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News Monthly Newsletter September 2004 |
Contents:
At the State Library Library Service & Customer Service - Jo Budler E-Rate & Technology Plans - Missy Lodge Youth Services Idea Exchange - Ruth Metcalf KnowItNow 24/7 Reference Service State Library Board Report Upcoming Events Around & About Ohio St. Paris Comes to the State Library Top 100 Libraries in the Country First Public Library to Share Books Through OhioLINK Toledo Library Rated 6th Best in Country |
Library Service & Customer Service |
Jo Budler State Librarian |
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Since my arrival in Ohio, I have been busily attending meetings, visiting libraries, and learning, learning, learning.
On September 21st, I had the privilege of speaking to the NOLA Regional Library System Fall membership meeting that was held at the new Middlefield Library, of Geauga County Public Library. If you have not been to this new facility, you are in for a treat. Not only is the facility bright and cheery, it is customized to its location and to its customers, inside and out, complete with a boat and a bridge to a child-size door into the storytime area! But even before I set foot into this library, I was alerted to this attention to customer service when I read the Geauga County Public Library's Lines&Links. A highlighted feature: "Expanded parking for cars and buggies." Truly this library was planned and built with its customers in mind.
We know our business is not |
I have found that librarians seem to understand and practice good customer service better than almost any other group of professionals. We know our business is not about the material or information itself but rather providing this to our customers. No library can own all the material that their customers might want. But what if all of the collections of all Ohio libraries were accessible to all Ohio residents? And what if this was connected to an efficient delivery system so that material could be requested and delivered within 24 hours? What we would have is a method of sharing our resources in a cost-effective manner, providing our customers with what they wanted, when they wanted it - something that people have come to expect and value.
What I am describing is a statewide resource sharing model. In the past, the State Library has worked with various groups in the public, academic and school library community to encourage resource sharing. At this time, the State Library is planning to bring together an advisory group to continue discussions and to work on a plan for making an all-inclusive statewide resource sharing model a reality. More details about this will be forthcoming as the process is developed and information is available.
E-Rate & Technology PlansE-Rate Filing, the State Library, and You |
Missy Lodge Library Programs Administrator |
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Ahh Fall, when every public librarian's thoughts turn to submitting their E-Rate forms. No way you say? Why not? E-Rate is a (fairly) simple and straightforward way to receive between 20% and 90% discount on telecommunication services, Internet access and internal connections.
The State Library has two E-Rate program goals for Ohio:
In 2002 40 public libraries applied for E-Rate funding and received around $1.8 million. In 2003 75 public libraries applied and the anticipated return is approximately $2.7 million. The State Library hopes this trend will continue. To that end, this fall there will be another round of E-Rate workshops hosted by Dan Farslow, Ohio SchoolNet Commission. Details on the workshops were posted on SLOlist and OPLIN and registration is now available on WINSLO. To register for a workshop please go to http://www.slocem.lib.oh.us. These workshops will teach librarians how to successfully complete the E-Rate application forms. Any questions you may have will be answered at these workshops.
... if the library is applying for ONLY |
Some librarians may not wish to attend the State Library workshops or participate in the E-Rate program due to misconceptions surrounding the current suspension of the E-Rate awards. The truth is that there is no indication that the E-Rate program will be reduced or abolished. What has happened is that USAC has been directed by the FCC to strengthen oversight procedures and to move to government accounting standards. This transition has caused difficulties which resulted in the suspension of awards. All librarians receiving state and federal funds have been in similar situations. Once the accounting issues have been addressed, award announcements will recommence. In the meantime, SLD is continuing to approve 2004-2005 applications and is ready to receive applications for 2005-2006.
Remember too, that if the library is applying for ONLY local and long distance service neither a Technology Plan nor filtering is required. The E-Rate process just got easier!
