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G2S Project Code: 2016-CT-76963
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 of Supplementary Library Collections
State Project Code:
Start Date: 10/01/2015
End Date: 09/30/2017
Abstract: The CT State Library provides circulating library materials in print, audio, and digital formats to help supplement library collections. These materials are used most often by public and school libraries. Mid-year, CSL transitioned to a new integrated library system for circulation and collection management.

Library staff and volunteers can visit the Service Center in person to select items, request them via the online catalog, or call/email Service Center staff with special requests. Delivery services are provided through deliverIT CT, another LSTA-funded project. In calendar year 2017, CSL tested extended hours of operation three days per month at the Service Center to improve access.

State Goal: Literacies and learning

Budget Information

LSTA

MATCH-State

MATCH-Other

Total

$203,380.00

$73,503.00

$0.00

$276,883.00

Intent(s)
Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.
Library Infrastructure & Capacity
Collection Development & Management

Activities
Activity Details
Title: Service Center physical collections acquisition
Narrative: New materials are selected and cataloged by subject experts, including the State Library's Children’s/Young Adult Services Consultant. Support staff process and shelve the new materials.

Circulating library materials include children's and young adult books (fiction and nonfiction), book discussion sets, and audiobooks on CD for all ages.

Because the demand for alternate format materials is high and their high cost strains the budgets of local libraries, the Service Center provides unabridged audio collections on CD.

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

Activity: Content
Mode: Acquisition
Format: Physical

Quantity
Number of hardware acquired: 0
Number of software acquired: 0
Number of licensed databases acquired: 0
Number of print materials (books & government documents) acquired: 2,161
Number of electronic materials acquired: 0
Number of audio/visual units (audio discs, talking books, other recordings) acquired: 60

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: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: Connecticut State Library
Address: 231 Capitol Avenue
City: Hartford
State: CT
Zip: 06106-1537

Activity Details
Title: Service Center circulation
Narrative: The Service Center provides library materials that can be borrowed for 90 days by any library in Connecticut (public, school, academic, special, etc.) to supplement their collections. Most often, these materials are borrowed by schools and small libraries with modest budgets or limited shelving space who in turn lend the materials to their patrons.

Support staff handle all circulation tasks, reshelving, processing, and weeding.

The children's and young adult collections are particularly helpful for preK-5 librarians who are building reading readiness and maintaining literacy skills with their students.

Programming resources promote literacy development in children who live in predominantly rural, impoverished, and/or distressed communities. The Service Center offers curriculum support for school library media centers by supplementing summer reading lists and providing multiple copies of titles on high school reading lists. Board book sets that are developmentally appropriate for children from ages birth to three are available for parent/child story times.

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

Activity: Content
Mode: Lending
Format: Physical

Quantity
Total number of items circulated: 27,665
Average number of items circulated / month: 2,305
Total number of ILL transactions: 0
Average number of ILL transactions / month: 0

Partner Information

Public Libraries: 193
Academic Libraries: 26
SLAA: 2
Consortia: 3
Special Libraries: 9
School Libraries: 286
Other: 0

Activity Details
Title: Digital materials circulation
Narrative: The CT State Library maintains a statewide collection of downloadable books and audiobooks, including Nutmeg, Newbery, and Caldecott award winning titles, Great Courses audios, and eAudiobook and eBook titles purchased or licensed in response to patron recommendations. Access to the materials is available through RBDigital.

Because the digital collections are available through a self-service model, State Library staff have no role in the circulation process. They are responsible only for collection development and licensing. researchIT CT staff conducted five training sessions on RBDigital for 77 librarians at public libraries and school media centers.

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

Activity: Content
Mode: Lending
Format: Digital

Quantity
Total number of items circulated: 9,557
Average number of items circulated / month: 796
Total number of ILL transactions: 0
Average number of ILL transactions / month: 0

Partner Information

Public Libraries: 0
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 1
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 this project, Connecticut library patrons had access to a larger group of materials geared toward supporting literacy development and recreational reading for people with print disabilities. CSL is finding that circulation numbers for digital materials increase when adult best sellers are supplemented with new titles.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
It is important to maintain a balance in the digital collection to interest readers/listeners of all ages.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Lengthy wait times is the most likely factor that will discourage patron interest and use of digital materials.
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:
The Service Center will continue extended hours of operation through 2018 on two days per month (first Thursday evening and first Saturday morning).
Do you anticipate changing the types of activities and objectives addressed by the project:
No
Explain:

Was an evaluation conducted for this project:
No
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: MLSC, WLSC