SWAN News – SWAN Libraries

Using Your Library During the Closing

If your library has recently closed due to COVID-19 concerns, you can still use many of your library’s services.

Place holds

You can still place holds on items, and you will be in the queue for them when your library re-opens.

Try eBooks & online resources

If you haven’t yet tried out the eBook, eAudiobook, streaming media, and online research databases offered by your library now is a good time to try them out.

Learn more about ebooks & audio

Learn more about articles & databatases

If you are having trouble using these services, contact your library – many are still providing phone and online help.

What about due dates?

If your library has closed, please do not return items until your library reopens.

Check your account regularly as due dates could change as the situation progresses.

Library Closings in SWAN

The following libraries in the SWAN consortium are currently closed due to COVID-19. Check your library website for the most up-to-date closings information.

Acorn Public Library District – Closed through at least April 7th
Alsip-Merrionette Park Public Library District – Closed through at least April 7th
Batavia Public Library District – Closed through at least April 7th
Bedford Park Public Library District- Closed through at least April 7th
Beecher Community Library District – Closed until further notice
Bellwood Public Library – Closed until further notice
Bensenville Community Public Library District – Closed until further notice
Berkeley Public Library – Closed through at least April 7th
Berwyn Public Library – Closed through at least April 7th
Bloomingdale Public Library – Closed through at least April 7th
Blue Island Public Library – Closed through at least April 7th
Bridgeview Public Library – Closed through at least April 7th
Broadview Public Library District – Closed through April 30th
Brookfield Public Library – Closed through at least April 7th
Calumet City Public Library – Closed through at least April 7th
Calumet Park Public Library – Closed until further notice
Carol Stream Public Library – Closed through at least April 7th
Chicago Heights Public Library – Closed until further notice
Chicago Ridge Public Library – Closed until further notice
Cicero Public Library – Closed through at least April 7th
Clarendon Hills Public Library – Closed until further notice
Crestwood Public Library District – Closed through at least April 7th
Crete Public Library District – Closed through at least April 7th
Dolton Public Library District – Closed through at least April 7th
Downers Grove Public Library – Closed through at least April 7th
Eisenhower Public Library District – Closed through at least April 7th
Elmwood Park Public Library – Closed through at least April 7th
Evergreen Park Public Library – Closed through at least April 7th
Flossmoor Public Library – Closed through at least April 7th
Forest Park Public Library – Closed through at least April 7th
Frankfort Public Library District – Closed until further notice
Franklin Park Public Library District – Closed until further notice
Geneva Public Library District – Closed until further notice
Glen Ellyn Public Library – Closed until further notice
Glenwood-Lynwood Public Library District – Closed through at least April 7th
Grande Prairie Public Library District – Closed through at least April 7th
Green Hills Library District – Closed through at least April 7th
Harvey Public Library – Closed through at least April 7th
Hillside Public Library – Closed through at least April 7th
Hinsdale Public Library – Closed until further notice
Hodgkins Public Library District- Closed through at least April 7th
Homewood Public Library District – Closed through at least April 7th
Indian Prairie Public Library District – Closed through at least April 7th
Itasca Community Library – Closed through at least April 7th
Justice Pubic Library – Closed through at least April 7th
Kaneville Public Library District- Closed through at least April 7th
La Grange Public Library District – Closed until further notice
La Grange Park Public Library District – Closed until further notice
Lansing Public Library – Closed until further notice
Lyons Public Library – Closed until further notice
Markham Public Library – Closed through at least April 7th
Matteson Area Public Library District – Closed through at least April 7th
Maywood Public Library District – Closed until further notice
McCook Public Library District – Closed until further notice
Melrose Park Public Library – Closed through at least April 7th
Messenger Public Library of North Aurora – Closed until further notice
Midlothian Public Library – Closed through at least April 7th
The Morton Arboretum – Closed until further notice
Nancy L. McConathy Public Library District – Closed through at least April 7th
North Riverside Public Library District – Closed through at least April 7th
Northlake Public Library District – Closed through at least April 7th
Oak Brook Public Library – Closed through at least April 7th
Oak Lawn Public Library – Closed through at least April 7th
Oak Park Public Library – Closed until further notice
Palos Heights Public Library – Closed until further notice
Palos Park Public Library – Closed through at least April 7th
Park Forest Public Library – Closed through at least April 7th
Prairie State College – Closed through at least April 7th
Prairie Trails Public Library District – Closed through at least April 7th
Richton Park Public Library District – Closed through at least April 7th
River Forest Public Library – Closed through at least April 7th
River Grove Public Library – Closed through at least April 7th
Riverdale Public Library District – Closed through at least April 7th
Riverside Public Library- Closed through at least April 7th
Schiller Park Public Library – Closed until further notice
South Holland Public Library – Closed until further notice
St. Charles Public Library District – Closed through at least April 7th
Steger-South Chicago Heights Public Library – Closed through at least April 7th
Stickney-Forest View Public Library District – Closed through at least April 7th
Summit Public Library District – Closed through at least April 7th
Sugar Grove Public Library District – Closed through at least April 7th
The Theosophical Society in America – Closed until further notice
Thornton Public Library – Closed until further notice
Thomas Ford Memorial Library – Closed until further notice
Tinley Park Public Library – Closed through at least April 7th
Town and Country Public Library District – Closed through at least April 7th
University Park Public Library District – Closed through at least April 7th
Villa Park Public Library – Closed through at least April 7th
Westchester Public Library – Closed through at least April 7th
Westmont Public Library – Closed until further notice
West Chicago Public Library District – Closed through at least April 7th
William Leonard Public Library District – Closed through at least April 7th
Woodridge Public Library – Closed through at least April 7th
Wood Dale Public Library District – Closed through at least April 7th
Worth Public Library District – Closed through at least April 7th

