Database Selection Process

Database Selection Process

The Ohio Web Library is comprised of a number of resources available to patrons at libraries statewide.

These resources have been selected using several different processes:

  • Libraries Connect Ohio databases are selected by a committee of public, academic, and K-12 libraries that convenes every five years to review proposals made by vendors through a formal ITN process. More information about the Libraries Connect Ohio group and the ITN process can be found elsewhere on the OPLIN website. The OPLIN Board approves the OPLIN contribution to LCO funding.
  • Genealogy databases are contracted separately, pending the availability of OPLIN operating funds. The Content Advisory Committee offers feedback on the package, but the Executive Director is responsible for contract negotiations and budgeting, and OPLIN Board is ultimately responsible for approving funding for the contract.
  • LinkedIn Learning was selected as a result of an RFP for Careers and Professional Development in 2018. The Content Advisory Committee reviewed bids from multiple vendors and made recommendations to the Executive Director.  The OPLIN Board approved funding for the contract.
  • Northstar Digital Literacy was proposed for ARPA funding by the Executive Director in 2021 in response to the increased need for digital literacy resources as a result of the pandemic. Funding was renewed in 2022 through a federal Institute of Museum and Library Services LSTA grant awarded by the State Library of Ohio.

There are also resources that were contracted with perpetual access many years ago, which still remain part of the Ohio Web Library:

  • American and English Full Text Literature Collections
  • Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps

Finally, three Ohio Web Library resources are maintained by OPLIN's web services, using content provided by the Ohio History Connection:

  • What Tree Is It?
  • What's That Snake?
  • What's the Point?

Additional information about all of these resources can be found at the Statewide Content page of the OPLIN website.

oplin

Statewide Content

Statewide Content

The Ohio Web Library statewide content to public libraries is provided through four different contracts, facilitated by OPLIN:

Resource Current Contract Dates Funded By

LCO Package*

  • EBSCO Core Collection
  • World Book Package
  • Oxford Research Encyclopedias
  • Very Short Introductions
  • Chilton Library
  • CultureGrams

*Note: American and English Full Text Literature Collections and Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps are also part of the LCO Collection, but those collections were purchased outright many years ago, and they are not part of the 5-year contract cycle.

7/1/23 to

6/30/28

LCO Partners (OhioLINK, INFOhio, and OPLIN)

and LSTA Funds (IMLS/State Library of Ohio)

Genealogy Package

  • African American Heritage
  • Ancestry Library Edition
  • Fold3
  • HeritageQuest Online
 7/1/23 to 6/30/26 OPLIN Operating Funds

Digital Literacy Skills

  • Northstar Digital Literacy

10/1/23 to

9/30/24

 LSTA Funds (IMLS/State Library of Ohio)

Three other Ohio Web Library resources are provided by OPLIN, in partnership with the Ohio History Connection:

  • What Tree Is It?
  • What's That Snake?
  • What's the Point?
oplin

Content Advisory Committee

Content Advisory Committee Laura Solomon (not verified)

NOTICE

The next meeting of the Content Advisory Committee will be on March 30, 2023, at the OPLIN Office and online.  Contact Christine Morris, christine@oplin.ohio.gov, for more information, including meeting link and agenda.

Charter

In keeping with the purpose and goal of the Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN) as defined in Ohio Revised Code 3375.64, OPLIN acquires access to electronic information resources, and develops electronic resources, for the use of all residents of Ohio. To assist in the selection of these information resources, the Board hereby charters a Content Advisory Committee.

I. Purposes

The committee is created for the purpose of working with the Board of Trustees of the Ohio Public Library Information Network to offer recommendations and provide information relevant to the electronic information resources purchased by OPLIN and shall limit its activities to advising on those matters only. It is the role and sole prerogative of the Board to enact policy regarding electronic information resources. The specific purposes of the Committee may include the following responsibilities:

  • Review current information resource needs;
  • Prioritize content for retention, weeding or replacement;
  • Prioritize content for possible addition;
  • Recommend configuration of content for delivery via the World Wide Web;
  • Recommend changes to OPLIN and/or vendor support of information resources, including statistics.

