On Tuesday, May 17, eight Illinois libraries in the Quad Cities area will join PrairieCat, one of four shared online catalogs supported by the Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS). RAILS awarded grants to these libraries to help support their participation in PrairieCat.
The PrairieCat online catalog includes nearly five million items from 135 libraries, with more than 350,000 individual library users.
Library patrons at most PrairieCat libraries can place holds on items right from their library’s website nearly 24 hours a day, seven days a week and can see at a glance if and where an item is available. They can choose to go to the Illinois library owning the item to pick it up, or have the item delivered directly to the Illinois library of their choice through the RAILS delivery system.
Since the costs for an individual library to make its collection available online are high, being part of a shared catalog greatly reduces costs. Libraries benefit by centralized hardware, increased security, robust training, and technology support.
"The Illinois State Library and Illinois library systems have supported and encouraged library resource sharing for more than 50 years,” said Dee Brennan, Executive Director of RAILS.
“We are very pleased that because of this project, millions of additional items will be more widely available to Illinois taxpayers.”
Angela Campbell, the Director of the Rock Island Public Library that serves almost 17,000 cardholders, believes PrairieCat membership is a big advantage for her library’s users.
“We look forward to increased access to more items and newer materials,” she said. “We also look forward to the PrairieCat online payment option for patrons to pay fines and fees, and the quick delivery of items through the RAILS delivery system.”
The Sherrard Public Library District has seven staff members and serves 1,600 cardholders. Library Director Bobbi Jackson describes joining PrairieCat as a “win-win for patrons and for our staff.”
“Our patrons will have access to a much larger number of items through PrairieCat. We will also save library staff time as some of the functions our staff now perform will be done by PrairieCat staff. This will allow us to devote more time to activities that directly benefit our patrons.”
The Illinois libraries joining PrairieCat are:
- East Moline Public Library
- Henry C. Adams Memorial Library (Prophetstown)
- Moline Public Library
- River Valley District Library (Port Byron)
- Robert R. Jones Public Library (Coal Valley)
- Rock Island Public Library (Main Library and two branches)
- Sherrard Public Library District
- Silvis Public Library
“PrairieCat is happy to welcome the libraries of the Quad Cities and surrounding areas to our growing network of 130 plus libraries in northern Illinois,” said Carolyn Coulter, PrairieCat Services Manager. “Through partnerships such as PrairieCat, Illinois residents enjoy excellent service and benefit from increased access to library resources.”
PrairieCat is an organization of 135 public, school, academic and special libraries across Northern Illinois. The organization provides libraries with access to online systems, support, and training to help them best serve their patrons and students. See more information at: https://support.prairiecat..
RAILS provides delivery, shared online catalogs, e-book services, talking book services, continuing education programs, communication services, and other support to all types of libraries in northern and western Illinois. The system serves private, public, school, and university library members in a 27,000 square mile area. More information about RAILS is available at: www.railslibraries.info.
# # #