19 Kane, DuPage libraries join SWAN, gain access to nearly 10 million items

Library users from 19 public, private, school, and academic libraries are now part of the System Wide Automated Network (SWAN). The library network combines the collections of 97 libraries into a single, searchable public web catalog of nearly 10 million items. Libraries in SWAN share items with each other through the catalog, with many items available for delivery from one library to another via a State-supported courier delivery system. Library cardholders within the 97 libraries will find it easy to visit nearby library or request items for pick-up at their home library or another library participating in SWAN’s pick-up anywhere service.

Countdown to 19 Libraries Joining SWAN

A West Chicago Public Library Reader shares the excitement of an expanded SWAN catalog.

We are in our final days of preparation and data loading in adding 19 libraries to our SWAN family. Our March press release provided an overview of the extended SWAN network.

As you visit SWAN libraries, we hope that you continue to report on #SWANspotting throughout our extended network of 97 libraries. We’ve got a few more to share from our library visits in the past week.

Glen Ellyn Public Library – Spreading Our Wings

Glen Ellyn Public Library’s website provides an update for library users on joining SWAN. Remodeling circulation and meeting spaces is also underway, making the library extremely busy and exciting. Stop in for a #SWANselfie

One patron found time to relax with a good book and a comfortable reading spot. Happy #SWANspotting!

#SWANspotting

Keep an eye out for inflatable swans. If you follow Twitter or Instagram, consider using the #SWANspotting hashtag.

Residents of St. Charles experienced #SWANspotting on March 10th at the annual St. Patrick’s Parade. The St. Charles Public Library staff greeted the community and announced joining the SWAN network on May 1st. Congratulations to the the Library! They took 2nd prize honors for their entry. Along with SWANs in leprechaun attire, library staff promoted the expanded library network and featured “more of what you love.”

Be on the lookout for inflatable swans at your library. If you see one, take a selfie and announce your #SWANspotting adventure! We will feature your entries on this website.

2018 Membership Map

Check out our updated SWAN membership map, including all 97 of our members in 2018!

Click here to view the full SWAN Map 2018

19 Libraries Joining SWAN in 2018

The following 19 libraries will be joining the SWAN network in April and May of 2018. We appreciate the consideration and care the library leadership and staff took in selecting SWAN to create one of the largest library consortium in the US.