II. Membership

The advisory committee shall consist of ten (10) members and may not include any OPLIN Board members. Members serve voluntarily at the invitation of the OPLIN Director and will constitute a cross-section of the Ohio public library community including reference and public service managers in public libraries. Members shall be recruited from library systems that invest in content beyond what OPLIN provides. Membership will be reaffirmed by the OPLIN Board at the discretion of the OPLIN Director.

III. Relationship to Libraries Connect Ohio

This committee nominates five (5) of its members to be part of any Libraries Connect Ohio advisory committee, which would also include five members from OhioLINK and five members from INFOhio. Such a committee will meet as needed to define the core Ohio Web Library collection.

The OPLIN Board recognizes that purchasing information resources statewide through the Libraries Connect Ohio partnership (http://librariesconnectohio.org) is the most economical way to provide a core collection of information resources and library services that will help all Ohioans. The Board also recognizes, however, that the information needs of public libraries sometimes differ from the needs of libraries supporting the curriculum of a school or college. This committee will therefore define any additional information needs of public libraries, despite the fact that funding for resources in addition to the resources purchased for the Ohio Web Library may not exist at the time. Committee recommendations regarding the content of the Ohio Web Library collection will be used to inform the work of committee members serving on any Libraries Connect Ohio advisory committee.

IV. Procedural Rules

Meetings: Because this committee may make recommendations to the OPLIN Board regarding purchases, it may be considered a "public body" under Ohio's Open Records and Open Meetings laws; committee meetings will therefore be open to the public and conducted under section 121.22 of the Ohio Revised Code and any applicable temporary law. Notices of meetings will be posted on the OPLIN website in accordance with Ohio's Open Records and Open Meetings laws.

Quorum: A gathering of six or more members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.

Minutes: Minutes of each meeting shall be created by OPLIN staff attending the meeting. After review by the committee, they will be posted on the OPLIN website.

Recommendations and Reports: Committee recommendations and reports will be submitted to the OPLIN Board through the OPLIN Director. Recommendations will include both suggested action and justification for suggestions.

V. Review

This charter shall be reviewed at the request of the Board of Trustees or the Executive Director of the Ohio Public Library Information Network.

Adopted by the OPLIN Board October 11, 2013.

Amended by the OPLIN Board February 11, 2022.

2015 Annual Meeting

2015 Annual Meeting hedgesst

ANNUAL MEETING of the CONTENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
of the OHIO PUBLIC LIBRARY INFORMATION NETWORK (OPLIN)

Minutes — February 26, 2015

1. WELCOME and CALL TO ORDER

The 2015 annual meeting of the Content Advisory Committee of the Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN) was called to order at 10:05 a.m. on Thursday, February 26, 2015 by OPLIN Director Stephen Hedges at the OPLIN office in Columbus, Ohio.

Present were committee members: Don Boozer, Tamar Kreke, Kirstin Krumsee, Francie Labriola, Chris May, Joe O'Rourke, Jeff Regensburger, and Randall Fulks; David Topoleski and Charley Voelker were unable to attend.

2. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

The agenda was approved as presented without a vote.

3. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

The minutes were approved as read without a vote.

4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

There was no public participation.

5. OLD BUSINESS

There was no old business to come before the committee.

6. NEW BUSINESS

6.1. Discuss Ohio Web Library collection

There was general discussion of recent interface changes by vendors. Stephen Hedges noted that they make more use of graphic elements. He also reported that database usage continues to decline by about 20% a year.

This initiated a discussion of database marketing. The committee felt it was important that libraries be able to brand the databases as their own, and might then be more likely to "sell" them. Most of the committee members put their databases under a "Research" tab on their websites. More use of social media was suggested, perhaps to promote the most useful research resources, as well as possibly developing a network of local experts who could support and promote database use.

Additional resources the committee recommended included Lynda.com, auto repair information, and foreign language instruction.