If a library is applying for E-Rate funds for Internet access or Internal connections, prior to submitting the 470 form a library must submit a Technology Plan to the State Library. Approved Plans are good for up to three years. Although the Plan does not have to be approved by the State Library when the 470 is submitted, it MUST BE in the hands of the State Library. Please make sure you comply with this requirement. If you need to verify whether or not you have a current, approved Plan on file with the State Library, please contact Julia Ward at jward@sloma.state.oh.us, 800-686-1532 or 644-614-644-6863.
As with any type of planning, writing a Technology Plan should not be perceived as a burden. Additionally, having a Technology Plan is a good idea, whether or not the library applies for E-Rate funding beyond basic telecommunication costs. A Technology Plan will guide the use of E-Rate funds, and more importantly, will guide the use of all resources needed to take advantage of technology in all aspects of library operations and services.
What does the State Library do when a Technology Plan is received? Each Technology Plan is routed to a panel of in-house reviewers who read the Plan and evaluate it against the Checklist provided by the Schools and Libraries Division (SLD). The specific criteria are:
As with any type of planning, |
Once the review panel evaluates the Technology Plan one of two actions will occur. In most cases, the library will receive a letter certifying that their Technology Plan has been approved. In a few instances, there may be questions about the Technology Plan or some sections that need additional clarification. State Library staff will work with you in order to ensure that the library has an approved Plan by the time services begin. (A library must have an approved Technology Plan when the applicant submits the From 486 at the time for which the delivery of services begins, usually July 1 of the funding year).
The submission and approval of Technology Plans to the State Library is in the process of transitioning to the Planning, Evaluation and Research (PER) Division. As part of this transition we will be initiating new services to assist public libraries with their Technology Plans. For those public libraries with Technology Plans on file, we will alert you approximately nine months prior to the end-date of the Plan to give the library ample time to prepare a new Technology Plan. Libraries should be monitoring and updating the Technology Plan on an ongoing basis so writing a new Technology Plan should not be onerous. Secondly, if a public library is just beginning the writing process upon request samples of well-written Technology Plans will be sent to assist and guide you in your efforts.
Finally, the State Library in cooperation with OCLC and Webjunction will be working with a select group of public librarians who will use the NPower tools on Webjunction to complete a Technology Plan. Using the NPower tools should prove to be a simple, non-threatening way to complete a solid Technology Plan. Those librarians that participate in the initial program will then share their experiences with librarians across the state. You will hear more about this exciting new initiative in the near future.
For more information on E-Rate see:
For questions regarding Technology Plans please contact Roger Verny, Deputy State Librarian 614-644-6849, 800-686-1532, rverny@sloma.state.oh.us or Missy Lodge, Library Programs Administrator 614-644-6914, 800-686-1532, mlodge@sloma.state.oh.us
Youth Services Idea ExchangeA New Resource For Children's Librarians |
Ruth Metcalf Library Consultant |
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The Youth Services Idea Exchange (YSIE) was created by the State Library of Ohio to help librarians find easy, inexpensive program ideas covering a wide range of topics, activities, and ages.
We wanted to offer children's librarians a searchable resource for new ideas. Our goal is to offer program ideas that librarians can easily implement after reading the YSIE listing. Ideas on the YSIE are characterized according to three main categories: Topic, Audience and Cost. Currently, we have ideas available in these topics:
Our goal is to offer program ideas |
Other topics that we will cover in the future include:
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Submissions of programs are welcome and it is easy to do. Click on the link Submit an Idea located in the navigation area at the bottom of the page and follow the instructions. Ideas are forwarded to Ruth Metcalf at the State Library and edited as needed.
We hope you find the Youth Services Idea Exchange to be a valuable tool in your work with families and children. We welcome your submissions to the database as well!
Questions about the Idea Exchange may be directed to Ruth Metcalf at rmetcalf@sloma.state.oh.us or call 1-800-686-1532.
In addition, the Librarian's Toolkit on the State Library's website offers a Youth Services section with many wonderful resources. Some of the resources included are information about children's literature, links to competencies for youth services librarians, as well as links to resources on funding, family literacy, collection development and intellectual freedom.
