History
Illinois has a rich history and a national reputation as a leader in library resource sharing, thanks in large part to the ongoing partnership between the Illinois State Library, Illinois library systems, and individual system members from libraries of all types (public, academic, school, and special) throughout the state.
A watershed moment in this history was the creation of library systems through the 1965 Library System Act [75 ILCS 10/]. The visionaries who established library systems knew that resource sharing would make all libraries stronger and able to provide better services to their users. Other statewide alliances that came after the creation of systems went several steps further in achieving these goals, including the Illinois Library and Information Network (ILLINET), representing the more than 3,000 Illinois library system members, and the Libraries Very Interested in Resource Sharing (LVIS) initiative, which represents the first global OCLC no charge Resource Sharing Group agreement began out of a shared goal of the Illinois State Library and the Missouri Library Network Corporation (MLNC) for the Midwest region. During the first year, LVIS members included more than 200 multi-type libraries in Illinois and Missouri. There are now more than 2,700 members, worldwide.
Illinois Library Systems
Illinois library systems work with their member libraries to provide services that no one library would be able to offer on its own. As a system member, a public library must agree to participate in resource sharing to the fullest extent possible through interlibrary loan, reciprocal borrowing, reciprocal access, and other cooperative activities.
Systems help libraries meet these responsibilities by administering and providing ongoing support for shared online catalogs, providing delivery service to transport materials between libraries across the state and beyond, spearheading cooperative ebook initiatives, offering continuing education designed to help libraries learn more about resource sharing philosophies and processes, and by consulting and sharing expertise between member libraries and strongly encouraging them to share their expertise and other resources with each other.
Resource Sharing
Resource sharing is fundamental to maintaining the top-notch library service the state of Illinois is known for and all libraries benefit from sharing resources to the fullest extent possible. The director of one of the largest libraries in Illinois who was nationally known for his innovations in library automation and cooperation, Hugh Atkinson (b.1933- d. 1986), then director of libraries at the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign, wrote, “My point is that one should not try to reach some kind of theoretical balance or fairness, but to build a network that will provide, by its services and arrangement, the library activities that will satisfy each of the participants, although not necessarily in the same way.” (Atkinson, H. (1987). Atkinson on networks. American Libraries, 18, 433.) By continuing to work together in partnership, the Illinois library community can further these ideals and most importantly, better meet the diverse information needs of all those who live in the state.
The Public Library Per Capita Grant and the Equalization Aid Grant
Support for Illinois Library Systems is provided through the Secretary of State’s office with funds appropriated by the Illinois General Assembly. Library systems are governed by representatives from their member libraries as detailed in Illinois Compiled Statutes [75 ILCS 10/5] and system bylaws.
The Public Library Per Capita Grant assists public libraries in providing library services that meet or show progress toward meeting Illinois library standards. Grant amounts of up to $1.475 per person, based on the population of the library’s service area, are awarded annually to qualified Illinois public libraries. The Equalization Aid Grant provides additional support to help public libraries with a low library tax base to ensure a minimum level of funding for library services.
To be eligible for a Public Library Per Capita and Equalization Aid Grant, a public library must meet the requirements of 75 ILCS 10/8.1, 23 Ill Adm. Code 3030.110, 23 Ill. Adm Code 3035.115, 23 Ill. Adm. Code 3035.135. This includes providing library services that either meet or show progress toward meeting the Illinois library standards outlined in Serving Our Public 4.0: Standards for Illinois Public Libraries © Illinois Library Association, 2019. Along with this, the public library must adopt the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights that indicates materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval, or provide a written policy, adopted by the public library’s board of trustees, that indicates the library shall prevent censorship of its library materials, ensuring that items are not withdrawn from its library collection merely because individuals or groups object to the material.
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