SHARE is a collection of libraries in central and southern Illinois that have joined together to form the largest automation consortium in the country, with 362 members at 480 locations. There are many benefits to SHARE membership, including the ability to share the cost of purchasing an integrated library system, staff, technical support, and training.
What this means is that member libraries share the cost of maintaining an expensive, but highly necessary technology, that makes the end-user’s experience more enjoyable. All of those services that patrons have come to expect—hold lists, speedy checkouts, and online catalogs—happen because of this technology. In fiscal year 2024, we filled over 1.15 million holds, a feat made possible because we are committed to Sharing Heartland’s Available Resources Equally (SHARE).
The size of the consortium means that our patrons have access to almost 8.5 million items, which they can order from their home library, their home computer, or their mobile device, and have delivered within days to their home library via the IHLS Functional 5-Day Delivery. In our fiscal year 2024, our patrons checked out almost 7 million items, which is over 300,000.
The legal entity for SHARE is the Illinois Heartland Library System (IHLS), whose board of directors receives input for the consortium’s operation from the SHARE governing body and members.
When you login to SHARE with your library card you can request items, renew items, rate titles, create lists, and view your account information.
To visit the SHARE catalog, click here!