State Library Of Ohio Launches Virtual Reference ServiceAnswers Questions 24/7, With Real Time Answers From Professional Librarians |
Madeline Brookshire Cuyahoga County Public Library |
The statewide introduction of KnowItNow 24/7 was inaugurated at a ceremony at the Northwest Library in Columbus, Ohio on September 7, 2004. The Northwest Library is a cooperative project of the Columbus Metropolitan Library and Worthington Libraries, and is managed by Worthington Libraries.
Utilizing a $936,000 grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) awarded by the State Library of Ohio, all persons living in the State of Ohio can now use the State's online 24/7 virtual reference service. The online service, available at www.KnowItNow.org, is designed to provide all residents, whether they do or do not possess a library card, with access to information, regardless of the time of day.
According to Joanne Budler, State Librarian of Ohio, "To use the service, all that Ohio residents need to do is log on to www.KnowItNow.org, and enter their zip code. From that point, the Web site offers a variety of reference options." Referencing the user-friendly layout of the site, Ms. Budler said, "Users can ask questions on a variety of topics, chat in real time with a librarian, find answers to their questions, and get homework help."
Resources from business and finance, to health and medicine, from science and technology to genealogy, are all accessible from the site, with librarians staffing the service for real time answers to questions asked by online users of the service. Tutors are available to assist students from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. seven days a week. Access to the Web site is obtainable from a home computer, a personal laptop, a computer at work or in the library.
In the first day of usage, 354 questions were answered
KnowItNow.org is one of only a few virtual reference services made available through a statewide public library system in the United States. The free service is supported by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services funds, granted through the State Library of Ohio. The Cuyahoga County Public Library, Cleveland Public Library and the NOLA Regional Library System have partnered to provide this service so that all Ohio citizens will have high quality, equal access to library service when they need it and where they need it.
September State Library Board ReportSeptember 30, 2004 |
(left to right) Jo Budler Lucille Hastings Ann Baines Carl J. Stich (not pictured) Dr. George Paulson David Miller |
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The September meeting of the State Library Board was held at the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.
The Board approved 5 federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA ) full grants, totaling $334,515. For this full grant round, the State Library received 19 eligible proposals with a combined federal request of $1,520,581.
Receiving grants were:
A detailed summary of the funded projects can be found at http://winslo.state.oh.us/publib/lstafunded.html.
Mike Snyder, Executive Director, CAMLS Regional Library System, discussed some of the services CAMLS provides. Terri Pasadyn, Continuing Education Director for CAMLS, discussed Library Leadership, Ohio's leadership training institute. Started in 1993, the institute is supported in part through LSTA funds. There have been 180 graduates of the institute since its inception. Ms. Pasadyn described the components of the week-long institute, including the competitive selection process of the candidates and the contents of the programs. Several past graduates described the impact the institute had on their lives and careers. Stephen D. Wood, Director of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library and mentor for past Library Leadership Institutes, said it is critical for the future of Ohio libraries to ensure that this program continues.
The Board approved the following appointments to the LSTA Advisory Council for a three year term (July 1, 2004-June 30, 2007):
The Board also passed resolutions thanking the outgoing members of the LSTA Advisory Council for their service:
Pete Bates, Information Systems and Technology Director, updated the Board on the current status of MORE, the statewide resource-sharing project. The US Cargo contract has been renewed with a modest increase. The minimum number of delivery days was increased to 2 days a week from once a week. Several DASites had to drop out of MORE due to the increased costs. MORE now serves 128 libraries: 79 public libraries and 49 school libraries. Angela Thomas, MORE Project Manager, has been working with the vendor to release version 2.7 of the MORE software at the end of October. The new version will reduce the amount of staff time necessary to support the system.
He added that the MORE system will be the topic of an Ohio Library Council (OLC) Conference panel discussion. He stated also that statewide resources sharing has a bright future in Ohio.
