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Return On Investment Handout for Library Stakeholders

Submitted by John Kirchner on Fri, 05/02/2025 - 12:58pm

The IHLS Communications Department has created a customizable Canva template so SHARE members can communicate with stakeholders easily and effectively. Using data from the SHARE Data Dashboard and a few simple calculations, you can make a professional and informative flyer to distribute to patrons, board members, students, and other stakeholders. This template includes multiple examples and instructions on how to customize it.

SHARE Statistics Dashboards

Submitted by John Kirchner on Tue, 12/10/2024 - 11:08am

Note: The links below will now direct you to the IHLS website, where you will have to log in to view the data dashboards. If you have bookmarked these links, please update your bookmarks with the new URLs.

Exciting News for SHARE Members! Illinois Heartland Library System has just launched three new dashboards to empower SHARE member libraries with valuable insights.

Aspen 26.04 Update

Submitted by John Kirchner on Thu, 05/07/2026 - 12:56pm

Aspen Discovery has been updated to version 26.04. Below are highlights of the new update. You can also view the full release notes and a demo of the latest features, courtesy of Grove for Libraries.

April 2026 Windows 11 Update and Polaris Popup

Submitted by Brandon Chapman on Thu, 04/16/2026 - 4:46pm

If your Windows 11 computer has the April 2026 cumulative update installed you will see one or two popups shortly after you double-click the Polaris ILS Live (SHARE Members Access) icon. Click Read more for more information on how to connect to Polaris following this update.

SHAREables Book Leasing

Submitted by Cassandra Thompson on Thu, 04/16/2026 - 12:00am

Need books? Try collection development made easy – SHAREables Book Leasing!

Imagine a steady stream of shelf-ready bestsellers for your patrons each month, reducing patron holds and saving staff time.

SHAREables Book Leasing (formerly McNaughton Book Leasing for SHARE) includes unique packages developed exclusively for SHARE members: a small plan with 5 preselected adult fiction books per month, a large plan with 10 preselected adult fiction books per month, or our *new* premium plan, with a choice to select the titles you want, including the most popular titles or even large print!

Sign up here!

This is the first-of-its-kind book leasing program for consortia. The program and its pricing are exclusive to SHARE.

Committee Volunteers Needed!

Submitted by John Kirchner on Mon, 03/02/2026 - 11:13am

SHARE has an immediate opening for the SHARE Circulation & Resource Sharing Committee. In July, the SHARE Executive Council will also have an opening for a school library representative.

Aspen Holdings

Submitted by John Kirchner on Mon, 03/02/2026 - 11:08am

Would you like your catalog to show the number of available copies, the number of patrons on the waitlist, both, or neither?

If you have an Aspen Administration account, that setting can be found in Aspen Admin under Primary ConfigurationLibrary Systems>Holdings Summary>Show Hold and Copy Counts, then select the option you would prefer.

Updated Procedure for Delivery Transit Tubs & Bags at Member Libraries

Submitted by John Kirchner on Mon, 03/02/2026 - 10:59am

With the discontinuation of transit receipts for SHARE members, it has become more difficult for both delivery drivers and member libraries to determine whether items in a transit tub have been processed.

To reduce confusion and ensure smooth daily operations, we are implementing a clear visual process for processed items.

Suggestion Box

Reports and Notices in Polaris Leap

Submitted by John Kirchner on Thu, 02/05/2026 - 8:27am

The SHARE Team is pleased to announce that all reports and notices previously only available in Polaris Original are now accessible in Polaris Leap. Instructions for accessing these features are provided below. If you have any questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out.