PrairieCat is governed by two bodies:
Delegates Assembly
The PrairieCat Delegates Assembly is the membership body that approves the budget, major purchases and membership changes for the consortium. Each Fully Participating or Basic Online member library shall appoint its chief administrator or another staff member to act as the Delegate on the Delegates Assembly. The Delegate may also designate, in writing, an alternate to vote in their absence. The four Union List member representatives are also voting members of the Delegates Assembly.
Attendance
Delegates Assembly attendance is a membership requirement for Fully Participating and Basic Online members and the four Union Listing representatives, per the PrairieCat Intergovernmental Agreement. Meetings are held quarterly on the last Wednesday in July, October, January and April each year. PrairieCat will need to meet a quorum of 55 in person attendees among the in person meeting locations. The option to attend remotely via Zoom is available for personal illness or disability, employment purposes, family or other emergency, and unexpected childcare obligation. If a member library or Union List Delegate is not represented by their Delegate or Alternate at two of the four scheduled Delegates Assembly meetings, a fine in the amount of $150 will be assessed to that member library. Please refer to the Bylaws for details.
Delegates Assembly Meetings (Upcoming)
The official list of Delegate Assembly Delegates and Alternates is provided below. Please send changes in writing to Carolyn Coulter, PrairieCat Director.
Attachment | Size |
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Delegates and Alternates List FY25 - pdf 92.15 kb (92.15 KB) | 92.15 KB |
Administrative Council
The Administrative Council is an eleven member elected board that sets policy and makes recommendations to the Delegates Assembly for major purchases, the budget, and membership changes. The Administrative Council meets monthly, rotating meeting sites within the PrairieCat service area. Members of the Administrative Council, their elected seat and the expiration of their term, are listed below. Administrative Council elections are held each spring.
PrairieCat is subject to the Open Meetings Act, and members of the Administrative Council must complete the electronic OMA training once during their term of election or appointment. The training must be completed within 90 days of assuming their office. The Public Access Counselor’s Office’s OMA electronic training is available free of charge at:
http://foia.ilattorneygeneral.net/.
Seat | Office | Name | Library | Term Expiration | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
At Large | Chair | Megan Gove | megan.gove@prairiecat.info | Talcott Free LD | June 30, 2026 |
At Large | Michelle Krooswyk | michelle.krooswyk@prairiecat.info | New Lenox PL | June 30, 2026 | |
At Large | Julie Wayland | julie.wayland@prairiecat.info | Princeton PL | June 30, 2026 | |
Tier 3 Public | Jenna Diedrich | jenna.diedrich@prairiecat.info | Galena PL | June 30, 2027 | |
Tier 1 Public | Ashley Huffines | ashley.huffines@prairiecat.info | Freeport PL | June 30, 2027 | |
Tier 3 Public | Vice-Chair | Barbara Posinger | barbara.posinger@prairiecat.info | Sandwich PLD | June 30, 2027 |
Tier 2 Public | Treasurer | Beth Ryan | beth.ryan@prairiecat.info | Johnsburg PL | June 30, 2027 |
Tier 1 Public | Secretary | Kim Brozovich | kim.brozovich@prairiecat.info | Rock Island PL | June 30, 2028 |
At Large | Penny Bryant | penny.bryant@prairiecat.info | Pecatonica PLD | June 3, 2028 | |
Tier 2 Public | Kelly McCully | kelly.mccully@prairiecat.info | Bourbonnais PLD | June 30, 2028 | |
Academic/Special/School | Stephanie Nissen | stephanie.nissen@prairiecat.info | Rockford University | June 30, 2028 |
Attachment | Size |
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Administrative Council Roles and Responsibilities (pdf 72.15 KB) (72.15 KB) | 72.15 KB |
Administrative Council Annual Workplan (pdf 96.36 KB) (96.36 KB) | 96.36 KB |
FY26 Administrative Council Members - pdf (102.26 KB) | 102.26 KB |
FY26 Administrative Council Meetings - pdf (126.31 KB) | 126.31 KB |
Open Meetings Act Information Sheet (pdf 25.81 KB) (25.81 KB) | 25.81 KB |
FY26 Board Manual - pdf (3.86 MB) | 3.86 MB |
Ad Hoc Committees & Members FY26 - pdf, 92.71 KB (92.71 KB) | 92.71 KB |
FY26 PrairieCat Governance and Committee Meeting Schedule - pdf, 215.89 KB (215.89 KB) | 215.89 KB |
PrairieCat Administrative Council Public Library Representation Tiers FY26 (135.36 KB) | 135.36 KB |
FY24 Statistics Nov 2023 (xlsx 86.64 KB) (86.64 KB) | 86.64 KB |
FY24 Annual Report - pdf, 5.99 MB (5.99 MB) | 5.99 MB |
Governing and Legal Documents
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
PrairieCat Intergovernmental Agreement - pdf (84.59 KB) | 84.59 KB |
Prevailing Wage Resolution - pdf (970.65 KB) | 970.65 KB |
Sexual Harassment Resolution - pdf (2.66 MB) | 2.66 MB |
Approved PrairieCat General Policy Manual July 11, 2025 - pdf (826.62 KB) | 826.62 KB |
Approved PrairieCat Bylaws April 30, 2025 - pdf (321.4 KB) | 321.4 KB |
PrairieCat Strategic Play FY25-FY27 - pdf (427.52 KB) | 427.52 KB |
Innovative Interfaces Incorporated Contract July 1, 2022 - pdf (5.69 MB) | 5.69 MB |