Networking Groups and Special Interest Groups (SIG) are member groups formed around a topic of interest for the purpose of face-to-face and/or online discussion and networking between a group’s members. Below is a list by Topic. An alphabetical list is available at http://www.mls.lib.il.us/networking_groups_alpha.asp.
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Circulation |
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| Supercircs |
| Description |
A forum for supervisory circulation staff working at MLS libraries for raising questions, discussing issues, and sharing information and best practices related to managing circulation services. |
| Members |
Circulation librarians and staff from any MLS libraries. |
| Communication Method |
supercircs@mls.lib.il.us (click to subscribe) |
| MLS Staff Contact |
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History |
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| Local History Special Interest Group (SIG) |
| Description |
A forum for MLS librarians and interested others in the greater Chicago metropolitan area who are involved with the development and maintenance of our respective libraries' local history collections. |
| Members |
Any library staff, trustee, or volunteer interested in library local history collections. |
| Communication Method |
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MLSLocalHistory |
| Member Contact |
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| MLS Staff Contact |
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| Meetings |
Check the group’s Yahoo Site for upcoming meeting dates. |
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InterLibrary Loan / Resource Sharing |
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| Resource Sharing Policies, Procedures and Practices |
| Description |
A forum for MLS ILL and Reciprocal Borrowing practitioners addressing Resource Sharing policies, procedures, and practices. |
| Members |
Any MLS member library staff engaged in Interlibrary Loan or Reciprocal Borrowing activities. |
| Communication Method |
mls-ill@mls.lib.il.us (click to subscribe) |
| MLS Staff Contact |
Kate Boyle, boylek@mls.lib.il.us |
| Meetings |
Monthly “Let’s Talk Resource Sharing” meetings, usually the third Tuesday of the month. Check the MLS CE Calendar for more information. |
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Marketing |
| Marketing |
| Description |
To brainstorm the challenges of marketing library services, programs and collections; to share ideas, problems and solutions; to address specific issues such as value campaigns or return on investment campaigns; surveying community members; creating mission, values and vision statements; library branding and more as the group evolves. |
| Members |
Any library staffer from the professional to the “accidental” marketer who has been charged with marketing their library’s collection, services and/or programming. This group is open to MLS and non-MLS library staff. |
| Communication Method |
Join the MLS Marketing Group Yahoo http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mlsmarketing |
| Member Contact |
Christine Cigler, ciglerc@indianprairielibrary.org |
| MLS Staff Contact |
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| Meetings |
Posted on the MLS calendar at https://www.librarylearning.info/?LibSys=MLS and on the Yahoo Group |
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Middle Managers |
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| Middle Managers Networking Group |
| Description |
Networking group for managers, supervisors and department heads in MLS libraries. |
| Members |
Any manager or supervisor in an MLS member library who is not the library director. |
| Communication Method |
midmanagers@mls.lib.il.us (click to subscribe) |
| Member Contact |
Portia Latalladi, platalla@chipublib.org |
| MLS Staff Contact |
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| Meetings |
Meetings held every two months at an area location. Events are posted on the MLS calendar at https://www.librarylearning.info/?LibSys=MLS. |
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Museums |
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| Chicago Area Museum Libraries (CAML) |
| Description |
A forum for communication and cooperation among Chicago area museum libraries. |
| Members |
Museum librarians, resource center managers, museum collection managers and related support staff who are responsible for managing the print and electronic resources of a museum library. |
| Communication Method |
Email list maintained by Christine Giannoni, cgiannoni@fieldmuseum.org |
| Member Contact |
Christine Giannoni, Field Museum cgiannoni@fieldmuseum.org |
| MLS Staff Contact |
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| Meetings |
Meetings held in the spring and fall of each year at various locations, usually at a member library. Meetings are centered on a particular topic of interest to all member libraries. |
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New Librarians |
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| New Librarians Networking Group |
| Description |
A networking group for new librarians to share ideas, discuss issues and topics of interest to them as they explore and develop their career path in the library profession. |
| Members |
Librarians having graduated with a Masters in Library Science degree within 4 years and/or currently working in library. Open to current library school & LTA students, and individuals from non-MLS libraries. |
| Communication Method |
Yahoo Group - Join at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mlsnewlibrarians/ |
| Member Contact |
Frend Park, derfman@ymail.com |
| MLS Staff Contact |
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| Meetings |