6.2. Discuss Ohio Web Library search interface

The committee reviewed some proposed changes to the ohioweblibrary.org search page. There was discussion of the single search box as opposed to "app" buttons for individual databases. There was also discussion of graphic additions to the page to make it more visually appealing. The committee favored grouping of databases within subject categories.

7. ADJOURNMENT

Stephen Hedges asked if there was any more business to come before the committee. None appearing, he thanked the committee members and adjourned the meeting at 11:40 a.m.

2016 Annual Meeting

2016 Annual Meeting hedgesst

ANNUAL MEETING of the CONTENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
of the OHIO PUBLIC LIBRARY INFORMATION NETWORK (OPLIN)

Minutes — February 17, 2016

1. WELCOME and CALL TO ORDER

The 2016 annual meeting of the Content Advisory Committee of the Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN) was called to order at 10:05 a.m. on Wednesday, February 17, 2016 by OPLIN Director Stephen Hedges at the OPLIN office in Columbus, Ohio.

Present were committee members: Randall Fulks, Tamar Kreke, Kirstin Krumsee, Francie Labriola, Joe O'Rourke, Jeff Regensburger, David Topoleski, Anne Wachs, and Holly Varley; Don Boozer was unable to attend.

2. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

The agenda was approved as presented without a vote.

3. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES of February 26, 2015 meeting

The minutes were approved as read without a vote.

4. OLD BUSINESS

4.1. Discuss Ohio Web Library interface changes

Stephen Hedges briefly presented the changes to the Ohio Web Library search interface that had been implemented after the last committee meeting. He also presented the graphics OPLIN created for promoting the databases.

5. NEW BUSINESS

5.1. Discuss changes to Ohio Web Library collection

Stephen Hedges explained the financial reasons for the cancellation of the contract for the LearningExpress Library resources. INFOhio suffered an unexpected budget cut in the current biennium budget, and none of the other Libraries Connect Ohio partners could cover the shortfall.

5.2. Discuss usage statistics

Stephen Hedges provided Ohio Web Library usage statistics, both from the schools and colleges and from the public library community. The public library usage no longer seems to be declining, but still lags behind school and college usage with the exception of Ancestry Library Edition.

5.3. Discuss selection methodology

Stephen Hedges presented a table of funding information for the Ohio Web Library, showing resource cost and cost allocation among the partners both before and after the INFOhio budget cut. He explained that the Libraries Connect Ohio partners have concerns about the disconnect between the cost allocations and the collection usage, and are seeking ideas for correcting the imbalance. In two years, Libraries Connect Ohio should be evaluating bids for the next group of five-year contracts for online resources. Can we tweak that process to improve the situation?

There was discussion of the current selection process, and Anne Wachs noted that more information about this process needs to be communicated to the library community, since many do not understand why certain databases are selected while others are not. Ensuing discussion raised many questions. Can the EBSCO package be broken into pieces, with some available only to certain library communities? Can the RFP be structured to request pricing on some resources for public library access only? Would better marketing of the collection improve usage?

It was noted that marketing includes offering the resources people want. Committee members' libraries tend to buy resources for lifelong learning, financial planning, and repair instructions to meet demand not filled by the Ohio Web Library.

It was suggested that OPLIN should conduct a survey, to be sent to library directors, asking the following questions:

  • What online resources are you currently buying? What is your budget for such purchases?
  • What requests for information are you unable to satisfy?
  • What online resources (up to 10) do you consider indispensable?
  • What online resources do you have now, including the Ohio Web Library, that you feel are not useful?

7. ADJOURNMENT

On motion of David Topoleski and second of Kirstin Krumsee the Board adjourned at 11:40 a.m.

2017 Annual Meeting

2017 Annual Meeting mandy
ANNUAL MEETING of the CONTENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
of the OHIO PUBLIC LIBRARY INFORMATION NETWORK (OPLIN) Minutes
February 23, 2017

1.WELCOME and CALL TO ORDER
The 2017 annual meeting of the Content Advisory Committee of the Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN) was called to order at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday February 23, 2017 by Mandy Knapp, OPLIN Digital Resources Manager at the OPLIN office in Columbus, Ohio.
Present were committee members: Randall Fulks, Tamar Kreke, Kirstin Krumsee, Francie Labriola, Joe O'Rourke, Jeff Regensburger, David Topoleski, Anne Wachs, and Holly Varley; Don Boozer was unable to attend. OPLIN Director Stephen Hedges was also in attendance.

2. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
The agenda was approved as presented without a vote.

3. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES of February 17, 2016 meeting
The minutes were approved as read without a vote

4. OLD BUSINESS
No old business at this time.

5. NEW BUSINESS.
5.1 Discuss usage statistics
            A. Tableau demo and discussion
Mandy Knapp shared current statistics for OPLIN databases from the public library community.  Ancestry Library Edition continues to be the most widely-used resource by public libraries.
            B. Best practices for reporting stats
Mandy Knapp discussed the challenges reporting vendor statistics, including lack of consistency. David Topoleski suggested that the ITN (RFP) include information from the vendor about the level of statistical reporting available. Holly Varley suggested that the ITN committee ask specifically for samples of reports from vendors. Jeff Regensburger noted that sessions appear to be the best statistic to report on at this time.
            C. Directions and suggestions based on usage statistics
5.2. Seeking Volunteers for the ITN (AKA RFP) Committee
Tamar Kreke, Francie Labriola, David Topoleski, Anne Wachs, and Holly Varley will represent OPLIN on the ITN Committee.
The committee discussed the need to gather feedback from the library community for direction on databases. Suggestions included surveys and focus groups.
A. Vendor webinar during ITN process.
After discussion, the committee decided to decline a vendor’s offer of a vendor webinar during the ITN process.
5.3 Discuss trainings to be offered
            A. Vendor-Offered trainings
Tarmar Kreke noted that librarian-lead trainings are often more helpful than the vendor-sponsored trainings.
            B. Modelling the iCoaches program
Mandy Knapp discussed the ways of modelling the iCoaches program: regionally, by consortium or by expertise. Anne Wachs noted that there are many existing experts out in the library field; they just need to be organized and recognized. Jeff Regensburger notes that it would be worthwhile to reach out to OLC to add information Ohio Web Library Information to the Ohio Reference Excellence Module.
5.4 Evaluation of trainings
Mandy Knapp asked about the evaluation of these trainings and the possibility of using the same questions as other state projects with some modifications. Anne Wachs noted that it was important to evaluate right away.
5.5. Marketing
Mandy Knapp mentioned that the state of Iowa has had some success marketing their databases through yard signs. David Topoleski noted that digital signage that libraries were able to add branding to would also be helpful and also a paragraph suitable for library newsletters would also work well. Mandy Knapp asked about the usefulness of bookmarks; several committee members noted that they are useful as handouts.

6. ADJOURNMENT
Mandy Knapp asked if there was any more business to come before the committee. None appearing, she thanked the committee members and adjourned the meeting at 12:15 p.m.

2018 Annual Meeting

2018 Annual Meeting Laura Solomon (not verified)

2018 Annual Minutes
ANNUAL MEETING of the CONTENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE of the OHIO PUBLIC LIBRARY INFORMATION NETWORK (OPLIN) Minutes

