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Our Libraries

February 23, 2004

Libraries discover there's strength in numbers

In the 1960s, a wave of enthusiasm for regional library cooperative
agencies swept across the country.



It had it roots in earlier studies that showed that libraries only
existed in metropolitan areas and that existing libraries working
together could share resources and accomplish more. Not every state
responded to the wave, but here in Illinois where there were many
people living in suburban and rural areas not served by libraries,
regional library systems were established to promote the creation
of new public libraries.



The North Suburban Library System (NSLS), founded in 1966, began
in earnest to get citizens together and help them think about the
possibility of creating a library for their community.



In the next 15 years, 17 such efforts were undertaken resulting
in the creation of four new libraries (Ela Area Public Library District,
Warren-Newport Public Library District, Vernon Area Public Library
District and Lincolnwood Public Library District) and the growth of
seven existing library districts. In all, permanent library service
was established for nearly 80,000 people.



Even in the early years, NSLS and the other regional library systems
did things besides work with communities to establish or expand library
service. In NSLS, the first service that was established was Interlibrary
Loan so that users of one library could borrow books from another
library.



Since those early days, this service has been automated. Click on
this link: www.nsls.info/liaison to view the LIAison catalog, a database
of holdings in academic, public, school and special libraries all
across our area. It is best to call ahead before you make the trip,
but most public libraries honor valid cards from other libraries.
This means you may visit a public library holding items of interest
to you and borrow them yourself. Alternatively you may ask your public
library to borrow the items for you, and they will be delivered to
your library.



Other services established in those early days included van delivery
service so that books borrowed from one library and returned to another,
would get back home safely and quickly. Currently NSLS has four drivers
and four vans employed in this work. Last year more than 1.1 million
items were carried by NSLS delivery vans.



In the early services noted above, NSLS served as a catalyst for
library development, an aid to resource sharing and provided an economy
of scale for libraries beyond what a single library could do on its
own. This work continues. For example, NSLS hosts NorthStarNet, a
collection of community home pages representing almost 70 public libraries
in the suburban area. Check www.northstarnet.org for information on
what's going on in your community.



The NSLS provides continuing education and training opportunities
for the people who work in the almost 650 libraries of all types in
our area. Last year 175 classes were held here at the System Center
and an additional 100 classes were available online for the benefit
of library staff and trustees.



Digital Past is a great example of a system service that serves
as a catalyst for library development. It's a beautiful and easy to
use Web site featuring the local history collections of many NSLS
member libraries. Check it out at www.digitalpast.org.



NSLS also works to promote libraries via such vehicles as this column
and our award-winning monthly cable TV show, "What's New in Libraries?"
Back issues of this column may be accessed at www.sarahlong.org/archives.asp,
and a schedule of upcoming cable shows may be found www.whatsnewinlibraries.org.



From the beginning, NSLS and the other regional library systems
have been funded by annual grants from the Illinois General Assembly
to the Secretary of State/State Librarian. The grants are distributed
via the Illinois State Library. Regional library systems are governed
by boards representing the member libraries. Check out this Web site
for more information on all of Illinois regional library systems:
www.ilsdo.org.



In almost 40 years, Illinois regional library systems have changed
in many ways, but have remained faithful to that original wave of
enthusiasm for library cooperation. Together we create more value
for library users than any single community or institution could provide
for its users by going it alone. We're unique in this. While some
other states have something like our network of regional library systems,
our model is the envy of librarians across the country. Some even
call Illinois, "Library Heaven."

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