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G2S Project Code: 2023-DE-94059
State: Delaware
Fiscal Year: 2023

Grantee
Delaware Division of Libraries

Project Director
Director Name: Annie Norman
Director Phone: 302-257-3001
Director Email: annie.norman@delaware.gov

General Information
Title: Delaware Library Consortium
State Project Code:
Start Date: 10/01/2022
End Date: 09/30/2024
Abstract: The purpose of the Delaware Library Consortium is to provide seamless statewide access for all Delawareans to physical and electronic collections and other resources through a single integrated library system (ILS), a single discovery platform for digitized materials, a centralized online library card application, a mobile app, and a shared statewide calendar. A single statewide ILS allows all public and multitype libraries in Delaware to streamline processes, use collaborative collection development, and easily access books, eResources, databases, emerging technologies, and other resources statewide.
State Goal: Ensure Equitable Access

Budget Information

LSTA

MATCH-State

MATCH-Other

Total

$657,616.71

$1,900,924.36

$0.00

$2,558,541.07

Intent(s)
Improve users’ ability to discover information resources.
Library Infrastructure & Capacity
Systems & Technologies

Activities
Activity Details
Title: Delaware Library Catalog
Narrative: The Delaware Library Catalog (DLC) has been statewide since 2010. It encompasses all 33 public libraries, 2 bookmobiles, 5 academic libraries, 35 school libraries, 11 special libraries, and the Delaware Division of Libraries. Patrons have access to the holdings of these 87 libraries through their local library. A statewide transit system distributes physical holdings to meet patron demand. OCLCs interlibrary loan service provides materials not available in the collaborative DLC. The DLC provides Delawareans with seamless access to a variety of eContent including OverDrive and hoopla eBooks, eAudiobooks, and streaming video, and Kanopy streaming video. There are currently over 4.1 million items in the DLC, which uses high-quality, standardized OCLC MARC records. The shared DLC infrastructure is used as a platform to roll out other services, such as the DE Heritage Collection’s local online content, and provides libraries with an excellent branding opportunity that improves consistency in communications and public awareness of library services. An online application form allows previously unserved Delawareans to create accounts and immediately begin accessing materials; 15,703 online accounts were created this year, bringing the overall total to 49,954. The Delaware Library Card Campaign, established to promote literacy among Delawareans, especially the 60% of Delaware third graders who are not proficient in reading, issued 8,497 children’s library cards, bringing the total for this campaign to 41,599. Data from the DLC's common infrastructure supports patron service by providing consistent and comparable input into internal and external reporting and analysis tools, such as LibraryIQ and Counting Opinions.
Intent: Improve users’ ability to discover information resources.

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

Quantity
Number of items made discoverable to the public: 557,390
Number of collections made discoverable to the public: 73
Number of metadata plans/frameworks produced/updated: 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: 35
Academic Libraries: 5
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 11
School Libraries: 35
Other: 0

Activity Details
Title: Delaware Heritage Collection
Narrative: The Delaware Heritage Collection (Delaware Collections) represents a collaboration of the Delaware Division of Libraries (DDL) and cultural heritage organizations throughout the state. Organizations are invited to contribute archival quality digital files, including artwork, maps, photographs, audio/video, and other important items documenting Delaware’s unique history and culture. The Delaware Collections portal allows participating organizations to reach out to new audiences and at the same time provides the public with a single access point to research materials in Delaware repositories. This year, Delaware repositories continued collaborations with New Jersey repositories for the establishment of a joint DE/NJ hub for the Digital Public Library of America. There is a grand total of 124,162 items in Delaware Collections. DDL provides: 1. Guidance in digitization practices or metadata creation, including use of the Delaware Heritage Metadata Supplement (Best Practices) 2. Access to and training in CONTENTdm, the high-performance storage and retrieval software for multimedia collections 3. Storage in the OCLC Digital Archive for all files contributed to the Delaware Collections
Intent: Improve users’ ability to discover information resources.

Activity: Content
Mode: Creation
Format: Digital

Quantity
Number of items digitized: 15,292
Number of items digitized and available to the public: 15,292
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): 0
Number of plans/frameworks: 0

Partner Information

Public Libraries: 5
Academic Libraries: 2
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 3
School Libraries: 0
Other: 11

Activity Details
Title: Network
Narrative: The purpose of the Delaware Library Network is to provide every Delawarean with access to fast, reliable WiFi and to support the statewide technology infrastructure that includes the Delaware Library Catalog. The Delaware Library Network enables every public library in Delaware to participate in one of the fastest high speed broadband and WiFi networks in the nation. All public libraries in Delaware are now at 1Gbps, with 4 backbone circuits at 10Gbps. A single network infrastructure allows consistency of service among all public libraries in the state, economies of scale, and greater technology reliability. In Delaware, state funding is used for the technology infrastructure, and LSTA is used for technical expertise. High-speed networks are vitally important to library patrons; well over 1 million public PC sessions are recorded annually.
Intent: Improve users’ ability to discover information resources.

Activity: Planning & Evaluation
Mode: Prospective
Format: In-house

Quantity
Number of evaluations and/or plans funded: 8
Number of funded evaluation and/or plans completed: 8

Partner Information

Public Libraries: 0
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:
The Delaware Library Consortium provides a single statewide discovery platform that enables all Delawareans to access the combined resources of member libraries. A single network infrastructure allows consistency of service among all public libraries in the state, provides economies of scale, and greater technology reliability.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
The Delaware Library Consortium's shared resources and statewide technology infrastructure provide free access to technology and an extensive collection of library materials to inform, educate, and entertain all Delaware library patrons. Economies of scale enable us to provide more collective resources to all Delaware library patrons than they would have access to if individual libraries independently purchased resources and/or technology.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
With a single system, it's easier to negotiate with vendors for reduced per-unit prices due to the larger volume of materials purchased and/or the larger number of patrons and libraries being served. State legislators are more receptive toward funding requests that serve all Delawareans rather than individual communities. A single large system is easier for technology and system administration staff to support and maintain than a variety of individual systems; in addition, data drawn from a single system is comparable from one library to the next.
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 Delaware Library Consortium gives libraries greater visibility and a reputation as a technology leader. Benefits of a single statewide library catalog include enabling a Delaware library card to be used at all participating libraries, providing more convenient access for users, and providing access to a broader, more extensive collection of library materials. Purchasing decisions for local collections are made collaboratively with the larger collection in mind, extending the power of local library budgets. Collaboration with school, academic, and special libraries provides additional support for research projects, independent reading, and self-directed learning for students of all ages. Consolidation of library technology infrastructure and support enables economies of scale and provides Delawareans with access to library resources and information throughout the state. The infrastructure of the Delaware Library Consortium also allows for implementation of statewide calendaring software to link collection and program use. Statistics based on the Dewey Decimal System are helping the Delaware Library Consortium see what patrons are trying to do so collections and programs can be tailored to better serve them, and to begin to link services to community impacts.

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