Vol. 5, No. 1

 Spring 2004

 Birds Do It

Migrate, that is. And we’re migrating, too. Parkland Library is now a member of the state-wide academic library consortium Illinois Library Computer Systems Organization, more commonly know as ILCSO. Based in Champaign, with offices at UIUC, ILCSO provides ILLINET Online, an online "card catalog," for 65 college and university libraries around the state, including UIUC, EIU, and SIU. Parkland is one of nine libraries that was accepted this year, and Parkland's Library staff is in the midst of planning for the conversion which is scheduled to go into effect this summer.

Why change?

Parkland Library’s current online system is a stand-alone system, which means we’re not connected to anyone else’s catalog. With the importance of library interconnectivity and partnerships, being a loner is not a good thing. In addition, the annual costs are higher than they will be for us as part of a consortium. And best of all, Voyager, the new software, offers features and functions that simply aren’t available in our current system.

For example, with the new system, you will be able to:

• Look up your account, from any Internet-connect computer, to see what you have checked out

• Renew items online

• Request items from other ILCSO libraries, while sitting in the comfort of your office or home

• Utilize new, more sophisticated search techniques

• More easily limit your search to specific criteria (such as videos/DVDs)

Can I use all the other member libraries?

YES! Parkland students and employees can now borrow materials directly from any of the ILCSO member libraries by presenting your Parkland ID when onsite at the other libraries. If you haven't yet obtained your Parkland ID, now is the time to do so. Simply go to X161 to get one, and encourage anyone else who doesn’t have one to do the same.

Stay tuned for more information as we continue our migration.

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