Illinois State Library

THE ILLINOIS LIBRARY & INFORMATION NETWORK (ILLINET)

Draft Revision of ILLINET Interlibrary Loan Code  |  Electronic Lists  |  ELI  |   Electronic Resource Services   |  New ILDS Label   |   Essential Elements of ILLINET Member Library Resource Sharing   |  Interlibrary Loan Code  |  ILLINET Network Advisory Council (INAC)  |  ILLINET Interlibrary Loan Traffic Report  |  The Strategic Plan for Technology & Telecommunications for Illinois Libraries  |  
ILLINET Interlibrary Loan Traffic Form & Statistical Reports to Use

Draft Revision of ILLINET Interlibrary Loan Code

Thank you for previewing and commenting on the Draft Revision of the ILLINET Interlibrary Loan Code. The ILLINET Interlibrary Loan Committee will take all comments into consideration and act accordingly. The Illinois State Library Advisory Committee will discuss and consider the adoption of the code at the March 12, 2008 meeting.

Sharing resources to fill the needs of library patrons is the cornerstone of a special partnership in Illinois. This cooperative alliance, called the Illinois Library & Information Network (ILLINET), was formed in 1975. The Illinois State Library provides overall network administration for ILLINET. The network has been distinguished by ongoing and enthusiastic cooperation and is recognized as an exemplary model for library cooperation.

The network exemplifies that a single library cannot meet all the needs of its users alone. More than 5000 academic, public, school and special libraries belong to ILLINET and work together to meet the diverse information needs of Illinois citizens. A library becomes an ILLINET member when it is accepted for membership in one of the twelve state-funded regional library systems.

Within the library systems, technology links the member libraries to facilitate statewide access to information. Libraries use computers and union lists to search other libraries’ collections to locate materials requested by local patrons. Interlibrary loan makes these materials, including books, periodicals, videotapes and other materials, available to local library users. The materials are transferred from the lending library to the borrowing library through the statewide library delivery service. Photocopies of journal articles are also shared throughout the state using the delivery service, fax, mail or Internet.

Continuing education, consulting technology and grant programs are available through the state library and the library system to help ILLINET libraries meet their patron’s needs. While ILLINET focuses primarily on the availability and delivery of information, its human resources are equally important. Through ILLINET, thousands of professional librarians work together to produce innovative and far-reaching improvements in library services.

The foundation of ILLINET is the recognition that each library in the state is interdependent. Working together, the libraries, regional library systems and the state library ensure that Illinois citizens, regardless of location, receive the best possible library and information service through the statewide library network.