$15 Million Investment in Public Libraries from the Ministry of Culture
Announcement – Winter 2009
On January 29, 2009, Southern Ontario Library Service (SOLS) and Ontario
Library Service-North (OLS-North) unveiled the project plans being funded by the
$15 million investment in public libraries from the Ministry of Culture.
SOLS received $15 million from the Ministry of Culture to be used in
collaboration with OLS-North “for the purpose of supporting public libraries’
efforts to provide equitable access to a range of digital information, community
collections and services to Ontarians”. Following an extensive consultation with
client public libraries and key library organizations, SOLS and OLS-North
announced the three components of the program on December 3, 2008:
Today’s announcements provided a description of the fourteen projects funded
by the Ministry’s investment and celebrated the many project partners.
Projects
Downloadable Audiobooks. We are completing negotiations for a
two year agreement with OverDrive to provide a provincial collection of
audiobooks. OverDrive’s download service provides direct transfer to iPod, Zune,
and virtually all MP3 players and is a popular service for libraries’ mobile and
connected users. Our funding will cover start-up costs, maintenance fees and an
initial collection valued at approximately $300,000. All Ontario public
libraries not already using OverDrive will have access to this collection.
Libraries already offering this service will receive a reimbursement in lieu of
their participation in the provincial collection.
French Language E-Resources. Through our support, Knowledge
Ontario has been able to expand the resources available to public libraries in
French under its Resource Ontario project. Supported by a direct grant from the
Ministry of Culture, Resource Ontario acquires province-wide licenses that
provide Ontarians with on site and remote access to databases through their
libraries. Knowledge Ontario has just negotiated a new two year agreement and
our funding covers the addition of CEDROM’s L’Actualité Francophone Plus product
for public libraries. L’Actualité Francophone Plus provides premium Canadian
French language content through such sources as L’Actualité, Le Devoir, Le Droit,
La Presse, Protégez-vous, Le Soleil, SRC Radio – Bulletin National et Int’l, SRC
Télévision – Le Téléjournal / Le Point, Découverte, and Voir.
Genealogy Database. We are completing negotiations for a two
year license for Micromedia ProQuest’s Ancestry Library Edition. Ancestry is a
genealogy research tool with data from census, military records, court, land,
probate, vital and church records, passenger lists, etc. It covers Canada, the
US, UK, and some European countries. All Ontario public libraries will have
access to this license. For libraries already subscribing to this service,
Micromedia Proquest will extend their license period.
Tools and Training for e-Resources. We have appointed a
professional librarian on a short term contract to develop tools and provide
training to public libraries on how best to use electronic resources provided
provincially. She will develop resources, tools (e.g. subject portals) and
strategies to better use and highlight all Resource Ontario databases as well as
the new licenses for audiobooks and genealogy. She will also coordinate and
deliver training sessions on e-resources to library staff across the province
this year.
Feasibility Study on Open Source Integrated Library System, Social
Networking and Federated Search. Working jointly with Knowledge
Ontario, the Ontario Library Association and the Federation of Ontario Public
Libraries, we are researching the best long term technical solutions for public
access to resources available through the public library. Open Source, social
networking overlays for library catalogues and federated search software are all
relatively new technologies. Many libraries are asking the same questions about
the best way to proceed. This project is designed to explore those questions
once on behalf of all.
Face to Face EXCEL for First Nations. The purpose of this
project is to encourage participation in EXCEL by First Nations library staff.
EXCEL is a certificate program in managing a small public library. Students must
complete ten courses in order to receive the certificate. Normally offered as a
distance education program, we will be offering two courses in a classroom
setting – Basic Library Management and Basic Collection Development – over a one
week period this summer. The budget is based on approximately ten participants
(selection process to be determined). This pilot will help us assess the
effectiveness of face to face delivery over distance education and make
recommendations for the future.
Alternative Methods for Delivering Distance Education. As part
of the same contract mentioned above, we have appointed a professional librarian
to review the market place and provide a recommendation on which web based
product and/or service(s) would provide the most appropriate mechanism to
support cost effective interactive online training. She will consult with public
libraries and key library organizations to explore needs, possible solutions
(e.g. podcasts, web conferencing, web meeting, audio-conferencing) and recommend
appropriate products and/or services.
Joint Automation Server Initiative. Also known as JASI, this
project will be extended to give the remaining 50 or so non-automated libraries
in Ontario the opportunity to automate with a high end web-based integrated
library system. The system includes cataloguing, circulation, patron records,
acquisitions, serials and reports modules. Libraries choosing to participate
will have the assistance of a coordinator for transition, implementation and
training. The project will also cover 50% of library-specific start-up costs
such as data creation.
Technology Standards. This project will set technology
standards/benchmarks for Ontario libraries, including equipment, physical space
and staff requirements. The Ontario Public Library Guidelines and Accreditation
Council, the body that develops guidelines for Ontario public libraries, has
been approached to undertake this project and prepare a document that will be
integrated into the existing Ontario Public Library Guidelines.
Virtual Service to Remote Communities. This pilot project
involves partnering with up to ten municipal or First Nation community partners
currently without a library to provide a virtual link to library service in
their communities. Participating communities will receive a computer with access
to resources including provincial databases, books and other materials as well
as training and support to maintain the service for one year. At the conclusion
of the project, we will assess its success and make recommendations on
conditions and strategies for establishing and sustaining virtual library
services in remote communities.
Digitization. In conjunction with Knowledge Ontario, we are
developing a project to assist libraries to digitize important collections. Our
Ontario already provides a platform for management, storage and display of
digitized content. In addition, training and support for local digitization
staff to develop a digitization plan, oversee the project on behalf of local
libraries, and do the actual scanning and tagging will be covered. The budget is
based on approximately 20 participating libraries (selection process yet to be
developed).
First Nations Repository Program. As a corollary to the
digitization project, we will also fund a pilot project with one First Nations
community (selection process yet to be determined) to develop a repository
centre. The project will involve acquiring, organizing and providing access to
important First Nations records in the community, and digitizing material
through Our Ontario. This project is designed as a proof of concept and at the
conclusion, we will prepare a manual for other communities to use in
establishing their own repository programs.
Futures Symposium/Libraries 2020. The symposium will be a
strategic think-tank on the future of public libraries in Ontario. Based on the
model of Libraries 2000 (held back in 1985), keynote speakers will address
topics such as information technology, demographic shifts, etc. Libraries 2020
is planned for fall 2009 and the budget covers expenses for one delegate per
library system. We are very pleased to be working with Wendy Newman who recently
completed a report for the Ministry of Culture entitled Third Generation Public
Libraries: Visionary Thinking and Service Development in Public Libraries (to
2020) and Potential Application in Ontario.
Leadership by Design. The Ontario Library Boards Association
has developed an excellent model for trustees called Leadership by Design. With
our funding support, OLBA will design a component entitled Networking with Our
Peers which will be delivered to trustees province-wide through regional
workshops organized by SOLS and OLS-North.
Project information is available online at
http://www.sols.org/ministryprojects/$15MillionInvestment/Projects.htm.
Details of timelines, registration, application and selection processes where
applicable, and other information will be added as it becomes available.
More Information
SOLS and OLS-North are planning a series of information sessions throughout the
spring. A mix of face to face meetings and webinars will be offered. The
schedule for these sessions and how to register will be posted shortly. In the
meantime, questions may be directed to Laurey Gillies
or Leanne Clendening
.
