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G2S Project Code: 2016-CT-76923
State: Connecticut
Fiscal Year: 2016
Grantee
Connecticut State Library

Project Director
Director Name: Dawn La Valle
Director Phone: 860-757-6500
Director Email: dawn.lavalle@ct.gov
General Information
Title: Statewide Delivery System (deliverIT CT)
State Project Code:
Start Date: 10/01/2015
End Date: 09/30/2017
Abstract: LSTA underwrites part of the cost of physical materials delivery among 215 of the state’s public and academic libraries. The delivery system, named deliverIT CT, is the backbone of the state’s resource sharing. deliverIT CT enables reciprocal borrowing in Connecticut: items borrowed from participating institutions may be dropped off at any library, and then deliverIT CT returns the materials to the owning library. In this way, borrowers can use their hometown library cards in any public library in Connecticut and be sure that materials will be returned where they belong. deliverIT CT also supports interlibrary loan through delivery of user-requested library materials between libraries in the state.

After a combination of volume increases and budget cutbacks, the State Library took actions to sustain delivery while continuing to provide fair and equitable service to libraries. Starting July 1, 2016, CSL implemented guidelines intended to decrease delivery volume. CSL then undertook a review and adjustment of the service.

State Goal: Resources and delivery systems
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$487,002.00
$286,588.00
$0.00
$773,590.00
Intent(s)
Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.
Collection Development & Management
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Pickup, sort, deliver
Narrative: deliverIT CT service is provided to principal public libraries, academic libraries, and other institutions. Materials shipped include all physical formats (books, DVDs, CDs, etc). State library staff pick up materials, return to the central sorting facility to sort all items picked up that day, and deliver the materials in the following days according to their route schedules.

In July 2017, the service began a pilot in which each library received service up to 5 days a week, with drivers picking up a maximum of 3 bins per day and delivering a maximum of 3 bins per day.


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

Activity: Content
Mode: Lending
Format: Physical


Quantity
Total number of items circulated: 2,200,000
Average number of items circulated / month: 183,333
Total number of ILL transactions: 0
Average number of ILL transactions / month: 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: 179
Academic Libraries: 33
SLAA: 3
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0

Activity Details
Title: Service Evaluation
Narrative: The State Library hired a consultant to assess the statewide delivery service and to make recommendations and develop models that would insure its future sustainability. The consultant reviewed route maps, schedules, and delivery data, and he conducted six focus groups with 135 participants at public libraries around the state. CSL convened a deliverIT Sustainability Task Force to review the consultant's report and make further recommendations.

In May 2017, CSL implemented one recommendation by initiating a more accurate method for measuring volume in which libraries make a daily count of the items sent and received and report their data quarterly. Based on this new methodology and data submitted for May and June 2017 by 132 of 215 libraries, CSL estimates that deliverIT CT delivers approximately 2.2 million items per year.

Additional task force recommendations went into effect in July 2017.

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

Activity: Planning & Evaluation
Mode: Prospective
Format: Third party


Quantity
Number of evaluations and/or plans funded: 1
Number of funded evaluation and/or plans completed: 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: 179
Academic Libraries: 33
SLAA: 3
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0
Question 1: I believe the planning and evaluation addresses library needs.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 2: I am satisfied with the extent to which the plan or evaluation addresses library needs.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 3: I believe the information from the plan or evaluation will be applied to address library needs.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
The deliverIT Sustainability Task Force recommended the "hybrid model" from the consultant's report. With this model, deliverIT CT would deliver to one or more drop locations in each of the larger shared ILS networks in the state as well as to each of the independent, stand-alone libraries. The networks would then provide or contract for a delivery service to move materials among their member libraries. The only way for the service to survive is to adopt this model statewide. In 2017, the LION (Libraries Online) network embarked on the hybrid model by contracting with a vendor to service their intra-network deliveries, with deliverIT CT servicing the non-LION deliveries in and out of the network.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
CSL continues to provide fair and equitable delivery service to all libraries within a very limited budget even while the service has seen a steep increase in volume at some libraries. The service has seen large volume increases at libraries that are part of shared ILS networks and has not seen any corresponding increases at independent or stand-alone libraries.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:

Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
Yes
Do you anticipate any change in level of effort in managing this project:
Yes
Explain:
CSL will continue to review and adjust routes and delivery schedules to match the number of delivery staff, which may decrease in the next year.
Do you anticipate changing the types of activities and objectives addressed by the project:
No
Explain:

Was an evaluation conducted for this project:
Yes
Was a final written evaluation report produced:
Yes
Can the final written evaluation report be shared publicly on the IMLS website:
Yes
Was the evaluation conducted by project staff (either SLAA or local library) or by a third-party evaluator:
Third-Party
What data collection tools were used for any report outcomes and outputs:
Administrative Records
Direct Observation
Interviews
Focus Groups
Did you collect any media for the data:
What types of methods were used to analyze collected data:
Qualitative Methods
Other:
How were participants (or items) selected:
Word of mouth – We asked participants to tell their community/friends/family and encourage them to participate.
What type of research design did you use to compare the value for any reported output or outcome:
No comparison for any reported output or outcome: There was no previous evaluation of the service to compare.
Exemplary: Yes
Exemplary NarrativeThis year, the deliverIT CT service saved Connecticut's libraries approximately $5.3 million in postage costs (at $2.41 per item, book rate), while the cost to provide service was approximately $773,000 (a combination of state and LSTA funding).
Project Tags: ILL, Ccar