Insight

              Librarians from across the state gathered in
Springfield in mid-October for the Illinois Library
Association Annual Conference. Several hundred
conference participants attended the State Library’s
gala welcoming dessert reception hosted by
Secretary of State Jesse White and State Library
Director Jean Wilkins. The theme of the reception
was “ILLINET! It's you and me and 4,000 Illinois
libraries!”, celebrating 28 years of libraries sharing
resources through the Illinois Library and
Information Network.
The State Library’s Talking Book & Braille Service
staff offered tours of their new building a few blocks
from the library and other library staff conducted
tours of the State Library building. Attendees
participated in an ILLINET quiz and The “ILLINET
Voyage Through the Illinois State Library—The Hunt
for READ October,” in which a READ October map
provided guidance to various locations in the
library. A Wall of Sharing allowed attendees to leave
their photo, business card or signature to celebrate
library resource sharing through ILLINET. Attendees
also could sign up for ISL-Announce, the ILLINET
communications link that provides access to the
State Library’s weekly electronic newsletter.
Automation & Technology Division staff presented a
history of ILLINET/OCLC and resource sharing in
Illinois. Other division staff members were on hand
in the second-floor reference room to help attendees
update their ELI files and sign up for CleO, the
library’s new continuous learning initiative. The
library’s second-floor display cases showcased
historic photos of past and, in some cases, current
Illinois library leaders. A standing room only crowd
attended an OCLC group catalog information and
subscription pricing model session. Attendees also
learned about “Try It! Illinois,” the State Library’s
annual statewide database trial, and “Ask Us!
Illinois,” the library’s statewide virtual reference
service.
During the two-day conference at the Prairie Capital
Convention Center, State Library staff greeted
visitors and provided information to participants at
their booth. Library staff also was involved in many
conference programs as moderators and speakers.
A big thank you goes out to everyone who made
this year’s event a great success. Next year’s ILA
Annual Conference returns to Navy Pier in Chicago,
Sept. 28, 2004.
November/December
in
this
issue
ILA Annual
Conference
LSTA grants
awarded
State Library
receives Leadership
Grants
Training Grant
recipients
announced
New PNG sites
State Library welcomes ILA Conference to Springfield
2003
Jesse White • Secretary of State & State Librarian
A Newsletter from the Illinois State Library
INSIGHT
Those attending the ILA Conference reception were asked to
put their photo, business card or signature on a Wall of
Sharing to celebrate the sharing of library resources through
the ILLINET network.
State Library staff member Neil Kelley, standing, and Nancy
Ortciger, seated, welcomed visitors to the State Library booth
at the ILA Annual Conference at the Prairie Capital Convention
Center in Springfield.