March 28, 2018
1.WELCOME and CALL TO ORDER
The 2018 annual meeting of the Content Advisory Committee of the Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN) was called to order at 11:04 a.m. on Wednesday March 28 by Mandy Knapp, OPLIN Digital Resources Manager at the OPLIN office in Columbus, Ohio.
Present were committee members: Randall Fulks, Tamar Kreke, Kirstin Krumsee, Francie Labriola, Joe O'Rourke, Jeff Regensburger, Anne Wachs, and Holly Varley; Don Boozer and David Topoleski were unable to attend.
2. OLD BUSINESS
No old business at this time.
3. NEW BUSINESS.
3.1       Update on LCO databases Mandy Knapp updated the committee on the outcomes of the Libraries Connect Ohio Database selection committee.
*3.2     Discuss Responses to Genealogy RFP. After a lengthy and robust discussion of the needs of public libraries and the bids proposed, the committee prioritize the databases and made recommendations for how to OPLIN staff should proceed.
*3.3     Discuss Responses to Careers and Workforce RFP After a lengthy and robust discussion of the needs of public libraries and the bids proposed, the committee prioritize the databases and made recommendations for how to OPLIN staff should proceed.
3.4       Ohio Web Library site—ideas for improvement. The committee discussed the current Ohio Web Library. Tamar Kreke noted that there had been a substantial redesign 2 years ago. Committee members had new ideas for subject headings and offered to assist with descriptions of databases.
3.5       Marketing materials. The committee members discussed what tangible materials would be good for marketing new resources. Several committee members mentioned the importance of allowing libraries to brand their own items.
3.6       Committee vacancy. Don Boozer is no longer able to participate on the committee. Mandy Knapp asked the committee for ideas for new committee members. Several worthy names were mentioned.
4.ADJOURNMENT
Mandy Knapp asked if there was any more business to come before the committee. None appearing, she thanked the committee members and adjourned the meeting at 2:20 p.m.

2022 Annual Meeting

2022 Annual Meeting christine

Meeting Minutes of the Content Advisory Committee of the Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN)

March 1, 2022

  1. Welcome and Call to Order

    The 2022 annual meeting of the Content Advisory Committee of the Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN) was called to order at 1:02 p.m. on Tuesday, March 1 by Christine Morris, OPLIN Digital Resources Manager via GoToMeeting. Present were committee members Sara Churchill, Randall Fulks, Renee Hopper, Tamar Kreke, Kristin Krumsee, Mary Frances (Francie) Labriola, Joe O'Rourke, Jeff Regensburger, Anne Wachs and ex-officio members Christine Morris and Don Yarman. David Topoleski was unable to attend.

  2. Approval of the Agenda

    Sara Churchill moved to approve the agenda. Tamar Kreke seconded. The agenda was approved.

  3. Public Participation

    There was no public participation.

  4. Approval of the Minutes from March 28, 2018 (https://www.oplin.ohio.gov/2018-annual-meeting)

    Tamar Kreke moved to approve the minutes from March 28, 2018. Randall Fulks seconded.

    There was discussion about the minutes. Several committee members indicated that they thought there were meetings subsequent to March 2018. There were no written records of those meetings.

    Sara Churchill indicated that she thought she was present for the March 2018 meeting. She moved to add her name to the attendee list in the minutes. Francie Labriola seconded the motion. That motion was approved.

    A vote was called to approve the amended minutes. The amended minutes were approved.

  5. Old Business

    There was no old business.

  6. New Business

    Discuss LCO ITN

    Christine gave background regarding the Libraries Connect Ohio (LCO) Intent to Negotiate (ITN) process. The current contracts will end on 6/30/23, so the constituencies of the LCO group (OPLIN, INFOhio, and OhioLINK) will be preparing for that process now. Ohio State University is the fiscal agent for OhioLINK and the ITN sponsor, so the process is subject to OSU procurement rules.

    As in the past, there will be a convening of representatives from the three constituencies. That group will review the current content, the trends and needs for the group members, and any future wishes for the collection. The current LSTA spend is less than 15 cents per Ohio citizen for this shared content.

    Agency representatives of the constituent groups will be meeting to plan the exact timeline, but the general process includes: each constituency choosing 5 representatives (in addition to the agency representatives) to compose an ITN committee, gathering the ITN committee to review content trends and needs, developing an ITN document, releasing the ITN document, receiving and reviewing vendor responses to the ITN, committee recommendations for negotiation, negotiations, final selections, and approval by the State Library Board.

    There were questions about the content that is specific to the OPLIN and the public libraries. The genealogy content is separate because it was intentionally removed from the ITN process in the last round: academic and K-12 libraries had relatively little interest in genealogy, and it is the most-used content by public libraries. Thus, the OPLIN Board directed that a portion of the funds for statewide content be reserved for that purpose. Additionally, the OPLIN Board approved a separate process to review and select content to support workforce development, which resulted in the acquisition of Lynda.com (now known as LinkedIn Library). Statistics for all of the statewide content were shared.

