. See L2 calendar for dates. Group Contact: Donna Techau, Bement Public Library District – 217.678.7101
Perry/Randolph County Cooperative Collection Development Group
About this group: Join colleagues from Randolph and Perry counties for this networking event and discussion of common concerns, program ideas, and support.
Meeting Dates: The Perry/Randolph County Cooperative Collection Development Group meets quarterly. See L2 calendar for dates. Group Contact: Varies by host library
South Central Directors Group
About this group: Staff of libraries in Jefferson, Marion, and surrounding counties meet to network and discuss! Participants share ideas, discuss situations, and share events happening at their libraries.
Meeting Dates: The South Central Director's group meets bi-monthly. See L2 calendar for dates. Group Contact: Kim Keller, Bryan-Bennett Library – 618.548.3006
Esther Curry, C.E. Brehm Memorial Public Library District – 618.242.6322SWAYS (SouthWest Advocates for Youth Services) Meeting
About this group: Provide professional resources, guidance, and mentorship to library staff providing services to children and teens. Meeting Dates: The SouthWest Advocates for Youth Services group meets the third Wednesday monthly except June-August. See L2 calendar for dates. Group Contact: Aimee Villet, Glen Carbon Centennial Library District – 618.288.1212 x813
- Statewide Organizations
- ILA Forums (Special Interest Groups)
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- Illinois Association of College & Research Libraries Forum (IACRL)
- Library Trustee Forum (LTF)
- Marketing Forum (MF)
- Reaching Forward Forum (RF)
- Resources & Technical Services Forum (RTSF)
- Small and Rural Libraries Forum (SARL)
- Students and New Professionals Forum (SANP)
- Young Adult Services Forum (YASF)
- Youth Services Forum (YSF)
- Reaching Forward South Planning Committee
- National Organizations
- ALA Divisions
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- American Association of School Librarians (AASL)
- Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)
- Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL)
- Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures (Core)
- Public Library Association (PLA)
- Reference & User Services Association (RUSA)
- United for Libraries (Trustees, Friends, Foundations)
- Young Adult Library Services Association
- ALA Round Tables (Special Interest Groups)
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- Ethnic & Multicultural Information Exchange RT (EMIERT)
- Exhibits Round Table (ERT)
- Film and Media Round Table (FMRT)
- Games & Gaming (GAMERT)
- Government Documents (GODORT)
- Graphic Novels and Comics (GNCRT)
- Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT)
- International Relations (IRRT)
- Learning RT (LearnRT, formerly CLENERT)
- Library History (LHRT)
- Library Instruction Round Table (LIRT)
- Library Research (LRRT)
- Library Support Staff Interests (LSSIRT)
- Map and Geospatial Information (MAGIRT)
- New Members Round Table (NMRT)
- Rainbow Round Table (RRT)
- Retired Members Round Table (RMRT)
- Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT)
- Staff Organizations (SORT)
- Sustainability (SustainRT)