Activity Details
Title: Statewide catalog (findIT CT)
Narrative: The statewide library catalog allows patrons and librarians to discover and request items from libraries across Connecticut with a single search. Interlibrary delivery is accomplished through deliverIT CT, another LSTA-funded project.
The previous statewide library catalog, called reQuest, was shut down on June 30, 2015. The State Library, in cooperation with Bibliomation, a library network in the state, purchased hardware in fall 2015 to host a new catalog called findIT CT. Bibliomation installed FulfILLment, an open-source library catalog and ILL system, on the server in fall 2015.
The first version of the new findIT CT statewide catalog went live on May 18, 2016, with the holdings of 4 of the library networks/consortia in the state. This represents over 10.3 million holdings from more than 150 public, school, and academic libraries in the state.
Intent: Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.
Activity: Content
Mode: Description
Format: Combined physical & digital
Quantity
Number of items made discoverable to the public: 10,300,000
Number of collections made discoverable to the public: 0
Number of metadata plans/frameworks produced/updated: 0
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: 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: 0
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 4
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0
Activity Details
Title: Statewide databases (researchIT CT)
Narrative: The State Library provides access to 35 databases for all Connecticut residents, students, and faculty. The databases are available from all libraries in the state as well as from home. They include resources geared to K-12 students, college students, and the general public.
To enhance awareness and usability on mobile devices, researchIT CT staff migrated its web site to a Word Press web environment that automatically scales to handheld devices such as tablets and smart phones. The new site also includes accessibility features to aid those with vision challenges.
Intent: Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.
Activity: Content
Mode: Acquisition
Format: Digital
Quantity
Number of hardware acquired: 0
Number of software acquired: 0
Number of licensed databases acquired: 35
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: 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: 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: 237
Academic Libraries: 61
SLAA: 3
Consortia: 3
Special Libraries: 88
School Libraries: 562
Other: 18
Activity Details
Title: Statewide databases training for library staff
Narrative: DLD staff offered numerous training opportunities in using the statewide databases. A full time professional trainer with EBSCO Publishing conducted 14 EBSCO training webinars to demonstrate the advantages of researchIT CT over free web search engines and the ways in which current EBSCO resources support Common Core State Standards. Webinar topics included "Heritage Quest Online," "Databases and Interfaces for School/Public Libraries," and "EBSCO Explora."
Intent: Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.
Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: Virtual
Quantity
Session length (minutes): 60
Number of sessions in program: 7
Average number in attendance per session: 9
Number of times program administered: 2
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: 39
Academic Libraries: 4
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 4
School Libraries: 18
Other: 0
Activity Details
Title: New eBook platform (eGO)
Narrative: The State Library explored available options for development of eGO, the statewide eBook platform for public libraries made possible by funding from the State Bond Commission. Ultimately the State Library signed an agreement with the New York Public Library (NYPL) to develop and help implement eGO. With coordination by the State Library, NYPL began working with three regional library consortia in the state to incorporate eGO operations into their integrated library systems.
Because this platform is currently under development, no items have been circulated, and no libraries are yet participating.
Intent: Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.
Activity: Content
Mode: Other
Format: Digital
Other: Platform Development
Quantity
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: 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: 0
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0
Activity Details
Title: Statewide interlibrary loan (requestIT CT)
Narrative: The previous statewide library catalog and ILL system were shut down on June 30, 2015. The new ILL system, which is part of the new statewide catalog software, will debut in early 2017. Division of Library Development staff have been assisting with the transition and design of the new ILL functionality.
In the interim, to assist libraries in obtaining material through ILL using offline methods, DLD staff created the CT ILL Loan Policy in June 2015. The policy is described in a detailed spreadsheet that lists library contact information, a link to their catalog, a table of types of materials that libraries are willing to lend to other libraries through ILL, and a pre-filled e-mail form for requesting specific items. Interlibrary delivery was accomplished through deliverIT CT, another LSTA-funded project.
Because ILLs were requested offline during this time frame, DLD has no statistics on the number of transactions.
Intent: Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.
Activity: Content
Mode: Other
Format: Physical
Other: Platform Development
Quantity
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: 0
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0
