The final steps of the withdrawal of the 19 RiverShare libraries from PrairieCat will begin next Thursday, October 27, 2011.  As of that day, those libraries will cease using PrairieCat for their primary circulation, for adding items, bibliographic records, orders, holds, etc.  Linked to this message are a revised timeline of activities document as well as a document on transitional circulation procedures. Also linked is the list of the 19 RiverShare libraries pulling out of PrairieCat and their branches. Please share these documents with all staff, particularly circulation staff.  Here are a few important highlights from the timeline:

The first meeting of the Reaching Across Illinois Library System is scheduled for July 1, at 10:00 a.m. The primarly location for the meeting will be the RAILS Burr Ridge Building (Metropolitan Library System), with videoconference connections with several other locations and live online streaming video.

For details, including the meeting agenda and other documents, see:

http://www.systemsmerger.info/meeting/988

Rockford Public Library volunteer group set to open East Branch shop
http://bit.ly/jaLuYr

The Gallery Cafe exhibits works by photographer (column, Freeport)
http://bit.ly/kyY6uS

Marengo library to review details of architect proposal
http://bit.ly/kFtyUp

What's to love about local libraries? (column, Freeport)
http://bit.ly/jTu9ZM

From the Illinois State Library:

The State Library is pleased to announce that Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White has approved the merger of Alliance, DuPage, Metropolitan, North Suburban and Prairie Area Library Systems into the Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS) and the merger of Lewis and Clark, Lincoln Trail, Rolling Prairie and Shawnee Library Systems into the Illinois Heartland Library System (IHLS).