    Volunteers for the ITN Committee

    Christine Morris asked for volunteers to the ITN Committee. Anne Wachs, Francie Labriola, Sara Churchill, Tamar Kreke, and Renee Hopper volunteered.

    Other New Business

    Don Yarman suggested that the group take the remainder of the scheduled meeting time to discuss trends in content among the committee members. General trends in content purchasing included: newspapers (especially current newspapers in daily formats), test preparation, online legal forms, consumer reviews and buying guides, engine repair guides, crafting, online learning, and investment research.

  7. Adjournment

    There being no further business, Tamar Kreke moved to adjourn the meeting. Anne Wachs seconded. The motion passed, and the meeting was adjourned at 1:56 p.m.

2023 Annual Meeting

2023 Annual Meeting

DRAFT MEETING MINUTES of the CONTENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE of the OHIO PUBLIC LIBRARY INFORMATION NETWORK (OPLIN)

(to be approved at the next meeting)

March 30, 2023

  1. WELCOME AND CALL TO ORDER

    The 2023 annual meeting of the Content Advisory Committee of the Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN) was called to order at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 30 by Christine Morris, OPLIN Digital Resources Manager at the OPLIN office. Present were committee members Kaitlin Booth, Renee Hopper, Tamar Kreke, Mary Frances (Francie) Labriola, Joe O'Rourke, and Anne Wachs, as well as ex-officio members Phil Willke, Christine Morris, and Don Yarman. A GoToMeeting link was provided for members unable to attend in person. Randall Fulks, Cathy Mason, and Barb Templeman joined via GoToMeeting. Sara Churchill was unable to attend. Attendees present and online introduced themselves after the approval of agenda and minutes.

  2. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

    Anne Wachs moved to approve the agenda. Tamar Kreke seconded. The agenda was approved.

  3. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

    There was no public participation.

  4. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

    Francie Labriola moved to approve the minutes from March 1, 2022. Joe O’Rourke seconded. The minutes were approved.

  5. OLD BUSINESS

    Discuss LCO ITN

    Christine gave background regarding the Libraries Connect Ohio (LCO) Intent to Negotiate (ITN) process. The process started with the release of the ITN in September 2022. There was a very large response, and the reviewers had a short amount of time to assess nearly 90 products.

    Don gave an overview of OPLIN’s funding and budget. OPLIN’s budget has not changed substantially in the last 10 years, and our contribution to the LCO package has remained the same ($1 million each year), as have the OhioLINK ($1 million) and INFOhio ($500,000) contributions. The LSTA grant from the State Library of Ohio increased by .5% as a result of a special request by the LCO group.

    Anne said that the results were disappointing this time, while Tamar noted that public libraries did particularly well in the current contract. Francie noted that the EBSCO package takes the “lion’s share” of the funds available. Christine noted that there were discussions about comparable vendor packages and paring down the EBSCO package, but those discussions did not result in changes this time.

    Anne noted that OhioLINK and INFOhio had clear priorities among the resources, while there were no resources available that were attractive to a public library constituency that were priced less than $500,000. That made conversations about new resources difficult.

    There was a general discussion about homework assignments and electronic resources. Tamar noted that another local library system does not get any traditional “homework” questions, as their school district does not assign homework. That did not seem to be a universal trend, but others concurred that some schools in their areas are similar.

    Don asked about reactions to Transparent Languages. Most noted that they had low use of the resource, so they were not intending to seek local contracts. Some are still discussing the change. Many noted patron use of free or freemium resources or a local subscription to Mango. Some noted an interest in ESL resources; Mango does not have ESL, but Transparent did. Barb noted that in-person ESL classes are more popular at her library. Randall shared that Gale Courses has some language learning resources.

    There were some questions about EBSCO’s upcoming change to the Explora platform for all databases. Christine recently met with the EBSCO rep, and she will share more information about that transition to the CAC email list when that becomes available.

