Springfield — Librarians from throughout Illinois gathered in Schaumburg and Springfield recently for the 5th annual Electronic Resource Expo (E-R-XPO) sponsored by the Illinois State Library.
Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White said the annual free events are designed to allow librarians to meet with vendors individually and during focus group sessions and learn about resource products available to enhance service to their patrons.
"Our annual electronic resource expos showcase the latest in electronic resource products," White said. "Vendors exhibit, discuss and sell various tools and databases that benefit all types of libraries. As State Librarian, I am committed to making sure our libraries remain technologically advanced, and that members of the library community can learn about and have access to the most up to date resources needed to meet the ever-changing needs of patrons."
Each year the Illinois State Library offers more than 4,000 academic, special, public and school libraries access to a number of electronic resources at little or no charge. This unique alliance, called the Illinois Library and Information Network, or ILLINET, allows the State Library to fulfill one of its most important goals-ensuring that libraries can share resources to meet the needs of patrons.
"ILLINET is a superb example of libraries cooperating with one another and sharing resources to provide statewide access to information," White said. "Citizens will benefit greatly from the networking and resources librarians obtain at events like our annual E-R-XPO."
Among those participating in this year's E-R-XPO were representatives of Lexis-Nexis, World Book, Oxford University Press, NoveList, NewsBank, Gale Group, H.W. Wilson and Tutor.com.
Co-sponsors of the events were the Schaumburg Township District Library, the University of Illinois at Springfield and the ILLINET Network Advisory Council.
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