Quarterly Meetings, switches between Burr Ridge & Chicago Offices. Check the MLS CE Calendar for more information. |
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Non-English Speaking Services |
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| REFORMA (Midwest Chapter) |
| Description |
A National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-speaking. |
| Members |
Librarians and staff of libraries in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin who serve Spanish speaking patrons in any library type. |
| Communication Method |
reforma@mls.lib.il.us (click to subscribe), http://www.reformamidwestchapter.blogspot.com/ |
| Member Contact |
Armando Trejo, President, atrejo@elgin.edu |
| MLS Staff Contact |
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| Meetings |
Meetings are announced on the chapter listserv and on the chapter blog at http://www.reformamidwestchapter.blogspot.com/ |
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Programming |
| South Suburban Adult Programmers |
| Description |
SSAP meets quarterly to share information regarding past, current and future library programs and events. We have frank and open discussions about persons and groups hosted at our libraries. |
| Members |
MLS librarians responsible for coordinating programs and events for their library’s adult audience are encouraged to attend our meetings. |
| Communication Method |
ssap@mls.lib.il.us (click to subscribe) |
| Member Contact |
Melissa Rice, Frankfort Public Library District, mrice@frankfortlibrary.org; Maritza Ruiz, Alsip-Merrionette Park Library District, mruiz@sslic.net |
| MLS Staff Contact |
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| Meetings |
SSAP meets quarterly at various libraries. Check the MLS CE Calendar for more information. |
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Reader's Advisory |
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| Reader's Advisory Special Interest Group (RA SIG) |
| Description |
A forum for public and school librarians and library staff to participate in a quarterly discussion of three books around a selected genre, subgenre, or nonfiction topic. |
| Members |
Librarians or library staff who work with adults or older teens in a public or a high school library, or do related to readers advisory. |
| Communication Method |
Contact MLS Staff for meeting dates. |
| Member Contact |
Debbie Wordinger, Indian Prairie Public Library, wordingerd@indianprairielibrary.org |
| MLS Staff Contact |
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| Meetings |
Meetings are held every other month, starting in January, the second Tuesday at 9:30. Check the MLS Calendar for more information. Meetings summaries can be found at http://www.mls.lib.il.us/consulting/readers_advisory.asp |
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Reference |
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| Metropolitan Academic Reference and Instruction Librarians (MARIL) |
| Description |
Networking group for reference and instruction librarians at academic libraries in the Chicago area. |
| Members |
Any academic reference or instruction librarian. |
| Communication Method |
acadref@mls.lib.il.us (click to subscribe) |
| Member Contact |
Nancy Murillo, at n-murillo1@neiu.edu |
| MLS Staff Contact |
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| Meetings |
Meetings held three times a year in the MLS Chicago office. Events are posted on the MLS calendar at https://www.librarylearning.info/?LibSys=MLS. |
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| Reference Association of South Suburban Libraries (RASSL) |
| Description |
A forum for MLS reference librarians in the southern suburbs of Chicago providing opportunities for increasing knowledge, sharing information, networking with colleagues, and supporting fellow librarians. |
| Members |
Reference librarians and staff from MLS libraries in the South Suburbs of Chicago. |
| Communication Method |
rasslist@mls.lib.il.us (click to subscribe), http://www2.sls.lib.il.us/RASSL |
| Member Contact |
See web site for current officers. |
| MLS Staff Contact |
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| Meetings |
Meetings are held the first Thursday in October, February, and April and on the second Thursday in December and June at 9:00 a.m. at various member libraries. See web site for details. |
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| Reflist |
| Description |
An online forum for professional and support reference staff at MLS libraries. |
| Members |
Reference librarians from all library types. |
| Communication Method |
reflist@mls.lib.il.us (click to subscribe) |
| MLS Staff Contact |
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| Zones 1-4 Reference |
| Description |
A forum for reference librarians in MLS suburban Zones 1-4 providing opportunities for increasing knowledge, sharing information, networking with colleagues, and supporting fellow librarians. |
| Members |
Reference Librarians and staff from the western suburbs of Chicago. |
| Communication Method |
Informal. Contact MLS Staff for meeting dates. |
| MLS Staff Contact |
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| Meetings |
Meetings are held quarterly; generally the second or third Wednesday of March, June, September, and December. |
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Solo Librarians |
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| Chicago Area Solo Librarians (CASL) |
| Description |
A forum to help colleagues with problem-sharing and problem-solving issues that arise in a solo library environment. |
| Members |
Solo librarians from every type of library, including non-MLS degreed professionals who run solo libraries. |
| Communication Method |
