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G2S Project Code: 2016-CT-76962
State: Connecticut
Fiscal Year: 2016
Grantee
Connecticut State Library

Project Director
Director Name: Dawn La Valle
Director Phone: 860-757-6507
Director Email: dawn.lavalle@ct.gov
General Information
Title: Resource Sharing via Public Access Computing Environments
State Project Code:
Start Date: 10/01/2015
End Date: 09/30/2017
Abstract: The CT State Library provides multiple statewide services to support resource sharing among libraries. These services are delivered online and provide all Connecticut residents and students with free online access to essential library and information resources. Many of the electronic resources and databases are accessible via a portal called researchIT CT (formerly iCONN). This project also includes the statewide library catalog and ILL system. Division of Library Development staff offer training opportunities on these resources for librarians.

There were significant changes to project activities again this year, including interim ILL functions while the new statewide catalog was being implemented, broader use and refinement of the new statewide catalog that was launched in 2016, and continued development of the eBook platform.

State Goal: Resources and delivery systems
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$98,159.00
$2,023,505.00
$0.00
$2,121,664.00
Intent(s)
Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.
General (select only for electronic databases or other data sources)
Library Skills
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Statewide catalog (findIT CT)
Narrative: The statewide library catalog and its interlibrary loan (ILL) feature will allow 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.

CT is the first state to use FulfILLment, an open-source system, for a statewide catalog and ILL.
 
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. Additional holdings were added throughout the year and will continue to be added on an ongoing basis through the life of the project.

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

Activity: Content
Mode: Description
Format: Digital


Quantity
Number of items made discoverable to the public: 17,889,039
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: 200
Academic Libraries: 25
SLAA: 3
Consortia: 4
Special Libraries: 6
School Libraries: 51
Other: 0
Activity Details
Title: Statewide interlibrary loan (requestIT CT)
Narrative: The statewide library catalog and its interlibrary loan feature (requestIT CT) will allow 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 new ILL system debuted in April 2017 with a pilot project involving 22 public, 1 academic, and 1 SLAA libraries. The system is being used initially as a stand-alone ILL system that allows librarians to place holds on behalf of patrons. Librarians can easily place requests, update requests, and track the status of requests as they make their way through the ILL process. 

Most ILLs were requested offline during the year, and DLD has no statistics on the number of those transactions. For the 24 libraries in the ILL pilot, there were a total of 405 ILL transactions over the two months of the pilot.

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

Activity: Content
Mode: Lending
Format: Physical


Quantity
Total number of items circulated: 0
Average number of items circulated / month: 0
Total number of ILL transactions: 405
Average number of ILL transactions / month: 203


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: 22
Academic Libraries: 1
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0
Question 1: I am satisfied that the resource is meeting library needs.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 2: Applying the resource will help improve library services to the public.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Activity Details
Title: ILL training for library staff
Narrative: Division of Library Development staff conducted training for the 24 pilot libraries on using the new requestIT CT system for interlibrary loans. Library staff members were trained on the basic ILL system, which allows library staff members to place requests on behalf of patrons.


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

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: In-person


Quantity
Session length (minutes): 180
Number of sessions in program: 1
Average number in attendance per session: 15
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: 22
Academic Libraries: 1
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0
Question 1: I learned something by participating in this library activity.
Strongly Agree: 26
Agree: 2
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 2: I feel more confident about what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 18
Agree: 10
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 3: I intend to apply what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 23
Agree: 5
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 4: Applying what I learned will help improve library services to the public.
Strongly Agree: 24
Agree: 2
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 2
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Activity Details
Title: Statewide databases (researchIT CT)
Narrative: The State Library provides access to 34 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 and university students, and the general public. researchIT CT also furnishes a growing collection of downloadable eAudiobooks and eBooks for K-12 students and the general public, which are reported in another project.

