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G2S Project Code: 2017-ME-79670
State: Maine
Fiscal Year: 2017
Grantee
Maine State Library

Project Director
Director Name: Janet McKenney
Director Phone: 207-287-5603
Director Email: janet.mckenney@maine.gov
General Information
Title: Maine Regional Library System-Area Reference and Resource Centers
State Project Code:
Start Date: 10/01/2016
End Date: 09/30/2018
Abstract:

The MRLS ARRC system was established by legislation in 1973 (MRSATitle 27, Chapter 4). Currently there are three ARRC libraries serving 16 counties divided into nine regions. The ARRC libraries were selected to improve library services to the residents of Maine. Portland Public Library (PPL) provides services in the southern counties (York and Cumberland population 496,691). Bangor Public Library (BPL) provides services for the northern and eastern counties (Aroostook, Hancock,Knox, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Waldo, and Washington – population 402,095) and the Maine State Library (MSL) provides services for the central and western counties (Androscoggin, Franklin, Kennebec, Lincoln, Oxford, Sagadahoc and Somerset – population 437,121). Lewiston Public Library (LPL) supplements ILL services for fiction for the MSL.

The Maine State Library contracts with PPL, BPL and LPL for ARRCservices to expand library resource sharing and services for all Maine residents. The ARRCs:

• Provide ILL services to libraries in their respective counties

• Provide free borrower’s cards to Maine residents residing in their respective counties.  51,255 cards are provided to citizens outside Augusta, Bangor and Portland

• Provide reference and additionalinformation online services to libraries and patrons in those counties

• Provide office space for MSL regional liaisons (as per contracts with BPL and PPL)

• The Maine State Library manages thestatewide van delivery program for libraries as an ARRC service





State Goal: Expand library resource sharing and services for all Maine citizens.
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$301,903.01
$61,903.81
$0.00
$363,806.82
Intent(s)
Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.
Outreach & Partnerships
Systems & Technologies
Activities
Activity Details
Title: ARRC - Interlibrary Loan
Narrative:

ARRCs provide interlibrary loan service for libraries and citizens in the regions of the Maine Regional Library System. The Maine State Library serves as the ILL ARRC for the central and western counties (Androscoggin, Franklin, Kennebec, Lincoln, Oxford, Sagadahoc and Somerset). Lewiston Public Library (LPL) supplements ILL services for fiction for the MSL. The Bangor Public Library (BPL) serves as the ILL ARRC for the northern and eastern counties (Aroostook, Hancock, Knox, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Waldo, and Washington). Portland Public Library (PPL) serves as the ILL ARRC for the southern counties(York and Cumberland). Maine libraries that are not part of one of the state supported ILS (Minerva, MILS, URSUS) may make requests through their assigned ARRC. All library types are eligible for this service: public, school, academic and special.



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: 46,161
Average number of ILL transactions / month: 3,847


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: 259
Academic Libraries: 33
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 43
School Libraries: 628
Other: 0

Activity Details
Title: ARRC - Reference services
Narrative:

ARRCs provide references services to Maine Regional Library System district libraries with and without a reference librarian as well as directly to patrons in their regions. The Maine State Library, Bangor Public Library and Portland Public Library all have degreed and experienced reference librarians available in person, via phone and via email to answer quick or detailed reference questions. Many small libraries call for patrons when the answers to questions are not available using the librarian's reference skills or the library's online or local reference resources. Statistics are reported for all reference questions since librarians will not ask a patron or library to identify their regional district or location.



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

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Consultation/drop-in/referral
Format: Combined in-person & virtual


Quantity
Total number of consultation/reference transactions: 59,735
Average number of consultation/reference transactions per month: 4,978


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: 259
Academic Libraries: 33
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 43
School Libraries: 628
Other: 0

Activity Details
Title: Van Delivery
Narrative:

The Maine State Library (MSL) manages interlibrary loan van delivery service for the state’s libraries. MSL issues an RFP every 3 years, negotiates the contract, and manages billing for public, school, some academic and special libraries. Billing for the University System and Bowdoin, Bates and Colby Colleges are direct with the vendor. MSL bills libraries yearly for van delivery service, facilitates inquiries and complaints with the vendor regarding service issues, and maintains regular communication with van delivery service provider. MSL staff maintains van delivery labels with route #s for all participating libraries and makes them available online. Maine libraries use local funds for the service paying $15.60 per stop. The Maine State Library uses state money to fund 1 free day for public libraries. Federal money is used to pay for delivery supplies such as bags and totes. The state library absorbs extra costs for higher rates at very rural locations. This keeps costs for all libraries equitable and there is no financial burden for rural libraries. 






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

Activity: Content
Mode: Other
Format: Physical
Other: Delivery of ILL items


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: 153
Academic Libraries: 31
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 8
School Libraries: 13
Other: 0

Activity Details
Title: MSL-Public Access Computing
Narrative:

The Maine State Library offers public access computers in the Augusta location as an ARRC service. Both federal and state funds are used for the purchase, internet access and support of these computers by the Office of Information Technology. Both state and federal funds are used to support this service to regional patrons who use the library. These include general access computers, computers attached to 3D printers and other technology in the MSL’s “UP Room” – our makerspace/remakerspace. This activity also provide internet access to the microfilm machines so copies can be emailed.



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

Activity: Content
Mode: Acquisition
Format: Combined physical & digital
Other: Public Access Computing


Quantity
Number of hardware acquired: 20
Number of software acquired: 0
Number of licensed databases acquired: 0
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: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: Maine State Library
Address: 64 State House Station
City: Augusta
State: ME
Zip: 04333-0064

Activity Details
Title: ARRC-Access to borrower card resources
Narrative:

Through the Maine Regional Library System’s ARRC libraries, Maine citizens who have cards from Bangor Public Library, Portland Public Library and the Maine State Library have access to the large collections at these libraries as well as to the additional online resources beyond the statewide MARVEL content. This content is accessed through each library’s website and is authenticated with the card’s barcode. Each library provides different online content based upon local needs, budgets and collection policies. These databases and/or online learning tools are testing grounds for adoption at the state level.

Examples of online learning tools and databases not available through the statewide portal (MARVEL) but available via an ARRC library are: Mango Languages and Transparent Language; Reference USA; Birds of North America Online; Chilton’s Auto Repair, TumbleBook Library, Demographics Now and Heritage Quest.



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: 1,475,849
Number of collections made discoverable to the public: 34
Number of metadata plans/frameworks produced/updated: 0


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: 2
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:
The Maine State Library’s has continued to study the current ARRC model with an analysis of ILL statistics from each ARRC. We are using the data to identify and recruit libraries into one of the statewide systems (MILS or Minerva) to ease the load on the ARRCs and provide a path to greater independence and expanded patrons services the systems offer. ARRC libraries will continue to play a role for very small rural libraries who can’t afford -or whose ILL needs don’t align with joining the statewide system. In 2018, the work continues towards a statewide card.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
ILL in Maine is very high and as we have expanded t he van delivery (courier system) to more rural libraries it provides an opportunity to bring them on board to statewide system. We are using data for ILL and van delivery to identify and recruit with some early successes.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Maine has no regional systems that are like other states but the 3 consortia that feed into MaineCat represent the academic libraries well but expanding the number of public libraries has been a slower process. MSL use of data has helped focus this expansion and aligns with our mission to make libraries stronger.
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:
No
Explain:

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:
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: