View Project

G2S Project Code: 2022-GA-92295
State: Georgia
Fiscal Year: 2022

Grantee
Georgia Public Library Service

Project Director
Director Name: Angela Stanley
Director Phone: (470) 304-0690
Director Email: astanley@georgialibraries.org

General Information
Title: Resource Sharing
State Project Code: GA98148-70
Start Date: 10/01/2022
End Date: 09/30/2023
Abstract: The GPLS Resource Sharing project, this year, focused on encouraging and providing coordinated, behind the scenes support that allowed multi-type libraries to work together. GPLS provided interlibrary loan and cataloging access through OCLC for public libraries throughout the state, which allows for physical materials sharing between all 60 library systems in the state. Resource Sharing saved participating libraries time and money and made millions of dollars worth of materials available to Georgia residents, including the high quality electronic library materials, reliable news sources and virtual tools to expand their education, all the more vital to supporting learners of all ages in the wake of the pandemic.
State Goal: Access

Budget Information

LSTA

MATCH-State

MATCH-Other

Total

$1,133,669.24

$2,399,417.01

$0.00

$3,533,086.25

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

Activities
Activity Details
Title: GALILEO: Georgia Library Learning Online
Narrative: GPLS paid for public library systems in Georgia to have access to electronic resources through GALILEO, leveling the playing field for rural or low-income residents whose library systems would not normally be able to afford this level of complexity or depth. Statewide access was provided to numerous databases and digital resources through computers located at libraries, with authenticated remote access provided from any internet connected device in the state. For the first time since 2010, GALILEO saw increases in public library access across every single usage metric from July 2022-June 2023. All 51 PINES-participating libraries have moved to Single Sign-On access via OpenAthens, with the remaining 9 non-PINES libraries expected to move to SSO by the end of 2023. Effective July 2023, GPLS discontinued access to two services: the History Reference Center database, due to low usage; and NoveList catalog integration, due to redundancy with Syndetics Unbound. Effective October 2022, GPLS added a public library professional development eBook collection.
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: 63
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: 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: 407
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 1
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0

Activity Details
Title: GOLD Resource Sharing Network
Narrative: GOLD, as a Georgia’s resource sharing network for multi-type libraries, supported resource sharing and document delivery among libraries throughout Georgia and promoted statewide access to materials. Any customary interlibrary loan fees were waived for in-group borrowing, meaning that libraries were provided patron access to materials they did not have in their own collections. This year, the GOLD group continued to keep Georgia library materials available to Georgians. In the period, 55,685 items were borrowed and loaned by over 200 Georgia libraries (including public, academic, technical and special libraries) within the GOLD network--a 165% increase over the previous period. GOLD libraries borrowed an additional 75,397 items from libraries outside the GOLD network, and lent 90,661 items: taken collectively, an 131% increase. All interlibrary loan fees were waived for in-group resource sharing. Having access to free interlibrary loan saved Georgia libraries $1,113,700 during the project period state-wide, across all types of libraries.
Intent: Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.

Activity: Content
Mode: Lending
Format: Physical

Quantity
Total number of items circulated: 0
Average number of items circulated / month: 0
Total number of ILL transactions: 221,743
Average number of ILL transactions / month: 18,478

Partner Information

Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: Yes
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: 407
Academic Libraries: 97
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 1
Special Libraries: 28
School Libraries: 8
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: Cataloging & Discovery Support
Narrative: GPLS facilitated shared catalogs and paid for public libraries to have unlimited access to the OCLC’s WorldCat, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars and providing quality bibliographic records for their catalogs. Having accurate MARC21 bibliographic records gave patrons the best possible service and allowed for resource sharing by maintaining bibliographic database integrity. GPLS supported the findability of materials by providing a subscription to WebDewey, the online version of the Dewey Decimal Classification system, and the RDA Toolkit to all public libraries. Both supported quality cataloging that meets international and national standards. Without access to these resources, public library catalogers would be required to create more original bibliographic records for their local database, increasing costs and the time needed to get library materials to the shelf for patron use. Increased quality of both records and databases strengthened the findability of library materials, saving patrons time and increasing the likelihood of their discovery of pertinent information.
Intent: Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.

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

Quantity
Number of items made discoverable to the public: 0
Number of collections made discoverable to the public: 61
Number of metadata plans/frameworks produced/updated: 0

Partner Information

Public Libraries: 407
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0

Activity Details
Title: Beanstack
Narrative: GPLS continued to provide access to a statewide subscription to the online reading log program Beanstack. This tool provided libraries with a way to track participation, create a wide array of customizable activities, employ virtual badges as a reward system, generate reports, and help library staff administer successful Summer Reading Programs for all ages. Beanstack was extremely effective as a year-round tool to promote reading for all ages, and public library usage increased as staff become more comfortable navigating the interface and creating reading challenges.
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: 60
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

Public Libraries: 407
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0

Activity Details
Title: eRead Kids
Narrative: GPLS purchased additional content for eRead Kids to assist with remote learning. eRead Kids, as a digital library, offered over 18,000 eBooks and audiobooks for children from pre-k to fourth grade. The collection was curated for a mix of fiction and nonfiction titles that can be downloaded onto computers, tablets, and smartphones, and is freely available with a library card. Using eRead Kids, Georgia families checked out high quality, in-demand electronic books, selected by children’s librarians from across the state, encouraging the early reading that is vital to student success. The platform continued to be popular with both libraries and patrons as they continue to want virtual options. During the reporting period, circulation totaled 90,610 statewide.
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: 0
Number of print materials (books & government documents) acquired: 0
Number of electronic materials acquired: 7,040
Number of audio/visual units (audio discs, talking books, other recordings) acquired: 0

Partner Information

Public Libraries: 407
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0

Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
For the first time since 2010, GALILEO saw significant increases in public library access across every single usage metric from July 2022-June 2023: 22% increase in searches over prior year (926,745--highest recorded access since 2019), 84% increase in in full text retrievals over prior year (730,598--highest recorded access since 2017), 30% increase in links chosen over prior year (200,648), and 2.5% increase in database sessions over prior year (113,329). Additionally, the GOLD Resource Sharing Network logged equally significant in both in-group and out-of-group lending and borrowing activity: In-Group Lends: 30,875, In-Group Borrows: 24,810, In-Group Total: 55,685 (165% increase over FFY21), Out-of-Group Lends: 90,661, Out-of-Group Borrows: 75,397, and Out-of-Group Total: 166,058 (32% increase over FFY21) with total transactions at 221,743 (50% increase over FFY21).
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
The long arm of the pandemic appeared to finally be releasing its grip on resource sharing initiatives, and institutions were finally seeing returns to pre-pandemic usage levels. In some cases, usage exceeded a decade-long high water mark.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Purchasing statewide subscriptions to tools and services for public library staff that are not immediately visible to users, but support public library staff, gave libraries more budgetary flexibility to provide services visible to patrons. Library users benefited by having access to library materials across the United States and having more powerful local catalogs. It illustrated a deep commitment by the state library administrative agency to an individual library’s mission to meet the changing needs of their diverse communities.
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: GALILEO, GOLD, Beanstack