Recently six library districts made a big decision which may affect how you usually use your library card. Fountaindale Public Library District (Bolingbrook), Joliet Public Library District (Downtown and Black Road), Plainfield Public Library District, Shorewood-Troy Public Library District, Lemont Public Library District, and White Oak Library District (Lockport-Crest Hill-Romeoville) made the decision to leave the PrairieCat consortium and form the Pinnacle Library Cooperative.

What this means is that patrons who do not live in these towns will have to register their library card as a “reciprocal borrower” (one time only) at the circulation desk when they visit these libraries in order to check out materials from them. It also means that while they may have the item you need, it will not visible in our catalog and direct holds can no longer be placed by patrons from our computer. Does this mean you can’t get their items any longer? Absolutely not. It means that we will have to place the hold for you. A service we happily provide. It will still be delivered to us and we will still make sure you get what you need. We can also still send your items back to these locations if you wish to return them to us. While Pinnacle is a consortium still in its infancy we expect what they will and won’t allow to change as it figure things out. For now they are agreeing to allow you to place a hold at their library yourself if you agree to pick it up there as well. This may change. Also fines you incur there will not be visible on our computers and not payable at our library.

Please remember that PrairieCat is a consortium of over 150 libraries and if you need it we can get it. We wish the Pinnacle Libraries the best of luck and hope to minimize any inconvenience this decission may cause you.

Sincerely,
Maria Meachum
Director