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G2S Project Code: 2017-MN-79843
State: Minnesota
Fiscal Year: 2017
Grantee
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Project Director
Director Name: Valerie Horton
Director Phone: 612-624-2939
Director Email: vhorton@umn.edu
General Information
Title: eBooks Minnesota
State Project Code:
Start Date: 03/29/2017
End Date: 09/30/2018
Abstract: Ebooks Minnesota (ebooksmn.org) is an online e-book collection focusing on Minnesota-related books for Minnesotans of all ages, including over 3,200 children’s titles. Schools reported that the collection complements curriculum needs and supports ‘one book, one classroom’ reading initiatives. Content is available through the BiblioBoard platform using a geo-located IP authentication process which makes the collection accessible to anyone in Minnesota without requiring a library card or user login. All items have unlimited, simultaneous multi-user access which eliminates hold lists and allows readers to keep a book for as long as they need it.


State Goal: Expand sharing of resources through statewide networks
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$30,000.00
$0.00
$92,677.60
$122,677.60
Intent(s)
Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.
Education
General (select only for electronic databases or other data sources)
Activities
Activity Details
Title: eBooks MN
Narrative:

Ebooks Minnesota added 3,284 titles of school-aged reading level to the collection. The titles came from eight imprints of Capstone, a premier school-focused publisher. Capstone sold unlimited access to their imprints. Content was selected by an advisory group of staff and statewide stakeholders to ensure a valuable and well-balanced collection. EbooksMinnesota provided a variety of promotional materials to libraries.



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: 0
Number of print materials (books & government documents) acquired: 0
Number of electronic materials acquired: 3,284
Number of audio/visual units (audio discs, talking books, other recordings) acquired: 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: 140
Academic Libraries: 108
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 17
Special Libraries: 127
School Libraries: 958
Other: 0
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
Evaluation found that unlimited access and permanent check-out features of Ebooks Minnesota titles allowed for easy incorporation into classroom activities. Further, given a wide range of reading levels, teachers used materials geared toward beginning, middle, and advanced readers on most topics such as animals, history, and social studies.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
Ebooks Minnesota is a valuable collection for Minnesota students and educators, and access via library catalogs increased the visibility and use of the collection.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Linking to library catalogs is the best method of finding these titles. Mackin alerted its users to these titles and has accounted for the fastest growing method of accessing titles. Title are also available via MARC records, via a Sirsi API, an OCLC knowledge base set, on ELM and through MNLINK.
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:
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: statewide databases, e-books, student success