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G2S Project Code: 2014-WI-73246
State: Wisconsin
Fiscal Year: 2014
Grantee
SOUTH CENTRAL LIBRARY SYSTEM

Project Director
Director Name: Marty Van Pelt
Director Phone: 608-246-7975
Director Email: mvanpelt@scls.info
General Information
Title: South Central Library System - Digital Content Buying Pool Grant
State Project Code: 14-123
Start Date: 02/01/2014
End Date: 12/31/2014
Abstract:

The project was based on the fact that public libraries and systems in Wisconsin had been purchasing downloadable materials individually but could not keep up with customer demands for more titles and copies. The librarians realized that their collections were largely identical and as individual units had limited buying power or influence with vendors. At its May 11, 2011 meeting the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (WPLC)approved creation of a committee to be charged with recommending a way to fund a statewide digital media buying pool for public libraries.  It was felt that a $1,000,000,000 annual pool was the minimum size needed to provide a large enough inventory of material to meet the challenges of customer demands.


South Central Library Service (SCLS) contributed to the WPLC/DLT million dollar e-content buying pool. SCLS contributed $175,525 to the buying pool; $149,196 from member libraries and $26,329 from LSTA grant funds.

E-content was purchased through this project to support and encourage expanded availability to libraries and individuals statewide. Funds supported a funding model in close cooperation with the 17 public library systems,  385 public libraries, and LSTA funding.  


State Goal: Utilization of technology to improve library services
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$26,329.00
$0.00
$149,196.00
$175,525.00
Intent(s)
Improve users’ ability to discover information resources.
General (select only for electronic databases or other data sources)
Activities
Activity Details
Title: South Central Library System contributes to the Digital Buying Pool
Narrative:
In 2014, a total of $754,490 was spent through the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium to In 2014, a total of $754,490 was spent through the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium to Overdrive for the e-content. From this a total 14,695 titles, 40,819 copies were purchased by the Digital Buying Pool for statewide use.

The items in the digital library were selected by a team consisting of librarians representing each of the 17 systems and coordinated by a member of Wisconsin Inter-Library Service (WiLS) - a non-profit organization.  Oversight is conducted by both a steering committee of Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (WPLC) and the WPLC Board.  WiLS provides MaRC records for the materials chosen and shares them with the systems so they can include them in their ILSs.  Libraries promote the digital library and assist patrons with it along with assistance from their systems.  WiLS and the systems run reports on use of the digital library.


Intent: Improve users’ ability to discover information resources.

Activity: Content
Mode: Acquisition
Format: Digital


Quantity
Number of hardware acquired: 0
Number of software acquired: 0
Number of licensed databases acquired: 0
Number of print materials (books & government documents) acquired: 0
Number of electronic materials acquired: 0
Number of audio/visual units (audio discs, talking books, other recordings) acquired: 0


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: Yes
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types
Public Libraries: 385
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 1
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 1
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important findings or outcomes from your project:
The digital library is very successful. Even with the LSTA funding, libraries can not keep up with the demand for materials. To help with the demand, in 2014, the South Central Library System's libraries joined the OverDrive program called Advantage. This is a supplementary program to purchase more copies and titles to enhance the statewide collection. SCLS libraries contributed over $45,000 to purchased additional materials using the Advantage program. In order to fund the SCLS portion of the digital buying pool, libraries contacted many supportive agencies to partner with them. These included Friends of the Library, literacy organizations, the SCLS Foundation, Madison Public Library, Women’s Clubs, and individual donors.
Please briefly describe importance of findings:
Partnering as a statewide consortia enabled the purchase of so many more titles and copies for all library users around the state. Additionally the users become very positive about libraries as in these anecdotes from the director: It is a service that SCLS libraries provide that is often discussed outside the physical library sites. While waiting in the green room of a local television studio, the SCLS Director was approached by another guest and asked if she worked for SCLS. When the director replied yes, the woman who was the director of a local rehabilitation facility exclaimed "I love OverDrive! I use it all the time for myself and our patients."A local doctor reported how she uses OverDrive to listen to books on her long commute to work and to help her unwind after work.
What methods did you use to determine your findings? Check all that apply:
Review of Administrative Data
Based on outputs, outcomes and/or other results, explain any significant lessons learned from these findings for either the SLAA or others in the LIS field:
The libraries within this system sought out partnering agencies to help financially support the addition of so many more titles/copies. The library users were the benefactors.
Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
Yes
Do you anticipate any change in level of effort:
No
Do you anticipate any change in the project's scope:
No
Do you anticipate any other changes in the project:
No
Exemplary: No
Exemplary Narrative
Project Tags: ebooks, overdrive, consortium