Library Partnership Summit Update

As you know, we had hoped to have a follow-up dialog and update in August. The videoconferencing bridge that allows us to connect to several sites is not yet in place. The process was more complicated and lengthy due to state contract regulations.

The good news is that the State Library is in the process of evaluating the bids for the bridge and will make a recommendation for purchase by no later than mid-October.

In the meantime, I wanted to update you on both the Libraries Connect Ohio databases project and statewide resource sharing.

The Libraries Connect Ohio Partners will be issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a core set of databases. An upcoming issue of the State Library of Ohio newsletter will feature an article by Tom Sanville, OhioLINK Executive Director, briefly outlining the RFP process which will be used by the LCO partners.

At the Library Partnership Summit, attendees from all type of libraries indicated their interest in statewide resource sharing and delivery of physical materials. While library users are pleased that they are able to find, request and get material from libraries across the state through the Ohio Libraries Share MORE project, many library directors and staff members have indicated that the process is too labor intensive. They will not participate in this statewide resource sharing process.

Many have indicated that they would be willing to participate if there were a different system -- a “next generation” statewide resource sharing mechanism -- in place. The State Library has contracted with Rob McGee of RMG Consultants, Inc. to assist in a process which will help us identify the “next generation” statewide resource sharing mechanism.

This process will include a review and assessment of the current statewide resource sharing effort in Ohio as well as the identification of the needs and concerns related to this effort.

A Request for Information (RFI) will be created and distributed to vendors of resource sharing solutions. This will allow us to determine (1) whether there is a resource sharing solution that meets our requirements and (2) what the cost of such a solution will be. The State Library has contracted with RMG to receive responses to the RFI, produce a cost analysis of the responses and draft a document which outlines plans and recommendations for enhanced statewide resource sharing.

Once we know the solution(s) and the cost(s), we can determine the next steps as a community. It will be imperative that the State Library communicate with all of you throughout this process. We will do so in writing through the State Library newsletter, through the Library Partnership blog on the State Library homepage, through emails (via listservs), and through videoconferencing (in the very near future!).

Jo Budler
State Librarian