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Library Systems

Library Systems, New @ WJ-IL
Library Journal article on Illinois Regional Library Systems
March 7th, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?

Library Journal’s Michael Kelley reported on the fiscal condition of Illinois Library Systems and interviewed Executive Director Tom Sloan, ILA’s Executive Director Robert Doyle, and other sources in Libraries in Illinois Rethink Key Statewide Infrastructure.
Library Systems, News
Library Systems Update: Merger Fact Sheet for Northern Systems
March 7th, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?

A Merger Fact Sheet has been created to provide general information regarding the merger of the Alliance Library System (ALS), DuPage Library System (DLS), Metropolitan Library System (MLS), North Suburban Library System and Prairie Area Library System (PALS).

The who, what, when, where and how of the merger are succinctly addressed in this colorful and informative resource.
Grants, ILA Updates, Library Systems
ILA Receives LSTA Support for Statewide Cooperation
February 4th, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?

Article from ILA Newsletter, February 3, 2011

The Illinois Library Association (ILA) has received a federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant from the Illinois Secretary of State/Illinois State Library (ISL) to research and recommend effective, efficient service models for cooperative library services. Focusing on services that are most important to patrons, delivery of library materials will be the first priority to be addressed. LSTA funds are provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS); IMLS is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums.

ILA will conduct research into best practices, drawing on successful delivery structures in states such as Wisconsin, Colorado, and others. Over the course of the coming year, ILA will work with the regional library systems, the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois, and others to develop a workable approach to delivery and other priority services identified in the 2010 Future of Illinois Library Cooperation (FILC) report.

“ILA and its members are investing significant time and energy in developing constructive responses to recent state level financial conditions and their impact on library services,” said ILA President Gail Bush. “Making sure that patrons can access materials is key to controlling costs in the long run, and we will work closely with the system restructuring groups and others to ensure both equity and excellence in redesigning statewide cooperation.”

“Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White has said that prompt, efficient delivery of library materials to patrons is his foremost priority,” said ISL Director Anne Craig. “This grant will be used to explore delivery service models.”

An advisory group of ILA members will work with ILA staff and consultants on the project, which has a completion date of January 30, 2012.
Library Systems, News
Northern and Central Library Systems Vote to Merge
February 2nd, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?

Article courtesy of DLS Here and Now

The boards of five northern and central Illinois library systems voted in January to merge into a single library system effective July 1, 2011. The agreement was approved by the boards of the Alliance Library System, DuPage Library System, Metropolitan Library System, North Suburban Library System, and the Prairie Area Library System. The proposed new system will provide services to more than 1,500 public, private, university, and school library members.

Due to the State of Illinois’ unprecedented fiscal crisis, library system management and boards, together with the Illinois State Library, are seeking ways of creating a more sustainable model for system services. This consolidation of five systems will reduce administrative costs, streamline operations, and improve the coordination of resource sharing services.

“Illinois library systems have been a leader in providing library services across the state for many years,” said Su Erickson, Chair of the Merger Design Team. “The merged system, through cooperation and collaborative efforts, will continue to provide these critical services to libraries and their users in the future.”

The financial condition of library systems continues to improve due to the receipt of recent payments from the State of Illinois. In November 2010, library systems received the full balance of FY2010 payments. In January 2011, systems received the first payment from the state for FY2011 (July 2010 – June 2011), amounting to approximately 35% of the total appropriations for the fiscal year.

“As members of the Illinois library community, we must seek to ensure the strength and duration of our foundation of interlibrary cooperation,” stated Anne Craig, Director of the Illinois State Library. “Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White supports library services in the strongest manner possible. He continues to champion library grant programs at a time when competition for each dollar is intense.”

In 2010, a Merger Design Team was formed and is currently developing a FY2012 operational plan and a long range plan for delivering library services through FY2015. The Team is working closely with the Illinois State Library to complete the merger process, which requires the approval of Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White.

Library systems are critical to the state’s library services. Each year, systems deliver more than 30 million books and other materials that are loaned to library users statewide. The online catalogs for more than 800 Illinois libraries are operated by library systems and are used to circulate more than 45 million library resources throughout the state. Library systems also serve all 102 Illinois counties with Talking Book Program services for Illinois residents unable to read conventional print material due to a visual or physical disability.
Library Systems, News
Library Systems Update: Merger Design Team Endorses Intergovernmental Agreement and Bylaws
January 14th, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?

Representatives of five library systems located in northern and central Illinois met on January 6, 2011, and agreed to recommend to their library system boards the adoption of an intergovernmental agreement. The agreement will establish a transitional board of directors for a proposed new merged library system. The transition board will be authorized to coordinate and implement the merger of the five systems. The Merger Design Team also endorsed bylaws for the new system.

Representatives from the five systems reported on plans to consider a resolution at their January meetings for boards to dissolve and merge. The library system boards are expected to consider adopting the intergovernmental agreement at their February meetings.

