[12838] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Re: Academic and public library partnerships
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (zendog)
Wed Apr 7 20:08:33 1999
Date: Wed, 07 Apr 1999 17:46:40 -0600
From: zendog <zendog@incolsa.palni.edu>
In-Reply-To: <86256747.005051E0.00@unomail.unomaha.edu>
To: PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Long post (393 words) describes multi-type library partnerships in Indiana.
Delete now if not interested.
**********************
INCOLSA is the statewide library network of Indiana. Nearly all libraries
in the state (750) are members. These libraries include academic, all sized
publics, schools and special libraries. Every library pays a nominal
membership fee plus fees for specific services. Most of the funding is from
a state appropriation with additional funding from LSTA and other grant
sources.
The most notable successes are:
Wheels -- a statewide van delivery service of ILL materials. By capping
shipping expenses, Wheels has greatly relieved the pressure on net lenders
to begin charging for ILL within the state.
INSPIRE -- a comprehensive suite of online databases available to every
citizen of the state, emphasizing full text. In its first year of operation
INSPIRE served about 12 million pages of full text. This is extremely
efficient. First we receive the best competitive prices from database
vendors. Second, a staff of only four people in a single computing facility
handles the operation. INSPIRE allows small public and rural schools an
information utility formerly available only in the wealthy public and
university libraries. The better-funded libraries have been able to use the
money saved to invest in other databases and library services.
In addition to the higher profile services, INCOLSA provides ILL and
reference services to smaller libraries from 8 regional offices around
Indiana. We provide training and continuing education from our modern
computer-equipped classrooms in Indianapolis and at host library sites
around the state. We are beginning to use video conferencing for training
and governance meetings. We provide limited technical consultation,
technical processing for some libraries, and we are the OCLC regional
network for Indiana. Our state funds are about $ 2.4 million for operation
and $1 million for database access.
Our goal is to position libraries and information services through libraries
as essential infrastructure for economic development and quality of life in
Indiana -- a state in competition with other states for a competitive
position in the information era.
A Board of Directors consisting of one representative form each member
library and an Executive committee representing each type of library and
different geographical areas of the state governs us. Probably as important
as governance are our informal partnerships. We work very closely with the
Indiana State Library, the Indiana Library Federation, recently the
University of Indiana School of Library and Information Science, and various
types of library groups.
*********************************************************
Millard Johnson -- INCOLSA -- http://incolsa.palni.edu
Zendog@incolsa.palni.edu
I would rather risk failure than achieve it without risk.
*********************************************************
-----Original Message-----
From: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum [mailto:PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU]
On Behalf Of Robert_Runyon/OAA/UNO/UNEBR@unomail.unomaha.edu
Sent: Friday, April 02, 1999 3:43 PM
To: PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU
Subject: Academic and public library partnerships
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
I am interested in hearing from anyone who is involved with, or knows of
others
who are doing, informal or consortia-based sharing between academic and
public
libraries, especially for access to electronic resources, technology
training,
services provision, or collections management.
It seems to me that the technology offers a gamut of new opportunities for
collaborative and cross-boundary approaches to providing services to local
businesses and other community users.
I am interested in learning about academic/public library collaborative
projects
that have been tried, and may not have worked, as well as those that may now
be
working.
Please respond to the list so that a threaded discussion might ensue.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert S. Runyon Dean, University Library
University of Nebraska at Omaha Omaha, NE 68182-0237
e-mail: Robert_Runyon@unomaha.edu Tel:402-554-2640
Library: http://library.unomaha.edu FAX: 402-554-3215
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"For things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them."
--Aristotle
