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Sarah McHone-Chase (2007-2010, St.U), Northern Illinois University, Chair

Mary Burkee (2009-2011, StU), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Belinda Cheek (2009-2012, Pr), North Central College
Sandy Craig (2009-2011, CC), Illinois Eastern Community Colleges
Keith Eiten (2007-2010, Pr), Wheaton College
Nancy Laverdiere (2009-2012, St.U), Western Illinois University
Carlos Melian (2009-2012, St.U), Northeastern Illinois University
Jason Rossi (2009-2011, Pr) Robert Morris College
Karen Whisler (2009-2011, StU) Eastern Illinois University
Carol Reid (2007-2010, CC), Heartland Community College
Alexis Rogers (2009-2010, CC) Lincoln Land Community College
Stephen Smith (2007-2010, St. U), University of Illinois at Springfield
(Terms, (CC = community college; Pr = private; and St.U = state university))

CARLI Staff Liaison: Lorna Engels

Charge

Body to which the group reports: the CARLI Board.

Purpose

The I-Share Users' Group (IUG) serves to coordinate the consortial aspects of the I-Share system, developing best practices and seeking and promoting opportunities for consortial collaboration in support of greater efficiency and better service to member libraries and users.

Functions

• The I-Share Users' Group (IUG) coordinates, facilitates and supports the work of its subordinate function-based teams regarding I-Share system efficiencies and functionalities.
• System-related areas addressed by IUG and its functional teams broadly include acquisitions of all formats of materials; cataloging, authority control and metadata creation; maintaining adherence to pertinent standards; creating a sustainable, accessible, easy-to-use and high-performance online public access catalog; enhancing system capacity for search and retrieval of data; delivery of content; and resource sharing.
• Specific activities of IUG and its functional teams also broadly include, preparing recommendations concerning specification, selection, implementation, and ongoing instruction and support for tools and services related to the respective functional areas; facilitating topical discussions by means of face-to-face forums and electronic communications; and assisting the CARLI Office in planning educational and training workshops for the membership.
• IUG participates in the evaluation of broader initiatives and service innovations beyond the consortium and makes recommendations for their implementation to benefit I-Share participant ibraries and CARLI as a whole.
• IUG develops continuing education events such as forums and workshops for participating libraries and incorporates elements of pertinent CARLI initiatives and additional public program recommendations received from the I-Share Teams and I-Share participant  libraries.
• IUG suggests mechanisms to assess our consortial operations, and to identify good models, appropriate metrics, and best practices in our consortial efforts.

Relationships

• The I-Share Users’ Group (IUG) advises the CARLI staff and the CARLI Board on issues related to the I-Share membership, including the functional aspects of the shared ILS and related systems, and consortial policies, practices and future directions.
• IUG communicates with member libraries and other CARLI bodies to facilitate cooperative initiatives.
• The IUG will provide this coordination and facilitation with particular reference to the CARLI strategic plan and with the explicit consideration of all CARLI libraries.

Process for identifying, appointing and replacing members and terms of service:
The committee members will serve a 3-year term and terms will commence on July 1. The committee members will be appointed from a pool of volunteers and/or nominees. Every spring, IUG will identify 3-5 current members who will serve as a Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee reviews the volunteer list and establishes a draft roster for IUG and the IUG subcommittees. The CARLI Executive Committee will review the draft roster of the IUG, make any suggestions for changes as appropriate, and notify Nominating Committee of the final roster. A rotation system will be established so that approximately a third of the committee membership is appointed each year. In the case of mid-term vacancies, the IUG will recommend candidates, and the CARLI Executive Committee will appoint new committee members to fill the remaining portion of the term.

Expected reporting frequency: The committee chair will submit a written report of committee’s activities to the CARLI Board at the end of the fiscal year (June 30). Additional updates on activities may be requested by the CARLI Board throughout the year.

Staff or Board liaisons: One CARLI Office staff representative will serve as the liaison to IUG. The IUG chair will report on committee plans and activities at the CARLI Board meetings. The IUG chair or CARLI Office staff representative will report back to the committee on plans and activities discussed at the CARLI Board meetings.

Tasks required on completion of work: The chair will forward documents dealing with staffing, policy, and budget issues to the CARLI Board for review and approval.