The RiverShare Library consortium is based on a long-history of library cooperation in the Illinois and Iowa Quad Cities. In 1966, local libraries formed Quad City Libraries in Cooperation (Quad-LINC) to share items and offer interlibrary lending to each other's patrons.
The 1967 Illinois Library System Act established library systems, including the River Bend Library System in Coal Valley, IL. Library systems promoted the sharing of library resources through delivery and automation services.
The Quad City system was an early and unique model of cooperation across state lines. RiverBend provided services to a mix of public, academic, and special-purpose libraries from the Iowa Quad Cities and the Illinois counties of Bureau, Henry, Rock Island, and Whiteside. In 1986, this group introduced the computerized Quad-LINC catalog, which made it easier to search the holdings of member libraries. In March 2004, the text-based catalog system was enhanced with an upgrade to a web-based SIRSI catalog.
In 2004, Illinois Library Systems started a process of consolidation, beginning with the merger of RiverBend, Heritage Trail and Rolling Prairie Library Systems. Known as the Prairie Area Library System (PALS) the system renamed the Quad-LINC catalog to Prairie Cat in 2007. Further consolidation created the Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS) in 2009.
With the additional pressures on this statewide system, several local libraries realized they faced the potential loss of cross-state library material sharing and delivery. To maintain the unique Quad City character of wide-spread reciprocal borrowing, 20 area libraries returned to a more local computer system, forming RiverShare Libraries in 2011.The local, vendor-hosted alternative allowed RiverShare Libraries to assume more control over catalog updates and material distribution.
The RiverShare catalog debuted on November 2, 2011, with a member network of three university libraries, three community college libraries, and 14 public libraries representing 30 separate locations. Members share costs for the automation system and delivery to and from Iowa, allowing the Quad Cities to maintain its unique custom of sharing materials across state lines. Illinois libraries receive additional delivery support through RAILS.
In July, 2016, the Illinois libraries re-joined the library system in Illinois. RiverShare Libraries now consists of over 16 area library locations that RiverShare patrons can use to locate and borrow materials.
Bettendorf Public Library, 2950 Learning Campus Dr, Bettendorf, IA
Clinton Community College Library, 1000 Lincoln Blvd, Clinton, IA
Clinton Public Library, 306 8th Ave S, Clinton, IA
LeClaire Community Library, 323 Wisconsin St, LeClaire, IA
Muscatine Community College Library, 152 Colorado St, Muscatine, IA
Musser Public Library, 408 East 2nd St, Muscatine, IA
Scott Community College Library, 500 Belmont Rd, Bettendorf, IA
BPL - Bettendorf Public Library
CCC - Clinton Community Library
CPL - Clinton Public Library
DPL - Davenport Main
DPA - Davenport Fairmount Branch
DPB - Davenport Eastern Branch
LEC - LeClaire Community Library
MCC - Muscatine Community College
MUS - Musser Public Library
SCC - Scott Community College
SEL - Scott County Library Eldridge- (Branches SBG, SBK, SBU, SDU, SPR, SWA)
1966: Quad City libraries formed Quad Cities Libraries in Cooperation (Quad-LINC) to lend materials between local libraries. This group eventually becomes the River Bend Library System.
1967: River Bend Library System established under the authority of the Illinois Library System Act.
1985/86: Quad-LINC catalog combined local library items into one searchable computer database.
August 2003: River Bend Library System chose SIRSI IBistro for their new web-based catalog.
March 9, 2004: SIRSI-based Quad-LINC system became available to library patrons.
2006: River Bend merged with other Illinois systems to form Prairie Area Library System (PALS).
April 2007: Quad-LINC catalog was renamed PrairieCat.
July 2011: Prairie Area Library System merged with other library systems to form RAILS (Reaching Across Illinois Library System).
2011: Twenty Quad City libraries formed RiverShare Libraries to increase local decision making and control of items.
July 2011: Polaris Library System was chosen to host the new RiverShare Catalog.
Nov. 2, 2011: The Polaris-based RiverShare Catalog became available to library patrons.
July 2016: RiverShare libraries in Illinois left RiverShare with the remaining Iowa Libraries continuing to provide full services among their 17 library locations.