Q. What is I-Share?

In a broad sense, I-Share is a system that supports resource sharing between almost 90 Illinois libraries belonging to CARLI (Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois).  Oakton Library users are most likely to think of I-Share as a vast online catalog with millions of resources.  Here are a few tips to help you make the distinction between performing an Oakton-only catalog search and an I-Share catalog search:

1. Connect to the Oakton Library Catalog, also known as O.W.L. (Oakton's Whole Library)
    
2. As you enter search terms in the search bar, a drop-down menu appears. The default option -- "O.W.L. Oakton's Whole Library" -- covers all of the Oakton Library's articles, e-books, audiobooks, print books, streaming videos, DVDs, and more.  To expand your search beyond Oakton, switch this option to "All I-Share Libraries."
    
3. After signing in with your Oakton username and password, you can request circulating materials from I-Share Libraries.  At Oakton, you will hear this referred to as "getting a book through I-Share," "InterLibrary Loan," or "ILL."