Illinois State Library

Library Automation and Technology

Joe Natale, Development Coordinator 217-558-4185
FAX: 217-557-2619

The Library Automation and Technology Division employs technology to facilitate access to information for Illinois citizens. Services include:

Find-It! Illinois

Find-It! Illinois is a web portal provided by the Illinois State Library, an office of Secretary of State Jesse White. Find-It! is designed to make Illinois information more accessible to everyone. Key components of Find-It! are the Illinois Digital Archives (IDA) and the Illinois Government Information (IGI) search engine.

• IGI provides access to State of Illinois web pages by offering word matching and subject category browsing in the same search site. IGI uses the Government Information Locator System (GILS)
• IDA offers a search engine for images, sound files and other multi-media events that exist on internet sites throughout Illinois. The search engine indexes images, etc., describing the history and experience of life in Illinois. IDA is also a tool for libraries to add images and their cataloging records into a database. Currently, staff of the Illinois State Library are involved in a project that adds often-used government documents such as the Handbook of Illinois Government to the IDA database.

ILLINET/OCLC Services

A statewide network, with over 3,212 member libraries, public, school and special. Their vision is to connect and expand cooperative resource sharing through dynamic innovations, encompassing services, training support, information access and strategic planning. Intra-agency LAN management and information technology needs. Employees in the Library Automation and Technology Division provide ongoing support and training for networked services and applications used by library personnel and patrons. In addition, they oversee the purchasing of technology equipment and software, and maintain the Illinois State Library's web site.

Digital Imaging Program

Preserving Electronic Publications (PEP)

PEP is a collaborative grant project between Illinois and Ohio, which developed a national model for monitoring changes made to electronically published state government documents on the Internet in order to ensure permanent public access.

Capturing Electronic Publications (CEP)

CEP is a grant project designed to replicate the successes of the PEP Project in other states while producing the next version of the software.

Project Next Generation

The Illinois State Library is responsible for the administration and facilitation of Project Next Generation. Employees in the Library Automation and Technology Division oversee the purchasing of technology equipment and software, provide mentor technology training, develop curriculum and student lesson plans, and provide technical and educational support.

Project Next Generation is a Secretary of State sponsored program. Its primary goal is to provide participants with a safe environment in which they can become familiar with new technology and enhance their social abilities. This process is accomplished through selected Illinois public libraries located throughout the state. These libraries hire qualified mentors to teach technology and interpersonal skills to junior high school students. Mentors will guide participants as they explore life skills (effective communication, goal setting, conflict resolution) using technologies such as scanners, e-books, digital cameras, and interactive video. With mentoring as the glue, technology as the process, and libraries as the resource, Project Next Generation will combine goals, answer needs, and engage learning on multiple levels to provide opportunities for skill and personal development.