Shared Catalogs

For interlibrary loan requests, PALS recommends that PrairieCat, NIC, I-Share, and Sterling libraries first attempt to borrow by placing holds within their own consortium, even if a copy is not immediately available. Stand-alone libraries in PALS should request ILLs from PrairieCat members before looking elsewhere. More ILL information.

PrairieCat is the catalog supported by PALS under the Local Library System Automation Program (LLSAP).  It includes the holdings of more than 350 library locations.

• Search PrairieCat
• PrairieCat Information 
• PALS Directory List: PrairieCat Members

NIC is the catalog of eight libraries in the northern area of PALS.

• Search NIC
• PALS Directory List: NIC Members

I-Share is the shared catalog of dozens of academic libraries in Illinois.

• Search I-Share
• PALS Directory List: PALS I-Share Members

The Sterling Public Library and several schools in the area maintain a shared catalog.

• Search the Sterling Catalog
• PALS Directory List: Sterling Catalog

WorldCat includes the collections of more than 10,000 libraries. Search results focus on libraries in the local area.

• Search WorldCat

SHARE Illinois

PrairieCat and NIC libraries can place holds directly in several shared catalogs outside of PALS.