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G2S Project Code: 2020-ME-85575
State: Maine
Fiscal Year: 2020
Grantee
Maine State Library

Project Director
Director Name: James Jackson Sanborn
Director Phone: 207-581-3083;
Director Email: james.jacksonsanborn@maineinfonet.org
General Information
Title: Maine InfoNet -Partnership with the University of Maine
State Project Code: 1746
Start Date: 10/01/2019
End Date: 09/30/2021
Abstract: Maine InfoNet is a collaborative of academic, public, school, and special libraries that provides leadership in resource sharing, promotes cost effective solutions for quality library information services, and supports the cultural, educational, and economic development of Maine. Supported by the Maine State Library through a contract with the University of Maine System, Maine InfoNet connects the people of Maine to information and ideas through library cooperation. A Board of Directors oversees the operation of Maine InfoNet and takes the lead in planning and establishing policies. The Maine State Librarian is a member of this Board along with 12 other members from the Maine library community. Maine InfoNet is dedicated to improving information and library service to all Maine citizens through online systems and technology. It develops and manages services that unite electronic and physical resources to form a digital library for all of Maine.


State Goal: Expand library resource sharing and services for all Maine residents
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$170,833.67
$137,608.53
$0.00
$308,442.20
Intent(s)
Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.
General (select only for electronic databases or other data sources)
Other
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Maine ILS and Statewide Catalog
Narrative:

Maine InfoNet manages three statewide ILS consortia as well as the statewide catalog – MaineCat. The URSUS consortium includes 11 libraries: University of Maine System libraries, the Maine State Library, the Maine Law and Legislative Library and Bangor Public Library. The Minerva consortium include 60 public, school, academic and hospital libraries. The  MILS system for small libraries includes 21 libraries. All three consortia use the same ILS system, are scaled to size and capacity and all feed into the state catalog, MaineCat. Maine InfoNet provides the management, technological infrastructure, help desk ticketing system, and training.






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

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


Quantity
Total number of items circulated: 2,642,453
Average number of items circulated / month: 220,204
Total number of ILL transactions: 617,778
Average number of ILL transactions / month: 51,482


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: 62
Academic Libraries: 25
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 3
Special Libraries: 9
School Libraries: 2
Other: 0
Activity Details
Title: Digital Maine Library
Narrative:

Maine InfoNet manages the Digital Maine Library.  This collection of online resources provides access to full text and abstracts from magazines, newspapers and reference books. Digital Maine Library is provided free of charge to all library types and Maine citizens from home. Digital Maine Library is funded by the Maine State Library, the University of Maine, the Maine Telecommunications Education Access Fund via the Public Utilities Commission as well as Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin colleges.



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

Activity: Content
Mode: Other
Format: Digital
Other: Management of the technology infrastructure for authentication adn delivery at the local level for all libraries


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: 256
Academic Libraries: 33
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 3
Special Libraries: 43
School Libraries: 578
Other: 0
Activity Details
Title: Download Library: E-books and Audiobooks
Narrative:

Maine InfoNet also manages the Download Library of e-books and audio books for Maine libraries. The e-books and audio books are both available to patrons of all member libraries that join this project. Libraries pay an annual membership fee which is used to purchase content and pay for licensing fees. Membership fees are based on library population served and range from a low of $200 for libraries serving populations under 1,000 to a high of $1,800 for libraries serving populations above 25,000.



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

Activity: Content
Mode: Lending
Format: Digital


Quantity
Total number of items circulated: 626,120
Average number of items circulated / month: 52,177
Total number of ILL transactions: 0
Average number of ILL transactions / month: 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: 170
Academic Libraries: 26
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 22
Other: 0
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
Maine InfoNet did a great job of managing bringing libraries online into the state catalog and ILL systems as they opened a varying times during the summer.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
Bringing new libraries into the statewide system is still a focus of MSL and Maine InfoNet. Each new library added to the systems expands the equity of service to rural Maine citizens. The Maine Reciprocal Borrowing Program (MRBP) has restarted with the majority of participating libraries. For the Digital Maine Library, K-12 use is very strong, followed by academic libraries and then public.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
The size of the Maine Infonet staff stifles the on boarding of new libraries into a state supported ILS. The goal remains to bring more small and rural libraries into the statewide catalog (MaineCat) environment for ILL purposes.
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: Yes
Exemplary NarrativeThe agile way that Maine InfoNet handled access to library collections as libraries closed and open was remarkable. The increase of new audiobooks and e-books for patrons increased downloads by 16.5%. The previous year's number also increased due to the 4 months of COVID.
Project Tags: