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G2S Project Code: 2017-NH-80375
State: New Hampshire
Fiscal Year: 2017

Grantee
New Hampshire State Library

Project Director
Director Name: Mary Russell
Director Phone: 603-271-2866
Director Email: Mary.Russell@dncr.nh.gov

General Information
Title: NHU-PAC: New Hampshire Public Access Catalog
State Project Code:
Start Date: 10/01/2016
End Date: 09/30/2018
Abstract:

The NHU-PAC (NH Union Public Access Catalog) is an online database of New Hampshire library collections and enables resource sharing among the hundreds of libraries who participate in the statewide inter-library loan program. MARC cataloging records from OCLC are available through NHU-PAC to catalogers in all types of libraries. The NHU-PAC’s web interface also serves as a resource for topical book lists and links to other NH programs related to books and reading. The platform is a web-based SirsiDynix integrated library system allowing the public open access to bibliographic content and password access for library personnel using inter-library loan. Enhanced content in the public access catalog includes book reviews,tables-of-contents and colored cover images for materials. NH libraries can download MARC records with their local integrated library systems via Z39.50 connections. Holdings of individual libraries are maintained by batch loading of MARC records from each library’s local system.

State Goal: Equity of Access

Budget Information

LSTA

MATCH-State

MATCH-Other

Total

$326,238.56

$106,755.93

$10,129.67

$443,124.16

Intent(s)
Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.
Education
Literacy

Activities
Activity Details
Title: NHU-PAC
Narrative:

NHU-PAC exists primarily to help the public libraries in New Hampshire serve their patrons through resource sharing and high quality cataloging records. More than 90% of NH public libraries use this resource to serve their patrons. Many schools, academic institutions, and special libraries in New Hampshire also take advantage of this resource to better serve their patrons.

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

Activity: Content
Mode: Lending
Format: Physical

Quantity
Total number of items circulated: 261,260
Average number of items circulated / month: 21,771
Total number of ILL transactions: 261,260
Average number of ILL transactions / month: 21,771

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: 213
Academic Libraries: 13
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 11
School Libraries: 49
Other: 0

Activity Details
Title: NHAIS Help Desk
Narrative:

The NHAIS Services Section of the state librarymanages the NHU-PAC and provides Help DeskServices to the 475 libraries that are members of NHAIS (NH AutomatedInformation System). NHAIS Services staff assist NHU-PAC users by answering questions, developing and teaching formal classes, and providingone-on-one training. Loading records, monitoring the accuracy of incoming data,and providing exports of MARC records for local use by member libraries areamong the tasks performed each week by NHAIS Services staff.

The NHAIS Help Desk staff responded to 244 telephonecalls and 349 emails from libraries between October 2015 and the end ofSeptember 2016. About 44% of the Help Deskcontacts are for instruction, “how do I ...” questions. Another 30% are administrative issues(passwords needed, contact info changed, etc.) and other miscellaneousinquiries. The remaining questions relate to a system problem which may be witha specific record in the database, a Z39.50 configuration setting, or aninternet connectivity issue. These system problems are often on the library’sside of the communication, but NHAIS Help Desk staff works with the library todiagnose the problem and can usually provide suggestions or resources forsolving these technical issues.

This year we offered three online sessions oninterlibrary loan attended by 43 people.

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

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: Combined in-person & virtual

Quantity
Session length (minutes): 30
Number of sessions in program: 1
Average number in attendance per session: 5
Number of times program administered: 12

Partner Information

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: 213
Academic Libraries: 13
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 11
School Libraries: 49
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

Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
Through the NHAIS interlibrary loan system libraries provided materials to their patrons beyond their own collections. By using OCLC MARC records downloaded from NHU-PAC they were able to make their collections accessible to the public through local online catalogs. Collection of transaction and record loading statistics throughout the year shows us that the NHU-PAC is providing these outcomes.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
There were 473 libraries, including 223 public libraries, registered as NHAIS members at the end of September 2017. All these libraries are eligible to use NHU-PAC for interlibrary loan (ILL). During this fiscal year 287 libraries (14 academic institutions; 213 public libraries; 49 schools; and 11 special libraries) had active interlibrary loan accounts. Between October 2016 and September 2017 there were 251,260 ILL transactions completed in the NHAIS system (an average of 4,832 per week). This was 7,039 more interlibrary loan transactions completed than in the previous fiscal year. New bibliographic records are exported from OCLC Worldcat and added to the NHU-PAC to reflect the acquisitions of member libraries. During this fiscal year we added approximately 50,000 OCLC records to NHU-PAC. We also replaced 87,000 bibliographic records with upgraded OCLC records during the year. An aggressive effort to clean up and streamline the database during this past year resulted in a net decrease in the number of records (down by 558,364) and of items (down by 430,484) in the NHU-PAC. Over the past decade most of the colleges in New Hampshire have implemented ILL systems like ILLIAD to manage their interlibrary loan and, though still making materials available to NH public libraries, have stopped filling requests directly through NHU-PAC. Removing the out-of-date holdings of those academic libraries has been a focus of our data cleanup projects this year. On September 29, 2017 there were 1,767,943 bibliographic records in NHU-PAC with 6,651,949 items attached.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
The NHU-PAC is being used more frequently to fill more requests each year which indicates that resource sharing is a valuable service to New Hampshire’s libraries. NHU-PAC exists primarily to help the public libraries in New Hampshire serve their patrons through resource sharing and high quality cataloging records. More than 90% of NH public libraries use this resource to serve their patrons. Many schools, academic institutions, and special libraries in New Hampshire also take advantage of this resource to better serve their patrons.
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: NHU-PAC, Interlibrary Loan, Interlibrary Loan