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: 34
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: 239
Academic Libraries: 41
SLAA: 3
Consortia: 3
Special Libraries: 88
School Libraries: 529
Other: 18
Activity Details
Title: Statewide databases training for library staff
Narrative: DLD offered training opportunities in using the statewide databases for librarians. Full time professional trainers with EBSCO Publishing and ProQuest conducted 19 training webinars to demonstrate the advantages of researchIT CT over free web search engines and the ways in which current online 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: 19
Average number in attendance per session: 3
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: 25
Academic Libraries: 1
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 1
School Libraries: 10
Other: 0
Question 1: I learned something by participating in this library activity.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 2: I feel more confident about what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 3: I intend to apply what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 4: Applying what I learned will help improve library services to the public.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Activity Details
Title: eBook platform (eGO)
Narrative: The State Library is working with the New York Public Library (NYPL) to develop and help implement eGO, the statewide eBook platform for public libraries. eGO will employ SimplyE 2.0, an ereader app developed by NYPL for iOS and Android devices to serve up eBooks from OverDrive, Biblioteca, Baker & Taylor, Recorded Books and other vendors in a single, easy-to-use interface. Connecticut libraries will access eBooks by way of their regional library system or individual library catalogs.

With coordination by the State Library, NYPL has been working with three regional library consortia in the state to incorporate eGO operations into their integrated library systems. eGO is expected to launch fully in 2018.


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

Activity: Content
Mode: Other
Format: Digital
Other: Other - Platform Development


Quantity


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: 380
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
As a result of these resource sharing activities, Connecticut residents with library cards enjoyed borrowing privileges at all public libraries in the state, and all residents and students had free access to high-quality electronic resources for school or personal research. The findIT catalog helps people locate items in libraries throughout the state. If the patron's library participates in requestIT, the library will be able to initiate and track ILL requests, making obtaining items for patrons much easier. researchIT CT is recognized as a valuable research resource by librarians of all types in Connecticut; it is not as well known by the general public.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
The availability of findIT and requestIT helps the CT State Library meet the goal that all residents and students have free access to high-quality electronic resources for school, personal research, and lifelong learning. researchIT CT will need continued library training sessions and public exposure at conferences to enhance visibility.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
A project like the findIT statewide library catalog and the requestIT ILL system provides libraries and their patrons access to other library collections. The Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States says that no library, regardless of its size or budget, is completely self-sufficient. Like networks that share an Integrated Library System, findIT and requestIT help libraries expand access to material when their local or network resources don't quite meet the informational needs of their patrons. eGO was an early attempt at a statewide eBook platform for all public libraries in a state. As such, finding interested and reliable technology partners has been a challenge, still to be resolved at the end of 2017. Use of researchIT CT shows that even the most self-evidently valuable service needs to be promoted regularly to the public to maintain interest.
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:
There will be changes to project activities in the next year, including the full implementation of both requestIT CT and the eBook platform. DLD will fully roll out requestIT CT to all libraries in Connecticut that wish to participate and will offer several training sessions for librarians around the state. In addition, CSL will begin to investigate the development of connectors in FulfILLment that will allow findIT and requestIT to interoperate with a library's ILS, which will streamline the ILL process and will save participating libraries valuable staff time. eGO will launch on a rolling basis (one regional library automation system at a time) so that unexpected technological issues can be addressed as they occur and so that the service can be exposed and kept in the public consciousness throughout its development.
Do you anticipate changing the types of activities and objectives addressed by the project:
Yes
Explain:
researchIT CT activities will shift towards more training and promotion.
Was an evaluation conducted for this project:
Yes
Was a final written evaluation report produced:
No
Can the final written evaluation report be shared publicly on the IMLS website:
No
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:
Did you collect any media for the data:
What types of methods were used to analyze collected data:
Other:
How were participants (or items) selected:
What type of research design did you use to compare the value for any reported output or outcome:
Exemplary: No
Exemplary Narrative
Project Tags: reQuest, ILL, iCONN