Roger Verny, Deputy State Librarian, discussed NPower Technology Planning Tools. NPower is a Seattle company whose mission is to help nonprofits use technology to better serve their communities. (http://www.npowerseattle.org/index.htm) Npower offers tools to develop technology plans and inventory systems for technology needs. The NPower tools are made available to the library community through Web Junction. Twelve libraries from around the state will be invited to OCLC to be trained to use these tools and to give feedback. If the tools are judged to be useful, the 12 libraries will help to inform libraries around the state.
The next meeting of the State Library Board will be 1:00 p.m., Thursday, October 28, in Columbus.
For the minutes of State Library Board meetings, go to http://winslo.state.oh.us/boardmin.html.
St. Paris Comes to the State LibraryAfter years of preparing these days in-house ... what we needed was a road trip. |
Nancy McAlpin Director St. Paris Public Library |
It's challenging to plan and implement a successful staff development day. The St. Paris Public Library closes one day in August to hold an in-service day.
After years of preparing these days in-house I decided what we needed was a road trip. It's one thing to tell the staff about the State Library, but it doesn't compare to walking into 100,000 square feet of library, housing 2 million volumes. We also wanted to visit a Columbus Metro Library Branch, all in an effort to get stimulated and gain a fresh perspective on our work and our goals.
The day began with greetings from Jane Byrnes, Public Information Officer for the State Library. She explained the history of the move into this impressive building and welcomed us to her world inside the renovated Jeffrey Manufacturing Center. The first tour was conducted by Audrey Hall, Government Information Library Consultant. The State Library is a regional depository for federal and state documents. The large stacks hold topographical maps of Ohio, books, and journals.
It's one thing to tell the staff about |
The second area visited was genealogy, showcased by Paul Immel, Genealogy Librarian. This department was large and open and offered easy access to the non circulating collection. The genealogy collection of 25,000 volumes focuses on materials for Ohio, the colonial states, and those states east of and south of Ohio. It was important for our staff to understand these holdings in order to meet the needs of our patrons. We need to refer customers to Columbus for some of those tricky questions. Paul remarked that once the budget woes are eliminated he has many items on his want list.
The frustrations of slashed budgets were easier to take as we realized the State Library has no pages to help the staff.
Our final area to view was a tour of the Ohioana Library Association, "The caretaker of Ohio's literary heritage." Imagine 45,000 non-circulating donated volumes and other priceless items housed in a climate controlled room. The staff enjoyed hearing the goals and objectives from Barbara Meister, Librarian. This library lends itself to ideas for displays, author visits, and a new awareness of Ohio's treasured artists and cultural history.
The afternoon was devoted to a visit to the Hilltop Branch, Columbus Metro Library. Kristin Shelley, manager, introduced us to a public library totally different from St. Paris. It's always rewarding to view shelving, book arrangements, and signage as we gain a new insight into the challenges other libraries tackle. This branch is moving totally into the arena of self check-out. This library houses many titles in Spanish and Kristin is very involved in working with a diversified public. The Teen section was of interest to our teen librarian.
The staff came home all the more enlightened after spending this training day in Columbus. Many thanks to everyone who helped us gain insight into these specialized collections. The State Library truly was the change agent they aspire to be. This is a big city public library wrapped in years of experience and still growing and improving.
The State Library of Ohio is proud to congratulate the 25 Ohio libraries that appear in the Hennen's American Public Library Ratings (HALPR) 100, the top 10 libraries in 10 population categories from all 50 states.
The HAPLR Index uses six input and nine output measures, including circulation, staffing, materials, reference service and funding levels. Libraries serving comparably sized populations are compared with one another. While statistics alone cannot define library excellence, they are a good indicator of what libraries are doing right and what needs improvement.
Once again, Ohio is #1 among the 50 states with the highest average rankings for Ohio libraries. "This confirms that Ohio has some of the best public libraries in the country. It is truly something to be proud of," said Joanne Budler, State Librarian for Ohio.
