This final report describes the plan developed by the Northern Illinois Learning Resources Cooperative, a consortium of 44 community colleges and other academic institutions, which was awarded a Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) Title III planning grant to research the requirements for a statewide electronic network that would provide for the transmission of high-quality voice, data, and video signals among public, academic, school, and special libraries. The consortium was also charged with recommending the most cost-effective and efficient way to implement such a network. The report covers the following topics: (1) the purposes of the grant; (2) the methodology and goals of the study; (3) the process and results (concerns and services) of a needs assessment; (4) the current library and education telecommunications environment (voice, data, video, and integrated networks in the state) and selected statewide or integrated networks outside the state; (5) trends in library services and telecommunications technology; and (6) functional design criteria, including the purpose and functions of a state library telecommunications network, functional design requirements, and network strategies. Alternatives for meeting telecommunications needs for the next 5-10 years are also presented, together with recommendations for the development of a library telecommunications network, a management action plan for implementing the recommendations, and projected target dates. Additional information about the study is appended (including maps and descriptions of several proposed or actual networks) and a glossary is provided. (53 references) (CGD)