Jane Arsenault, merger consultant, reported on the due diligence process which included teams from the five participating systems reviewing a wide range of legal and fiscal documents. She also reviewed updates to the merger planning process and the action items for boards of the five library systems.

The official Merger Design Team website is located at http://www.systemsmerger.info. RSS feeds and email updates are available via the website to keep the library community apprised of the merger process.

The next meetings of the Merger Design Team are scheduled for 5 p.m. on January 21, 2011 and February 8, 2011.
Library Systems, News
Update on Northern Systems Merger
January 12th, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?
The year 2011 will be a year of change for Illinois library systems. Throughout 2010, DLS communicated plans for five northern and central library systems to merge into a new organization. Efforts continue to establish a new system that will:
- Provide library services to more than 1,500 public, private, university, and school library members
- Represent more than 3,700 libraries
- Service libraries in a 27,000 square mile area
A Merger Design Team and its subcommittees, made up of delegates from each of the five systems, are designing a plan of service to cost effectively deliver services. Recently, the team:
- Approved a resolution for current system boards to dissolve and merge effective July 1, 2011, to be approved by each system’s board
- Approved the creation of a Merger Design Team/Transition Board for the new system with three representatives from each system to be designated in February 2011
- Adopted a vision, mission, and values statement for the new system
- Reviewed and discussed a proposed intergovernmental agreement and bylaws to be approved by each system board
- Conducted an extensive due diligence process
The team and its subcommittees embrace an open process and review meeting procedures at each meeting to comply with the Illinois Open Meetings Act. More information is available from the Merger Design Team website.

Article reprinted with permisson from DLS E-News January 2011
Grants, ILA Updates, Illinois State Library, Library Systems, News
The Future of Illinois Library Cooperation: Update
December 15th, 2010 | Permalink | Comment?

Article from ILA E-News, December 14, 2010

On Tuesday, 14 December 2010, representatives of the Illinois library community met with Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White to present an action plan for statewide cooperative services, such as delivery and other priorities. Secretary White agreed to consider awarding an LSTA grant to support the effort and requested that a formal request for funding be submitted to the Illinois State Library by the Illinois Library Association (ILA).

Based on information and resources identified in the Future of Illinois Library Cooperation planning documents, the group requested funding to analyze current delivery needs and prepare a formal RFP/RFI to identify best practices and service models, culminating in an implementation plan to redesign delivery in the most efficient and cost effective manner. The project will intersect with on-going work of the regional systems and other consortia.

The request for funding will be submitted to the Illinois State Library in December with notification anticipated in early 2011.

Attending the meeting were: Illinois Secretary of State Chief of Staff Thomas Benigno, Oak Park Public Library Executive Director Deidre Brennan, ILA President Gail Bush; Illinois Secretary of State Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Programs and Policies Terri Coombes, Illinois State Library Director Anne Craig, Chicago Public Library Commissioner Mary Dempsey, Illinois Secretary of State Executive Assistant to the Chief of Staff Jacki DiCianni, ILA Executive Director Robert P. Doyle, ILA Legislative Consultant Kip Kolkmeier, Chicago Public Library First Deputy Commissioner Karen Danczak Lyons, and Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White.

Download/view the planning documents for Future of Illinois Library Cooperation.
Library Systems
Library Systems Update: Southern System Survey of Membership Summary
December 13th, 2010 | Permalink | Comment?

The Southern System Planning panel conducted an extensive survey of the membership of the library systems from mid October 2010 to early November 2010. The response to the survey was outstanding and demonstrated the interest in the planned merger between the systems. Over 750 people took time to participate in the survey.

For a summary of the survey visit the Cooperation Today web site.
Library Systems, News
Library Systems Update: Southern Systems
November 29th, 2010 | Permalink | Comment?

The agenda for the Southern Systems Planning meeting scheduled for December 2 at the Lincoln Trail Libraries System has been posted on the Cooperation Today web site.
Library Systems, News
Library Systems Update: FY2010 Library System Funds Released
November 22nd, 2010 | Permalink | Comment?

Library Systems are receiving all FY10 payments, according to the Illinois State Library. The State Comptroller’s Office processed the transfer of more than $3.4 million into the Live & Learn Fund to pay these obligations. The payments represent the final amounts due for FY10 (July 2009 – June 2010).

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Library Systems

Library Systems, New @ WJ-IL

Library Journal article on Illinois Regional Library Systems

Library Systems, News

Library Systems Update: Merger Fact Sheet for Northern Systems

Grants, ILA Updates, Library Systems

ILA Receives LSTA Support for Statewide Cooperation

Library Systems, News

Northern and Central Library Systems Vote to Merge

Library Systems, News

Library Systems Update: Merger Design Team Endorses Intergovernmental Agreement and Bylaws

Library Systems, News

Update on Northern Systems Merger

Grants, ILA Updates, Illinois State Library, Library Systems, News

The Future of Illinois Library Cooperation: Update

Library Systems

Library Systems Update: Southern System Survey of Membership Summary

Library Systems, News

Library Systems Update: Southern Systems

Library Systems, News

Library Systems Update: FY2010 Library System Funds Released