The full public library rankings can be found at: http://www.haplr-index.com/HAPLR100.htm
Cuyahoga County Public Library (Parma) ranks as #1 this year. Other Ohio libraries in the Top 100:
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Empirical data shows that Ohio public libraries are working hard to give library patrons when they have come to expect: excellent library service.
First Public Library to Share Books Through OhioLINK |
Candi Clevenger, OhioLINK Madeline Brookshire, Cuyahoga County Public Library |
Cuyahoga County (Ohio) Public Library (CCPL) became the first public library to participate in the Ohio Library and Information Network's online borrowing system during a one-year pilot project. Beginning August 23, Cuyahoga County Public Library borrowers had access to 40.1 million items from OhioLINK, a consortium of Ohio's college and university libraries and the State Library of Ohio.
"This pilot will provide an opportunity to define how expanding the OhioLINK program to include public libraries can further leverage the state's information resources and benefit both Ohio's higher education community and all Ohioans," Tom Sanville, executive director of OhioLINK, said.
"We're proud to be the first public library |
Records for Cuyahoga County Public Library's 600,000 items are available in the OhioLINK Library Catalog. Beginning August 23, the 600,000 students, faculty, staff and researchers OhioLINK serves were able to request books from CCPL's collection online. Cuyahoga County Public Library users were also able to request items online from any of the 85 OhioLINK member libraries. Requested materials will be delivered in just two to three days and may be picked up at any of CCPL's 28 locations or any participating OhioLINK library.
"We're proud to be the first public library to offer area students and their families access to the vast resources of OhioLINK as we strive for increased customer conveniences," said Sari Feldman, Executive Director of Cuyahoga County Public Library.
This winter, OhioLINK will begin a similar one-year pilot program with the Upper Arlington High School Library in central Ohio. The pilot will give high school students the chance to access scholarly materials from OhioLINK libraries.
OhioLINK users have been benefiting from a shared catalog of library resources, combined with online borrowing capabilities, since 1994. Users have access to millions more titles than are available in their local campus libraries, and requested items are delivered in days, not weeks as with traditional interlibrary loan. Online borrowing continues to be a core service of the OhioLINK program; 666,800 library items were borrowed through the network from June 2003 to June 2004.
The Ohio Library and Information Network (OhioLINK) is a consortium of academic libraries that serves more than 600,000 students, faculty, and staff at 85 institutions. OhioLINK's membership includes 17 public universities, 23 community/technical colleges, 44 private colleges and the State Library of Ohio. OhioLINK provides easy access to information and rapid delivery of library materials throughout the state. For more information, visit www.ohiolink.edu.
Cuyahoga County Public Library ranks as one of the nation's 10 best and busiest library systems, circulating around 13 million items annually. It has 28 branches and serves 630,000 people of all ages living in 47 communities. Its mission is to provide open access to resources that inform, entertain, and enrich. Customer service and customer convenience are top priorities. For more information, visit www.cuyahogalibrary.org.
Toledo-Lucas County Public Library Rated 6th Best in CountryAccording to a study by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater |
Toledo Blade 08/05/04 |
The Toledo-Lucas County Public Library is the sixth best in the nation, according to a study by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
The study, which sought to determine America's most literate cities, ranked Toledo the 40th most literate city in the country.
The Toledo-Lucas County Library's ranking was based on figures obtained from the 55th edition of the American Library Directory.
"I think this is the best ranking the library has had, so far," said Chris Kozak, the media relations officer. "It is a reflection of the support the library enjoys in the community."
He said another study, Hennen's American Public Library Ratings, ranked the Toledo-Lucas County library the ninth best library in the nation in 2003, eighth in 2002, and seventh in 2001 and 2000.
The University of Wisconsin study ranked the libraries based on how many branches the libraries had per 10,000 people served, number of library Internet connections per 10,000 people, and the volumes held in the library per capita of the population served.
The library's circulation and the number of professional staff per 10,000 people served were also key factors in the ranking system.
In 2003, the library recorded a circulation of more than six million, Mr. Kozak said.
