View Project

G2S Project Code: 2020-IA-85803
State: Iowa
Fiscal Year: 2020
Grantee
State Library of Iowa

Project Director
Director Name: Tom Keyser
Director Phone: 5152818958
Director Email: Tom.Keyser@iowa.gov
General Information
Title: Statewide Delivery
State Project Code: 2.3.3
Start Date: 10/01/2019
End Date: 09/30/2021
Abstract: The State Library provided a delivery system, called IA Shares, for delivery of library materials to all 543 public libraries across the state. Bags and totes were provided to use in new system. 

This project ties our goal to the IMLS Measuring Success Information Access Intent to improve user's ability to obtain and/or use information resources. 
State Goal: Institutional Capacity
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$396,384.67
$32,689.20
$0.00
$429,073.87
Intent(s)
Improve library operations.
Library Infrastructure & Capacity
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Provide Statewide Delivery
Narrative: The State Library  provided delivery services to 543 public libraries across the state. This past year the State Library increased delivery from 1 day/week to 2 days/week for each public library. StatCourier was contracted to do the logistics of the service which included developing the route system and schedule, and hiring and training drivers.  StatCourier also worked with Mobius to provide a label-making system and included codes of Iowa libraries. 
The State ordered additional nylon bags to use in the shipping of materials and supply to libraries as needed. 

Intent: Improve library operations.

Activity: Content
Mode: Other
Format: Physical
Other: Delivery of library materials across the state


Quantity


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: 543
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
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
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
The IA Shares delivery service had some issues during the first year including missed stops due to weather or vehicle issues that caused delays in getting materials delivered. As a result of those issues the State Library provided an additional day of delivery per week for all public libraries. This decreased potential issues of missed deliveries due to weather, holidays, and other issues, and provided a quicker turnaround for materials reaching the requesting library.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
It was an adjustment for our libraries to become familiar with this new service and the biggest impact occurred when we started the 2nd day per week of delivery. That solved many of the problems that libraries had complained about and provided quicker turnaround of materials. More bags were also purchased to assist in quicker delivery as we discovered libraries would wait for bags to arrive to ship items. The ability for our public libraries to save money on postage and be able to use it for other purposes was huge, especially for those libraries in smaller communities. One library commented "I am able to get - and loan - items that I normally could not afford at no cost to the library. Also, because our town has no post office I had to drive out of town to another post office to mail packages under the old system", which is a common situation across the state.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
We realized that in order to make it successful we need to provide more than one day per week service. Our next step will be to connect the public and academic libraries on the delivery system. We also developed a list-serve for IA Shares for libraries to communicate their need for additional bags or totes from other libraries or the State Library, as well as any other needed communication.
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:
Yes
Explain:
. We hope to include academic libraries in the delivery system in some way.
Do you anticipate changing the types of activities and objectives addressed by the project:
No
Explain:

Was an evaluation conducted for this project:
Yes
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: Delivery, Courier Service