View Project

G2S Project Code: 2015-PA-75806
State: Pennsylvania
Fiscal Year: 2015
Grantee
Hosting Solutions & Library Consulting (HSLC)

Project Director
Director Name: Maryam Phillips
Director Phone: 215-222-1532
Director Email: phillips@hslc.org
General Information
Title: Access PA/Power Library
State Project Code: FC4100070412
Start Date: 07/01/2015
End Date: 06/30/2016
Abstract:

This project is for the administration and management of statewide online reference services, interlibrary loan software and technical support of users and electronic library services.  It also provides access to online database reference resources for public library and school library users.  This project ensures that all Pennsylvanians can easily use library resources from their home, office or school computers from anywhere in the world.


State Goal: Facilitate the statewide expansion of electronic and physical linkages to coordinate and improve delivery of resources.
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$364,500.00
$1,636,600.00
$261,206.00
$2,262,306.00
Intent(s)
Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.
General (select only for electronic databases or other data sources)Improve users’ ability to discover information resources.
Curriculum support
Activities
Activity Details
Title: POWER Library Portal - Administration and Support
Narrative:

The POWER Library online website portal serves as Pennsylvania's online library, a single location for the public to find and use all of the state's online library services.  Ben Franklin serves as the inspiration and guide for the site.  The website portal is designed to be used by both the general public and Pennsylvania librarians who support use of the services. 



Intent: Improve users’ ability to discover information resources.

Activity: Content
Mode: Other
Format: Digital


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: 560
Academic Libraries: 132
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 75
School Libraries: 1745
Other: 15
Activity Details
Title: POWER Library Resources
Narrative:

Online reference database resource subscriptions and e-books are selected through discussions with a group of librarians.  These resources are then made available through the POWER Library Portal for all Pennsylvanians



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: 24
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: 560
Academic Libraries: 132
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 75
School Libraries: 1745
Other: 15
Activity Details
Title: Ask Here PA
Narrative:

Ask Here PA, also known as Chat with a Librarian, is Pennsylvania's statewide online reference service. where the public can ask a librarian questions via chat sessions (or instant messaging).    Offered free of charge for all Pennsylvania residents, online chat reference questions are answered by qualified librarians 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Professional librarians are answer questions, responding quickly with accurate, unbiased information.

Administration of the program includes training, scheduling and monitoring the quality of chat sessions provided to the public.  Users are not prompted for any personal information to participate, however if they wish to receive a transcript of the chat session, an email address must be provided.


Intent: Improve users’ ability to discover information resources.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Consultation/drop-in/referral
Format: Virtual


Quantity
Total number of consultation/reference transactions: 57,337
Average number of consultation/reference transactions per month: 4,778


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: 560
Academic Libraries: 132
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 75
School Libraries: 1745
Other: 15
Activity Details
Title: ACCESS PA Catalog and Resource Sharing
Narrative:

The Access PA Statewide Catalog provides the public with web access to the collections of over 2,500 public, school, academic, and special libraries throughout Pennsylvania. It also acts as a resource for database records of items in their collections. These records describe each item owned by a library using international standards. The records can be downloaded and imported by libraries for use in their local library online catalog.  This greatly reduces the library’s need to purchase similar records from private vendors

In FY 2015 HSLC contracted with Auto-Graphics for a new software system called SHAREit, which replaced two software systems formerly in use: Innovative Interfaces’ INN-Reach software, and OCLC’s VDX interlibrary loan software. SHAREit is an easier system for the general public to use, and provides more options at an affordable annual cost. In addition, the software offers better database record management by making sure that records are not needlessly duplicated in the catalog.  This results in faster access to titles searched for users. As of June 30,2016 the Access PA statewide catalog held 8.3 million titles and 41.6 million copies (volumes).



Intent: Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.

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


Quantity
Total number of items circulated: 0
Average number of items circulated / month: 0
Total number of ILL transactions: 87,677
Average number of ILL transactions / month: 7,306


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: 560
Academic Libraries: 132
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 75
School Libraries: 1745
Other: 15
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important findings or outcomes from your project:
In FY 2015 Pennsylvania libraries requested 113,723 items via the Access PA Catalog and Resource Sharing system from other libraries. Of these, the Access PA system filled 87,677 interlibrary loan requests for a fulfillment rate of 77%. Each participating library loaned an average of 35 items to other libraries for their customers' use. per participating library. This is greatly improved over FY2014 which had a fulfillment rate of 63% and an average of 27 items loaned per library. 73% of patrons indicated that they were satisfied with their response online or were expecting a follow-up response after the session. 13% indicated they were neutral on the information provided and 11% indicated they were not satisfied. (3% did not respond to this question.)
Please briefly describe importance of findings:
Users are continuing to request more items and information from beyond their local library resources and seem to have a positive responses to the services provided.
What methods did you use to determine your findings? Check all that apply:
Survey
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:
Local users will always want more access to information in a quick and easy format. While they expect to answer all questions from a search engine, they are pleased when the material they need can be delivered to their local library in a quick manner.
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: Electronic resources; Interlibrary Loan; Homework Help