International Coalition of Library Consortia

Chicago Library System
CLS
Website: http://www.chilibsys.org

Brief description

CLS is one of 12 library systems in Illinois. We serve 51 academic libraries, 235 special libraries and the Chicago Public Library and Chicago Public school libraries. We are in the beginning stages of serving our members in a virtual environment.

CLS is the catalyst for the innovative, the creative, and the cutting edge to transform service for the Chicago library community. CLS is a leader in teaching, exploring, modeling, recruiting, and mentoring. We are the unified voice for Chicago's libraries.

The mission of the Chicago Library System is to provide cooperative system services for the large and diverse community of libraries in Chicago; to facilitate the sharing of resources among libraries for the benefit of all; and, to develop library services beyond the scope of the individual member libraries.

Legal structure

Government-supported

Primary functions

• Collections sharing
• Interlibrary loan/document delivery
• Training
• Union lists/shared online catalogs
• Other: Shared automation system

Number and type of member libraries

350, Academic, Public, Special, School, Multi