casl@mls.lib.il.us (click to subscribe) |
| Member Contact |
Danguole Kviklys, Panduit Corp, dkvik2006@yahoo.com |
| MLS Staff Contact |
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| Meetings |
Informally on a quarterly basis at members’ libraries. Events are posted on the MLS calendar at https://www.librarylearning.info/?LibSys=MLS. |
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Tax Caps |
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| CapCrusaders |
| Description |
Fighting the devastating effects of tax caps on public libraries. |
| Members |
Any libraries affected by or supporting those affected by tax caps. |
| Communication Method |
capcrusaders@mls.lib.il.us (click to subscribe) |
| Member Contact |
Katherine Berggren, Matteson Public Library, berggren@sslic.net |
| MLS Staff Contact |
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Technology |
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| Technology Managers Networking Group |
| Description |
Offers support, sharing of best practices, tips and tricks, and discusses issues surrounding technology in the library for those whose key job functions include managing the technology infrastructure of their library. |
| Members |
Those persons responsible for managing and administering the technology and/or network in an MLS member library, including professional IT persons, staff dedicated to technology support in member libraries, librarians with de facto responsibility for the library technology, and/or contracted technology service providers for a member library. Includes representatives from MLS and SWAN. |
| Communication Method |
Mailing List technologymanagers@mls.lib.il.us (click to subscribe); Wiki http://www.mls.lib.il.us/technologymanagers |
| Member Contact |
Ron Friedman, Northlake Public Library District, friedman [at] northlakelibrary [dot] org |
| MLS Staff Contact |
Su Bochenski, bochenskis@mls.lib.il.us |
| Meetings |
TBD |
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Youth |
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| Children’s Librarians Association of the South Suburbs (CLASS) |
| Description |
A forum for MLS public librarians in the southern suburbs of Chicago, providing continuing education through an open avenue of exchange in materials, ideas and programs pertinent to Youth Services and to promote cooperation among public library members. |
| Members |
Youth Services librarians and library staff from MLS libraries south of I-55. |
| Communication Method |
http://classformls.wikispaces.com/, NWYS and CLASS Yahoo Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mls_nwys_class/ |
| Member Contact |
Maureen Mason, 2010-2011 CLASS President, Lansing Public Library, mmason@lansing.lib.il.us; Phyllis Davis, 2010-2011 CLASS Vice-President, Lansing Public Library, Matteson Public Library, pdavis@sslic.net |
| MLS Staff Contact |
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| Meetings |
Meetings are held the third Monday of September, November, and May and the fourth Monday of January and March. Meetings are from 10:00 a.m..- 1:00 p.m. For meeting locations visit http://classformls.wikispaces.com/Meeting+Notice |
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| Near West Youth Services (NWYS) |
| Description |
A forum for MLS Public Youth Services librarians in the near west suburbs of Chicago, providing an open avenue of exchange in materials, ideas and programs pertinent to Youth Services and to promote cooperation between member public libraries. |
| Members |
Youth Services librarians and support staff serving libraries north of Route I-55 in zones 1-4 of MLS. |
| Communication Method |
NWYS and CLASS Yahoo Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mls_nwys_class/; Wiki http://sites.google.com/site/nwyswiki/ |
| Member Contact |
Noel Zethmayr, 2010 - 2011 NWYS President, La Grange Public Library, zethmayrn@lagrangelibrary.org; Uma Nori, 2010-2011 NWYS Vice-President, Thomas Ford Public Library, uma@fordlibrary.org |
| MLS Staff Contact |
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| Meetings |
Meetings are held the 3rd Monday of September, and the 2nd Monday of November, February, March and May, and take place at various hosting libraries. |
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| Young Adult Special Interest Group (YA SIG) |
| Description |
A forum for YA librarians at all levels, providing opportunities for sharing ideas, concerns, and success stories with respect to all areas of service to young adults. |
| Members |
YA Librarians, part-time YA librarians, and any staff who work with or who are interested in service to YAs. |
| Communication Method |
Contact Jennifer Lowe, Tinley Park Public Library, j_lowe@tplibrary.org |
| Member Contact |
Jennifer Lowe, Tinley Park Public Library, j_lowe@tplibrary.org |
| MLS Staff Contact |
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| Meetings |
The first Monday of August, October, December, February, and April, 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Special presentation in May. See the MLS Calendar for topics to be discussed and meeting location. |
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| YouthNet |
| Description |
An online forum for discussion among Youth Services librarians about issues in library service to children and young adults in libraries. |
| Members |
Librarians and library staff serving children and young adults in any type of library or library system. |
| Communication Method |
youthnet@mls.lib.il.us (click to subscribe) |
| MLS Staff Contact |
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| Vertical Team |
| Description |
A face-to-face forum for dicussion and networking opportunities between public and school libraries in MLS and PALS. |
| Communication Method |
Email Jennifer Bromann, jbromann@lw210.org |
