[OPLINLIST] State Library Board Approves LSTA Grant to Continue Statewide Access to Ohio Web Library Databases

Thu Mar 16 15:42:36 EDT 2023

 Greetings,

To summarize the points made by the recent press release about the Ohio Web
Library (OWL), there will be some changes coming to OWL on July 1.

The Libraries Connect Ohio group (OPLIN, OhioLINK, and INFOhio) has been
working collaboratively and leveraging State Library LSTA funds to provide
a baseline of content for Ohioans across library type for twenty years.
During that time, the needs of libraries have changed, and the collection
has changed, but the overall budget has not.  Many of you can relate.

While we are pleased to be able to add CultureGrams, there are many
libraries that will miss Transparent Language Online and Gale in Context:
Elementary.  The LCO selection committee had some tough choices to make.
Price and usage were large factors in consideration.  With regard to
language learning in particular, there have been significant decreases in
usage statistics since 2020 (the height of people trying new at-home
activities).  Patrons have also been moving to "freemium" commercial apps,
which were not widely available at the time of the last LCO contract.

If your library community needs to continue local access to either
Transparent Language Online or Gale in Context: Elementary, we can put you
in touch with the Ohio representatives for each.  We also recommend that
you reach out to your local consortium or regional library system to see if
there are plans for group coordination.  In any case, OPLIN is happy to
continue to provide proxy service for your patrons--just let us know via
support at oplin.ohio.gov.

Sincerely,

Christine
--
Christine Morris (she/her)
Digital Resources Manager
Ohio Public Library Information Network
christine at oplin.ohio.gov
614-728-5252

On Thu, Mar 16, 2023 at 3:38 PM marshams--- via OPLINLIST <
oplinlist at lists.oplin.org> wrote:

