View Project

G2S Project Code: 2024-OR-94927
State: Oregon
Fiscal Year: 2024

Grantee
State Library of Oregon

Project Director
Director Name: Buzzy Nielsen
Director Phone: 971-375-3486
Director Email: buzzy.nielsen@slo.oregon.gov

General Information
Title: Core Resources
State Project Code:
Start Date: 07/01/2024
End Date: 09/30/2025
Abstract: The State Library of Oregon uses LSTA funds to equip libraries with core connectivity, technology, and resources needed for basic library service. This year funds supported the Statewide Database Licensing Program, a job posting website for those looking to work in libraries, a subgrant to supply community college libraries with an online test preparation tool, and a subgrant to transform the short and long-term accessibility of a unique library of zines. Through these activities, Oregon libraries have access to core content and tools so they can better direct their resources toward specific community needs.
State Goal: Training and resources needed

Budget Information

LSTA

MATCH-State

MATCH-Other

Total

$599,902.22

$0.00

$599,902.22

Intent(s)
Improve library's physical and technology infrastructure.
General (select only for electronic databases or other data sources)
Systems & Technologies

Activities

Activity Details
Title: Statewide Database Licensing Program (SDLP)
Narrative: The State Library of Oregon uses LSTA funds to facilitate the statewide licensing of electronic databases for all types of libraries. The databases enable Oregonians to access quality research material and learning resources regardless of location. This year the State Library subscribed to Gale/Cengage products, which include content such as newspapers, magazines, e-books, and academic journals, covering a range of topics including health, science, current events, entrepreneurship, controversial issues, and more. The State Library also offered subsidies for academic libraries to purchase databases with more college-level content.
Intent: Improve library's physical and technology infrastructure.

Activity: Content
Mode: Acquisition
Format: Digital

Quantity
Number of hardware acquired: 0
Number of software acquired: 0
Number of licensed databases acquired: 24
Number of print materials (books & government documents) acquired: 0
Number of electronic materials acquired: 3
Number of audio/visual units (audio discs, talking books, other recordings) acquired: 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: 136
Academic Libraries: 48
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 7
Special Libraries: 28
School Libraries: 452
Other: 26

Activity Details
Title: Jobline
Narrative: The State Library manages Jobline, a website featuring library-related jobs in both Oregon and out of state.
Intent: Improve library's physical and technology infrastructure.

Activity: Content
Mode: Other
Format: Digital
Other: Maintined 1 website

Quantity

Partner Information

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: 136
Academic Libraries: 48
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 7
Special Libraries: 28
School Libraries: 452
Other: 26

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: PrepStep for Community Colleges (subgrant)
Narrative: Seven community college libraries subscribed to PrepStep, a database that provides online training and tools for General Equivalency Diploma (GED) programs, adult learners, and students. After launching the resource, librarians and administrators focused on integrating the tool into college learning management systems, training staff and faculty to use the platform, and promoting the database through flyers and instructional guides across campuses. Outreach was targeted to student support programs and basic skills instructors.
Intent: Improve library's physical and technology infrastructure.

Activity: Content
Mode: Acquisition
Format: Digital

Quantity
Number of hardware acquired: 0
Number of software acquired: 0
Number of licensed databases acquired: 1
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

Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: Targeted
Geographic community of the targeted group: Urban
Suburban
Rural
For what age groups: 18-25 years
26-49 years
50-59 years
60-69 years
For what economic types: Economic Not Applicable
For what ethnicity types: Ethnicity Not Applicable
Is the activity directed at families: No
Is the activity directed at intergenerational groups: No
Is the activity directed at immigrants/refugees: No
Is the activity directed at those with disabilities: No
Limited functional literacy or informational skills: No
Is the activity category not already captured: Yes: adult learners and students

Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: Blue Mountain Community College
Address: 2411 NW Carden Ave
City: Pendleton
State: OR
Zip: 97801
Name: Clackamas Community College
Address: 19600 Molalla Ave
City: Oregon City
State: OR
Zip: 97045-8980
Name: Clatsop Community College
Address: 1651 Lexington Avenue
City: Astoria
State: OR
Zip: 97103
Name: Lane Community College
Address: 4000 E 30th Ave
City: Eugene
State: OR
Zip: 97405-0640
Name: Linn-Benton Community College
Address: 6500 Pacific Blvd SW
City: Albany
State: OR
Zip: 97321
Name: Portland Community College
Address: 12000 SW 49th Avenue
City: Portland
State: OR
Zip: 97219-7132
Name: Umpqua Community College
Address: 1140 College Rd.
City: Roseburg
State: OR
Zip: 97470-0226

Activity Details
Title: Zine Library Accessibility & Revitalization (subgrant)
Narrative: The Independent Publishing Resource Center (IPRC) Zine Library is home to 25,000+ zines (small-circulation, self-published works of original or appropriated texts and images), comics, art books, chapbooks, and small press publications. IPRC continued a subgrant to transform the short and long-term accessibility of the Zine Library. During this period, they hired a project developer who designed and built a custom online library catalog. The library also continued appraising, inventorying and cataloging the collection, and developed guidelines and workflows for volunteers.
Intent: Improve library's physical and technology infrastructure.

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): 0
Number of plans/frameworks: 0

Partner Information

Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
SDLP: The number of user sessions for Gale products is down by 4% while the number of searches increased by 8%. Educational activity continues to drive the program, as usage consistently grows and declines along with the school and academic year . Trends continue to indicate that users may be accessing statewide databases less often to conduct research, but with more depth in each session. The State Library held four training sessions for 86 library staff. The focus was on resources and accessibility tools available in Gale databases. 100% of 43 survey respondents indicated they agreed or strongly agreed that they learned something by participating in the training, 91% that they feel confident using what they learned, 95% that they are likely to apply what they learned, and 97% that applying what they learned will improve library services to the public. Jobline: This year there were 16,600 visitors and 64,900 views. Visits this year increased by 9% from last year. PrepStep for Community Colleges (subgrant): PrepStep supports a wide range of learners, particularly those in need of additional academic preparation or job-readiness skills. The platform's GED prep tools, career guidance modules, and digital literacy tutorials directly benefited adult learners, non-traditional students, and first-generation college students. By increasing access to high-quality online learning resources, the college libraries helped reduce barriers to educational and career advancement. Five schools identified new funding or restructured budgets to pay for PrepStep moving forward. Zine Library Accessibility & Revitalization (subgrant): IPRC cataloged 1,439 zines during this period of the project and appraised 16.6 linear feet of boxes of zines. To help with the workload, they hosted two community catalogathons (cataloging sessions); see attached Zine Library - Catalogathon photo for an image from one of the sessions. The catalogathons not only helped the library add hundreds of zines to the new catalog, they also helped spread the word about this project and the IPRC Zine Library and have energized the Zine Community for future programming.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
Libraries across Oregon are struggling to hire and keep staff in positions. A service like Jobline is imperative during such a climate. The site’s increased usage also indicates a strong need from jobseekers as well.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Access to credible information is crucial, and databases are a good way for libraries to provide this. However, simply making the resource available is not enough—awareness-building among users and library staff is key to adoption and usage. This work is ongoing, especially with staff turnover and environments where students and patrons come and go frequently.
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:
Yes
Explain:
Objective will stay the same, but specific activities vary year to year (especially subgrants).
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: core resources, ils, databases