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G2S Project Code: 2018-MA-81517
State: Massachusetts
Fiscal Year: 2018

Grantee
Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners

Project Director
Director Name: Kate Butler
Director Phone: 617-725-1860 ext. 253
Director Email: kate.butler@state.ma.us

General Information
Title: Access to Licensed Electronic Resources
State Project Code: 16.SP.08
Start Date: 10/01/2017
End Date: 09/30/2019
Abstract: Statewide licensed database access is available for all Massachusetts Library System member libraries, as well as campus-wide access for K-12 and academic institution members, and remote access for all residents of the Commonwealth.They provide equity of access to electronic information resources for all residents, freeing up local funding for the licensing of complementary products. The suite of databases includes a broad array of general, K-12,scholarly (undergraduate and graduate), and consumer, predominantly full-text information, including multimedia files. Content includes general periodicals, encyclopedias (especially appropriate for K-12) and other reference books, scholarly journals (academic level), biographies, and newspapers, as well as content in the following subject areas: consumer health, nursing and allied health, literature, biography, literary criticism and readers’ advisory, and science and technology.

State Goal: Lifelong Learning

Budget Information

LSTA

MATCH-State

MATCH-Other

Total

$987,203.68

$88,270.28

$600.00

$1,076,073.96

Intent(s)
Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.
General (select only for electronic databases or other data sources)

Activities
Activity Details
Title: Support Database Usage
Narrative: Direct, first tier database support was shifted to Massachusetts Library System (MLS) in 2016. However, the MBLC continues to provide other technical support and assistance to libraries using the statewide databases, especially for issues surrounding complex authentication needs and for promotional materials.

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

Activity: Content
Mode: Creation
Format: Combined physical & digital

Quantity
Number of items digitized: 0
Number of items digitized and available to the public: 0
Number of physical items: 0
Number of open-source applications/software/systems: 0
Number of proprietary applications/software/systems: 0
Number of learning resources (e.g. toolkits, guides): 2
Number of plans/frameworks: 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: 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: 369
Academic Libraries: 123
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 11
Special Libraries: 187
School Libraries: 881
Other: 0

Question 1: I am satisfied that the resource is meeting library needs.
Strongly Agree: 0
Agree: 0
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 0
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 2: Applying the resource 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

Activity Details
Title: Galepages Task Force
Narrative: One ongoing issue with library adoption of the statewide databases has been the ability of libraries and library staff to provide web access to the products. Though MBLC has long provided access to links customized to each library, the next step - adding them to a page - can be difficult for libraries with few technical staff or whose website is controlled by another party.

MBLC, MLS and representatives from participating libraries worked with Gale to create a template for their Galepages product which would provide authenticated links to each licensed product (including non-Gale products). The template included pages appropriate for public library patrons, school patrons and academic patrons and pages could be shown or hidden depending on the library audience. Libraries can then point patrons at this page to access all licensed content. The new template was launched in early 2019.
Intent: Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.

Activity: Content
Mode: Creation
Format: Digital

Quantity
Number of items digitized: 0
Number of items digitized and available to the public: 0
Number of physical items: 0
Number of open-source applications/software/systems: 0
Number of proprietary applications/software/systems: 1
Number of learning resources (e.g. toolkits, guides): 1
Number of plans/frameworks: 1

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

Public Libraries: 369
Academic Libraries: 123
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 11
Special Libraries: 187
School Libraries: 881
Other: 0

Activity Details
Title: Gale Refresh
Narrative: In the summer of 2019, the vendor Gale/Cengage undertook an extensive refresh of most of their products. Almost every product's name was adjusted to match a new naming scheme; the web interface was modernized; some functionality was extended to additional products. MBLC and MLS coordinated with Gale to provide feedback on the changes, and undertook a messaging campaign to publicize the extensive changes to the library community.
Intent: Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Other
Format: Combined in-person & virtual
Other: Librarians were informed of the changes in person, but also via email and the web.

Quantity

Partner Information

Public Libraries: 369
Academic Libraries: 123
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 11
Special Libraries: 187
School Libraries: 881
Other: 0

Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:

Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:

Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Ease of use and promotion will only work to the extent that the end user finds the provided service to fill a need which they have. Reference database offerings do not appear to fill as much of a need for the general public as they do for schools and academic institutions.
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: databases, Training, promotion