> [image: A picture containing text, outdoor, sign Description automatically
> generated]Today, the State Library of Ohio Board approved a $1,534,922
> federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Library Services
> and Technology Act (LSTA) grant to The Ohio State University for Libraries
> Connect Ohio (LCO) to purchase one year of statewide online access for the
> Ohio Web Library core set of subscription-based databases. This year, the
> school, academic, and public library partners in Libraries Connect Ohio and
> the State Library of Ohio reached a 20-year milestone of supporting a core
> collection of online library resources available statewide. “In the recent
> evaluation of the last LSTA Five-Year Plan, one of the most valued programs
> that has come from this funding in the past has been the Ohio Web Library,
> born of the Libraries Connect Ohio partnership,” said State Librarian Wendy
> Knapp.  “As a prime example of libraries leveraging resources, the
> databases that are available to every Ohioan as a result of the LCO project
> provide a rare statewide resource that levels the playing field for every
> student or worker in the state.”
>
>
>
> LCO negotiates five-year contracts with the database vendors but requests
> annual renewal of the LSTA funding. The five-year contract ensures optimal
> pricing from vendors. The annual renewal of LSTA funding demonstrates the
> partners’ commitment to consistently evaluate purchased resources. In
> addition to the $1,534,922 (38%) in federal LSTA funding for Libraries
> Connect Ohio, Ohio Library and Information Network (OhioLINK) will
> contribute $1,000,000 (25%); Ohio Public Library Information Network
> (OPLIN) will fund $1,000,000 (25%); and INFOhio (Ohio’s PreK-12 Digital
> Library) will provide $500,000 (12%) to purchase the core collection of
> subscription-based databases. These databases are available to all Ohioans
> through the Ohio Web Library <https://www.ohioweblibrary.org/sources/>.
>
>
>
> Each of the LCO partner organizations work with their respective
> communities—academic institutions, public libraries, and school
> districts—to promote the use of the shared statewide resources.
>
>
>
> OhioLINK supports LCO’s Ohio Web Library through a range of technology and
> services to ensure its statewide resources are accessible for students,
> staff, and faculty from their college or university library as well as
> through OhioLINK-managed platforms and access.
>
>
>
> OPLIN supports the use of statewide resources by developing and hosting
> the technology that allows the public access for all Ohioans to the
> collection. OPLIN engages the public library community in the selection of
> online databases, promotion of resources, and training.
>
>
>
> INFOhio funds a licensed statewide PreK-12 instance of EBSCO Discovery
> Service to deliver the contents of the LCO collection to all PreK-12
> students and provide access to the databases through their website.
>
>
>
> The databases include full-text digital popular magazines and scholarly
> journals; general reference resources such as encyclopedias, almanacs, statistical
> information and resources for developing new skills and enhancing personal
> development; and scholarly humanities and science resources.
>
>
>
> The State Library of Ohio, OhioLINK <https://ohiolink.edu/> , OPLIN
> <https://www.oplin.ohio.gov/> , and INFOhio <https://www.infohio.org/>
> formed Libraries Connect Ohio in 2003 as an initiative to define and
> deliver a statewide collection of databases to provide a common set of
> information resources. The partnership exemplifies the value of
> collaboration. Libraries Connect Ohio improves the buying power and breadth
> and scope of information resources available to all Ohio residents
> regardless of where they live or go to school. The savings affords
> libraries and library networks the ability to build on the core collection
> in Ohio Web Library by purchasing additional resources to meet the needs of
> their patrons.
>
>
>
> “The Libraries Connect Ohio group has worked together successfully for 20
> years to ensure equity of access to digital information for all residents
> of Ohio. Because of our collaboration, patrons can go to any library in the
> State of Ohio and access a core collection of common resources, and public
> libraries can use this core collection as a springboard for local
> collection development. We are glad to be part of this partnership for the
> benefit of all public libraries,” said Don Yarman, Executive Director,
> OPLIN.
>
>
>
> “OhioLINK is happy to partner with Libraries Connect Ohio to support
> Ohio's knowledge economy,” expressed Amy Pawlowski, Executive Director,
> OhioLINK. “Librarians know that it can be difficult to find credible and
> accurate information on the internet, so we take pride in being able to
> offer high quality, reliable online resources for lifelong learning."
>
>
>
> "Through this shared collection, Ohio's students, parents, and educators
> have access to quality digital resources to support student mastery of
> essential literacy skills, help students develop background knowledge, and
> prepare for the careers of tomorrow," said Erica Clay, Director of INFOhio.
> "Ohio's schools depend on these resources to supplement teaching and
> learning and to help students meet Ohio's Learning Standards. From emergent
> readers to career seekers, the shared collection ensures each Ohio student
> has quality digital resources for a successful education and future."
>
>
>
> *Pending signatures of contracts, starting July 1, 2023, the Ohio Web
> Library collection will include six components of new and returning
> content:*
>
>
>
> The *EBSCO* core collection contains thousands of full-text magazine and
> journal titles organized into a variety of sub-collections: Academic Search
> Premier, Alt Health Watch, Biography Reference Bank, Business Source
> Premier, Computer Source, Consumer Health Complete, ERIC, Health Source:
> Consumer Edition, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, Hobbies & Crafts
> Reference Center, Home Improvement Reference Center, Literary Reference
> Center, MAS Ultra School Edition, MasterFILE Premier, MEDLINE, Middle
> Search Plus, Newspaper Source, Points of View Reference Center, Primary
> Search, Professional Development Collection, Psychology and Behavioral
> Sciences Collection, Regional Business News Plus, Religion and Philosophy
> Collection, Science Reference Center, Small Business Reference Center,
> Sociological Collection, TOPICSearch, and Vocational & Career Collection,
> as well as several related eBook collections. This continues to be the
> central product in the Ohio Web Library collection.
>
>
>
> The *World Book* package includes the most popular World Book products
> from the current subscription: Early Learning, World Book Kids, World Book
> Student, and World Book Advanced, L'Encyclopedie Decouverte (French), and
> two (2) Spanish-language encyclopedias—Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos
> and Banco de Contenidos aulaPlaneta. This package also includes Timelines,
> read-aloud functionality, and translation.
>
>
>
> *Oxford Research Encyclopedias* (from Oxford University Press) includes
> more than 3,000
>
> long-form articles from 25 subject-based, authoritative resources of
> reference in a wide array of academic fields, including the humanities,
> social sciences, and sciences.
>
>
>
> *Very Short Introductions* (from Oxford University Press) is an excellent
> way to get a quick, authoritative and accessible overview of a subject. It
> currently includes over 750 titles and continues to grow.
>
>
>
> *ChiltonLibrary* (from Gale) provides quick online access to repair,
> maintenance and service information on popular cars, trucks, vans, and
> SUVs. This product contains more than 50 years of information provided in
> step-by-step procedures; work on the engine, chassis, electrical, drive
> train, suspension, and more is made easier for mechanics of any experience.
>
>
>
> *CultureGrams* (from ProQuest) is a leading reference resource for
> reliable cultural information on the countries of the world. CultureGrams
> goes beyond basic facts and figures with local perspectives on more than
> 200 countries and territories, detailing daily life and culture, including
> history, customs, and lifestyles.
>
>
>
> The Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN) provides broadband
> internet connections and related information services to Ohio public
> libraries. Their primary mission is to ensure that all Ohio residents have
> fast, free public internet access through the 251 independent local public
> library systems in Ohio, as well as the use of high-quality
> subscription-based research databases not freely available online.
>
>
>
> OhioLINK is a statewide academic library consortium, serving 117 libraries
> at 88 institutions plus the State Library of Ohio. Delivering both IT
> infrastructure and content negotiation, OhioLINK provides students,
> faculty, researchers, and staff with access to valuable digital research
> collections at a fraction of the cost if those collections had to be
> purchased by individual institutions.
>
>
>
> INFOhio transforms student learning by providing equitable access to
> quality digital content and cost-effective instructional and technical
> support for each student, educator, and parent in Ohio. INFOhio is
> optimized by the Management Council of the Ohio Education Computer Network
> (MCOECN).
>
>
>
> The State Library of Ohio is a state agency that serves state government
> and all types of libraries. The vision for the State Library is a *Smarter
> Ohio* where every Ohioan can access the necessary resources to be engaged
> citizens, excel at their jobs, participate in the workforce, and pursue
> their passions and interests.
>
> ###
>
>
>
> Marsha McDevitt-Stredney, Ph.D.
>
> Public Information Officer
> Director, Marketing & Communications
>
> Pronouns: she, her, hers
>
> State Library of Ohio
>
> 274 E. 1st Avenue
>
> Columbus, OH 43201
>
> Tel: 614-644-6875
>
> library.ohio.gov
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> OPLINLIST mailing list -- OPLINLIST at lists.oplin.org
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>
> ****** OPLIN is now accepting new clients for the popular Webkits service:
> https://www.oplin.ohio.gov/webkit******
>
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