View Project

G2S Project Code: 2018-OK-80897
State: Oklahoma
Fiscal Year: 2018
Grantee
OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARIES

Project Director
Director Name: Arlene Paschel
Director Phone: 405-522-3578
Director Email: arlene.paschel@libraries.ok.gov
General Information
Title: Statewide Databases
State Project Code: 181101
Start Date: 10/01/2017
End Date: 09/30/2019
Abstract:

The Oklahoma Department of Libraries (ODL) provided online library resources, EBSCO and Britannica, for all Oklahoma residents.The participating libraries gained access by IP registration or users were recognized by geolocation through ODL's Research and Discovery web page.This group of high-quality digital resources was available to public and special libraries, public and private school libraries, tribal, government, academic, medical and law libraries, as well as other state agencies. Access to this reliable information was available for every socioeconomic group and age for work or play.



State Goal: Goal 1: Information Access
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$538,078.86
$0.00
$0.00
$538,078.86
Intent(s)
Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.
Education
Health & Wellness
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Statewide Databases Acquisition
Narrative: The Oklahoma Department of Libraries (ODL) coordinated the procurement effort and worked with database vendors to enhance online information, online support, and timely updates for users. The statewide database portfolio included EBSCO and Britannica School (elementary and middle school) with a Spanish Reference Center.



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: 2
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: 218
Academic Libraries: 58
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 98
School Libraries: 1381
Other: 0
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
Benjamin Franklin, in a 1758 essay "The Way to Wealth," wrote: “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." With a new Oklahoma governor, there is a renewed sense of urgency to implement changes and to improve multiple issues in the state. Making good decisions entails access to quality information for medical, legal, health, and other vital topics. The Oklahoma Department of Libraries provided this investment in knowledge by making the Statewide Databases available to every citizen of Oklahoma. The implementation of geolocation URLs makes the resources available easier to use in more places and usage has increased for both EBSCO and Britannica. The ODL Consultant in charge of the LSTA Website Development project placed direct links to Explora and Britannica on library websites, which contributed to these increases.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
The need for (ODL) statewide databases has been expressed many times from public, school, special and academic librarians. Oklahoma municipal libraries depend on local sales tax to fund their libraries and Oklahoma taxes are flat or dropping in many locations. Most libraries would not be able to offer their customers databases if they were not provided by this grant. Three million nine hundred Oklahoma residents have access to these databases through their local libraries and geolocation. Larger municipal, systems, and university libraries used ODL's selection of databases as a base for their collection of databases. They were able to add additional databases that benefited local community or student curriculum demands. One user story: "You hear on the news about young kids dying on the football field or on the basketball court. A common cause to these tragic sudden deaths is a genetic condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) or enlarged heart. My doctor calls it a “thick” heart. My diagnosis of HCM immediately caused panic and fear for my kids, but especially for my grandchildren who were already heavily involved in sports. As we arranged genetic testing for my children, I happened to see a Steven Spielberg quote that said, “Replace fear with curiosity” and it struck a chord. I had used something called EBSCO in college many, many years ago and decided to see if I could do searches on my particular genetic mutation. Digital Prairie’s Research & Discovery page was the answer. I want to thank those involved in bringing this resource to us. Little side note: all our family has been tested now and we got wonderful news. We are using the more enjoyable parts of Digital Prairie now!"
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
The Oklahoma Department of Libraries (ODL) staff helped librarians run EBSCO eadmin to obtain information for the annual reports required by ODL for the Institute of Museum and Library Services' public libraries survey. In addition, local librarians sometimes struggled to help users access the databases on different devices and called on ODL for assistance. Also, ODL routinely received emails and phone calls for forgotten usernames and passwords. Utilizing geolocation helped with that issue. One hurdle that ODL faced was librarians thinking that signing up for one database in Digital Prairie automatically gave them the other resources. ODL regularly promotes the Statewide Databases at the Oklahoma Library Association's (OLA) annual conference and Encyclo-Media (a teacher's conference). ODL, as well as EBSCO and Britannica, the licensed database providers, had booths at these conferences and provided programs to assist Oklahoma librarians and teachers learn how to easily access the databases and what was available within the databases. ODL also promoted the statewide databases at a Back to School Bash for teachers and a Home School Day at the Oklahoma History Center. The ODL used an iPad to demonstrate how to: locate the databases in their respective libraries; insert a desktop shortcut; provide a link on their library/school web-page; use the teacher/school code; browse the lesson plans; set up journal alerts; and search publication title lists. Many positive comments were received regarding the availability and ease of use of both EBSCO and Britannica.
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