| Member Contact |
Jennifer Bromann, jbromann@lw210.org |
| MLS Staff Contact |
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| Meetings |
Spring and Fall |
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Zones |
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| Zone 1 |
| Description |
An online forum for discussion and networking opportunities between members in Zone 1 and MLS Staff. |
| Members |
Library staff in any library in this zone. To find your library's zone, use the MLS Membership Directory and search by zone. Within each member library’s directory listing, each library's zone information is listed. |
| Communication Method |
zone1@mls.lib.il.us (click to subscribe) |
| Member Contact |
Bill Strecker, Lisle Public Library District, streckerb@lislelibrary.org |
| MLS Staff Contact |
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| Meetings |
Contact the Zone Representative |
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| Zone 2 |
| Description |
An online forum for discussion and networking opportunities between members in Zone 2 and MLS Staff. |
| Members |
Library staff in any library in this zone. To find your library's zone, use the MLS Membership Directory and search by zone. Within each member library’s directory listing, each library's zone information is listed. |
| Communication Method |
zone2@mls.lib.il.us (click to subscribe) |
| Member Contact |
Jane Schoen, Cicero Public Library, jschoen@cicerolibrary.org |
| MLS Staff Contact |
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| Meetings |
Contact the Zone Representative |
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| Zone 34 |
| Description |
An online forum for discussion and networking opportunities between members in Zone 34 and MLS Staff. |
| Members |
Library staff in any library in this zone. To find your library's zone, use the MLS Membership Directory and search by zone. Within each member library’s directory listing, each library's zone information is listed. |
| Communication Method |
zone34@mls.lib.il.us (click to subscribe) |
| Member Contact |
Roger Brayden, Forest Park Public Library, rbrayden@fppl.org |
| MLS Staff Contact |
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| Meetings |
Contact the Zone Representative |
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| Zone 5 |
| Description |
An online forum for discussion and networking opportunities between members in Zone 5 and MLS Staff. |
| Members |
Library staff in any library in this zone. To find your library's zone, use the MLS Membership Directory and search by zone. Within each member library’s directory listing, each library's zone information is listed. |
| Communication Method |
zone5@mls.lib.il.us (click to subscribe) |
| Member Contact |
Nicki Seidl, Evergreen Park Public Library, seidln@hotmail.com |
| MLS Staff Contact |
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| Meetings |
Contact the Zone Representative |
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| Zone 6 |
| Description |
An online forum for discussion and networking opportunities between members in Zone 6 and MLS Staff. |
| Members |
Library staff in any library in this zone. To find your library's zone, use the MLS Membership Directory and search by zone. Within each member library’s directory listing, each library's zone information is listed. |
| Communication Method |
zone6@mls.lib.il.us (click to subscribe) |
| Member Contact |
Allison Y. Heard, Dolton Public Library, doltonpublib@hotmail.com |
| MLS Staff Contact |
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| Meetings |
Contact Adelle Swanson at adelleswanson@comcast.net |
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| Zone 7 |
| Description |
An online forum for discussion and networking opportunities between members in Zone 7 and MLS Staff. |
| Members |
Library staff in any library in this zone. To find your library's zone, use the MLS Membership Directory and search by zone. Within each member library’s directory listing, each library's zone information is listed. |
| Communication Method |
zone7@mls.lib.il.us (click to subscribe) |
| Member Contact |
Pierre Gregoire, Frankfort Public Library,pgregoire@frankfortlibrary.org |
| MLS Staff Contact |
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| Meetings |
Meetings are held the third Thursday at 9:30 a.m., rotating among member libraries alphabetically. |
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| Zone 8 |
| Description |
An online forum for discussion and networking opportunities between members in Zone 8 and MLS Staff. |
| Members |
Library staff in any library in this zone. To find your library's zone, use the MLS Membership Directory and search by zone. Within each member library’s directory listing, each library's zone information is listed. |
| Communication Method |
zone8@mls.lib.il.us (click to subscribe) |
| Member Contact |
Jane Schulten, Crete Public Library District, schulten@sslic.net |
| MLS Staff Contact |
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| Meetings |
Contact the Zone Representative |
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| Zone 9 |
| Description |
An online forum for discussion and networking opportunities between members in Zone 9 and MLS Staff. |
| Members |
Library staff in any library in this zone. To find your library's zone, use the MLS Membership Directory and search by zone. Within each member library’s directory listing, each library's zone information is listed. |
| Communication Method |
zone9@mls.lib.il.us (click to subscribe) |
| Member Contact |
Megan Millen, Flossmoor Public Library, millenm@flossmoorlibrary.org |
| MLS Staff Contact |
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| Meetings |
Contact the Zone Representative |