Batavia Public Library District
Bensenville Community Public Library District
Bensenville Elementary School District #2
Bloomingdale Public Library
Carol Stream Public Library
Geneva Public Library District
Glen Ellyn Public Library
Itasca Community Library
Kaneville Public Library District
Messenger Public Library of North Aurora
National University of Health Sciences
Oak Brook Public Library
Saint Charles Public Library District
Sugar Grove Public Library District
Theosophical Society in America
Town and Country Public Library District
Villa Park Public Library
West Chicago Public Library District
Wood Dale Public Library District

SWAN Moves to New Location

Since its origin in 1974, SWAN has had a place in the Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS) Burr Ridge office. This close-knit community has received the benefit of RAILS’ support for everything from financial grants to resource sharing, expertise of RAILS staff, and a place to call home.

In 2016, as a step towards SWAN’s continued strategic operational independence, a lease and build-out agreement were signed and a new facility is finally ready for our staff and membership. We’ve moved in and are excited to share that our new address is:

System Wide Automated Network
800 Quail Ridge Drive
Westmont, IL 60559

SWAN staff are thrilled about the new building, especially the large windows to let in plenty of natural light. We’ve also built out our office to accommodate flexible scheduling, meaning that staff may be working from the building or off location, and there are flex offices to save and share space.

Staff are also able to look out upon a (frozen) pond and we’re located right next to a beautiful forest preserve.

Earlier this month, RAILS threw a going-away party for SWAN staff to celebrate our long history together, as well as wish us luck moving forward in our organization’s future. SWAN has been incredibly fortunate to work alongside RAILS for so long, and we loved the variety of swan cakes and decorations. Check out this coconut cake and this buttercream frosting confection!

SWAN has had a very busy 2016, and we’re looking forward to this coming year and our continued mission of improving library services to our membership. We hope RAILS and SWAN members, as well as others in the library community, will stop by soon to say hello.

Franklin Park Public Library District Joins SWAN

The Franklin Park Public Library District is the newest member of the SWAN community, joining 78 other libraries in promoting resource-sharing and accessing a collective library catalog of more than 8 million items.

Becoming a SWAN member library also means that patrons have a host of different ways to interact with their library accounts: Franklin Park patrons can use their library cards at any of SWAN’s locations and check out materials, select items from the catalog to have delivered to their home library, or can choose to have their items delivered to a member library of their choice (known as “Pick Up Anywhere”).

In addition, patrons can receive email, text, phone, or print notifications about their account, as well as receive these notifications in their language preference, like English, Spanish, Polish, and more.

To get familiar with the new look of the library account and catalog, check out these short video tutorials and other account information.

Being a part of the SWAN community means promoting library accessibility and usability to fit every patron’s unique needs. SWAN is always striving to improve service to our members, and is excited to welcome Franklin Park Public Library District.

SWAN Welcomes Lansing Public Library to Consortium

Lansing Public Library patrons can expect to see a much larger collection of materials in their catalog today—about 8 million items are now available to the Lansing community, as well as new ways to access and interact with your library account.

The changes come as Lansing Public Library goes live within the SWAN library consortium and becomes its newest member to enjoy the benefits of participating in the 79-library community.

However, Lansing is no stranger to SWAN, having been one of the original nine libraries to come together in the spirit of resource-sharing back in March 1974. The other eight libraries include Alsip, Dolton, Eisenhower, Elmhurst, Harvey, Northlake, Oak Park, and Park Forest.

As a member today, Lansing patrons can use their library cards at any of SWAN’s locations and check out materials, select items from the catalog to have delivered to their home library, or can choose to have their items delivered to a member library of their choice (known as “Pick Up Anywhere”).

Patrons can also receive email, text, phone, or print notifications about their account, as well as receive these notifications in their language preference (English, Spanish, Polish, and more).

SWAN promotes library accessibility and usability to fit every patron’s unique needs, and is always striving to improve service to our members. As Lansing patrons are getting used to their new library accounts, these short video tutorials may be helpful.

And of course, a librarian is always available to answer questions.

Welcome to SWAN!