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History

SWAN was formed in 1974 when staff from nine public libraries located in the south suburban Chicago area formed the System Wide Automation Network (SWAN) consortium.

Currently, 100 library members (including 95 public libraries, 2 college libraries, 1 school district (3 schools), and 2 special libraries) make up the consortium. SWAN became an intergovernmental instrumentality in September 2010. Previously, the Metropolitan Library System had been the legally recognized agent for SWAN.

SWAN is formally registered as System Wide Automated Network but it is doing business as SWAN Library Services.

View a timeline of SWAN milestones