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G2S Project Code: 2014-RI-72678
State: Rhode Island
Fiscal Year: 2014
Grantee
Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services

Project Director
Director Name: Alicia Waters
Director Phone: 401-574-9315
Director Email: alicia.waters@olis.ri.gov
General Information
Title: Reference Services
State Project Code:
Start Date: 10/01/2014
End Date: 09/30/2015
Abstract: OLIS Reference Services provides reference staff in all types of libraries with tools and materials to better serve patrons and students with the information resources they need for work, school and lifelong learning. Reference Services activities include convening the Multi-type Reference Working Group, providing continuing education on reference resources, managing a professional library collection, and training in information literacy for library staff.

The Multi-type Reference Working Group brings together library professionals from all types of libraries to collaborate and share ideas and skills that enrich and strengthen reference services throughout the state. Continuing education programs in reference are provided by OLIS on topics requested by library staff who identified a need for them in order to provide comprehensive reference services to their patrons. The OLIS Library houses a collection of library professional materials to support the work of OLIS and library staff statewide.

State Goal: Increase and enhance the competencies and capacities of librarians, library paraprofessionals and library trustees through an active program of continuing education.
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$35,523.00
$14,478.00
$0.00
$50,001.00
Intent(s)
Improve users’ ability to discover information resources.
Library Infrastructure & Capacity
Library Skills
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Multi-type Reference Working Group
Narrative: A ten member Multi-type Reference Group provides added value to OLIS Reference Services by bringing together librarians from academic, school, public and special libraries to share knowledge, information and expertise.  Each member agrees to serve a two year term and retiring members of the group recommend new members.  Five meetings which ran for approximately two hours each were held in the reporting year.

The Multi-type Reference Working Group advises OLIS on continuing education needs for reference librarians. During the meetings, members share information about events at their libraries and discuss issues and developments in the profession. The meetings foster collaboration and adaptation of new skills and practices across library types.

In April 2015 the group developed a day long program, Patrons and Their Preferences: Enhancing the User Experience, to discuss research habits in the age of Google, how to serve patrons with physical or mental differences; and how to facilitate browsing with online tools. A library guide, using the tool LibGuides, was created with the information from the conference and made available via the OLIS website.


Intent: Improve users’ ability to discover information resources.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: In-person


Quantity
Session length (minutes): 120
Number of sessions in program: 1
Average number in attendance per session: 30
Number of times program administered: 1


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: No
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: Yes
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types
Public Libraries: 20
Academic Libraries: 60
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 2
Other: 1
Activity Details
Title: OLIS Library
Narrative: The OLIS Library provides reference services and resources to meet the informational and educational needs of the state’s library community and provides limited interlibrary loan service to state employees working in the Department of Administration.

The library is a member of Ocean State Libraries (OSL) the state’s public library consortium. It holds 750 volumes and journals in electronic and print formats; other online resources are made available through a subscription to the library journal service EBSCO. OLIS Library staff manage circulation of holdings and technical services through OSL’s integrated library system Sierra. OLIS Library materials are delivered through the OLIS-LORI Delivery system to LORI libraries. Approximately 5,564 items, including items returned as a service to state employees who borrow materials from other LORI libraries through the OLIS Library, were circulated in 2015.

Intent: Improve users’ ability to discover information resources.

Activity: Content
Mode: Lending
Format: Combined physical & digital


Quantity
Total number of items circulated: 1,096
Average number of items circulated / month: 91
Total number of ILL transactions: 1,495
Average number of ILL transactions / month: 119


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: No
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: Yes
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types
Public Libraries: 70
Academic Libraries: 19
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 3
Special Libraries: 14
School Libraries: 111
Other: 0
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important findings or outcomes from your project:
The Multi-type Reference Group bridges the gap in reference services between libraries by giving reference librarians opportunities to share knowledge and expertise which has in turn strengthened the connection, communication and support of reference services statewide.
Please briefly describe importance of findings:
Networking and collaboration among reference librarians supports the improvement of reference services statewide.
What methods did you use to determine your findings? Check all that apply:
Participant Observation
Other
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:
State library agencies have the singular opportunity to offer opportunities for staff in all areas of library services and from all types of libraries to share expertise, collaborate and create programs to strengthen knowledge bases. The Multi-type Reference Group is just one example of how this can work.
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: