Illinois Heartland Library System

Last updated
Illinois Heartland Library System
PredecessorLewis & Clark Library System
Lincoln Trail Libraries System
Rolling Prairie Library System
Shawnee Library System
Formation2011;14 years ago (2011)
Type Governmental
Headquarters6725 Goshen Road
Location
Executive Director
Leslie Bednar
Staff100 (2025)
Website www.illinoisheartland.org

Illinois Heartland Library System (IHLS) is a regional library system that serves libraries in southern and east-central Illinois, including public, school, academic, and special libraries. Established in 2011, IHLS is funded by an annual area and per-capita grant awarded by the Illinois State Library according to the Illinois Library System Act, and a portion of IHLS funding is received from federal grants distributed by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. IHLS is one of three library systems in Illinois, along with Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS) and the Chicago Public Library.

Contents

History

In 2011, four southern and east-central Illinois library systems consolidated into Illinois Heartland Library System. [1] [2] The merger combined the Lewis & Clark Library System, the Lincoln Trail Libraries System, the Rolling Prairie Library System, and the Shawnee Library System. [3] [2] The system consisted of 584 member libraries in 2012, including 41 academic libraries, 299 public libraries, 259 school libraries, and 56 special libraries. [2] Its first and current chief executive was Leslie Bednar, who previously headed the Lewis & Clark Library System. [4] [5]

Service area of the Illinois Heartland Library System in blue Illinois Library Systems Service Areas.png
Service area of the Illinois Heartland Library System in blue

IHLS is one of three library systems in Illinois, along with Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS) and the Chicago Public Library. [6] IHLS is funded by an annual area and per-capita grant awarded by the Illinois State Library according to the Illinois Library System Act [6] and a portion of IHLS funding is received from federal grants distributed by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. [7] Libraries in Illinois must maintain membership with a library system to be eligible for grants awarded by the Illinois State Library. [8]

In 2025, IHLS includes 524 member libraries and 100 staff members. [5] Its headquarters are located in Edwardsville, Illinois. [5] It is a member of the International Coalition of Library Consortia. [5]

Services and activities

IHLS provides financial and in-kind support to the Local Library System Automation Program (LLSAP) SHARE, a shared library catalog. [9] The combined collections of IHLS institutions include nearly ten million items. [2] The system covers 28,141 square miles, [2] with hubs in Carbondale, Champaign, and Edwardsville. [10] In fiscal year 2022, IHLS delivered 2,550,187 items between locations. [11] Delivery vans are sold or donated to libraries through a grant after they are replaced. [12]

In 2022, IHLS launched the ILEAD Trustee Learning Portal, a free resource for public library board members to access training on finance, library law, and other essential information. [13]

References

  1. ↑ Lowe, Kenneth (2012-10-30). "Editing services". Herald and Review . pp.  1-2 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Rush, Linda (2012-08-27). "Database Helps Libraries Access 10 Million Works". Southern Illinoisan. Carbondale, Illinois. p. 4. Retrieved 2025-09-09– via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ Doyle, Robert (2010–2011). "Illinois Library Association Annual Report 2010-2011". Illinois Library Association Annual Report: 4.
  4. ↑ Mannlein, Arlene (2011-09-17). "New library system director making rounds". Mattoon Journal Gazette . Vol. 134, no. 204. Mattoon, Illinois. p.  A3 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Illinois Heartland Library System | ICOLC Website". International Coalition of Library Consortia. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
  6. 1 2 "Illinois Library Systems". The Office of the Illinois Secretary of State. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  7. ↑ Bauer, Angela. "Libraries keeping watchful eye on federal funding upheaval". Jacksonville Journal-Courier. Archived from the original on 2025-04-06. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
  8. ↑ "Annual Library Certification". The Office of the Illinois Secretary of State. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  9. ↑ Menderski, Maggie. "Shared materials cost an issue for some libraries". The State Journal-Register. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
  10. ↑ Woods, Billy (December 1, 2022). "Illinois Heartland Library System hosts free vaccine clinic". The Edwardsville Intelligencer.
  11. ↑ "Delivery Service Statistics". The Office of the Illinois Secretary of State. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  12. ↑ Beasley, Danielle; Palmer, Susan; Taylor, Sarah; Yackle, Anna (September 2021). "Mobile Partnerships: Reaching Communities". ILA Reporter. 41 (3): 4–7 – via EBSCO Academic Search Ultimate.
  13. ↑ Hogan-Downey, Carol; Yackle, Anna. "iLEAD Trustee Training Portal". ILA Reporter. 41 (2): 16–18 – via EBSCO Discovery.
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