  6. NEW BUSINESS

    Discuss Genealogy Quotes

    Don said that keeping Ancestry was a given. The question for the group was: if the quotes for renewal are outside of the scope of the budget, would libraries prefer that we keep HeritageQuest or Fold3. African American Heritage seems to be included at no charge in our package, so that is not up for debate.

    Anne found HeritageQuest to be frustrating, as it is composed of separate collections, and users need to know which collection to search for their particular needs. HeritageQuest also includes content that is provided elsewhere, like census records, Freedman's Bank Records, and Find-A-Grave.

    Anne noted that Fold3 has unique and sometimes exclusive content. The Fold3 content is linked out in other resources like FamilySearch and Ancestry, but it is not referenced in HeritageQuest. It has grown to include a number of scanned federal documents beyond military records, like naturalization records and Civil War Widow’s Pensions. These are full, scanned records and not just summaries of the record content.

    Kaitlin would prefer to keep HeritageQuest, but noted that HeritageQuest and Fold3 are “neck and neck” in stats; Randall concurred.

    Francie suggested that while African American Heritage is free with other subscriptions, one way to look at the issue is to ask which resource will cost less for libraries to subscribe on their own.

    Renee said that while Fold3 was specific, HeritageQuest is a general resource, which makes it good for beginners.

    Joe and Cathy indicated a preference for Fold3 over HeritageQuest, and Barb indicated that as long as Ancestry was renewed, the other resources did not matter as much to her community.

    There will likely need to be a 6 month transition period to cover whatever content may be dropped in genealogy to bridge public libraries to the end of their fiscal years and give time to plan for 2024.

    LinkedIn Library

    There was a question about LinkedIn Library from Tamar. She wondered when that resource was up for renewal. Christine answered that the current contract runs through June 30, 2024.

    Don discussed the pricing model for the contract and the expected budget for renewal. There will need to be significant negotiations in the upcoming year. Christine noted that there will be an RFP for that renewal; OPLIN has been able to use the LCO RFP as a starting point for negotiations on genealogy content this year, but online learning will require a new RFP next year. Anne suggested looking into Udemy, and Kaitlin reminded the group about Coursera for government accounts.

    Northstar

    Tamar asked how things were going with Northstar. Christine shared a brief overview of the successes so far: there have been partnerships with libraries and other state, regional, and local organizations, including the Connectivity Champions and the Northeast Ohio Digital Inclusion Alliance. The libraries that are actively using Northstar serve nearly 8 million of the nearly 12 million people in the State of Ohio.

    Funding for Year One was through an ARPA grant, and funding for Year Two is through an LSTA grant. One of the State Library Board members expressed an interest in seeing OPLIN pursue partnerships for funding subsequent years. OPLIN may look into alternative models for continuing the service in the future.

    Tamar mentioned that it is nice to have online learning modules for all of the assessments now.

  7. ADJOURNMENT

    There being no further business, Tamar Kreke moved to adjourn the meeting. Renee Hopper seconded. The motion passed, and the meeting was adjourned at 11:32 a.m.

christine

Libraries Connect Ohio

Libraries Connect Ohio oplin

Libraries Connect Ohio (LCO) is a partnership of Ohio libraries and library organizations that work together to build and provide the Ohio Web Library core collection of information resources. The principal partners are:

  • INFOhio, the statewide cooperative school library and information network, supporting and enriching teaching and learning by providing equitable access to quality resources for Ohio's PreK-12 community of students, educators, and parents.
  • The Ohio Library and Information Network (OhioLINK), a consortium of 120 Ohio college and university libraries and the State Library of Ohio, that work together to provide Ohio students, faculty, and researchers with the information they need for teaching and research.
  • The Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN), providing internet connections to Ohio public libraries and contributing to the Ohio Web Library.
  • The State Library of Ohio, a state agency serving state government and all types of libraries.

 

  1. What is Libraries Connect Ohio?
  2. Who are the Libraries Connect Ohio partners?
  3. How does Libraries Connect Ohio benefit the state?
  4. Why license and provide these resources statewide?
  5. What resources does LCO currently provide?
  6. Why does LCO provide these resources when the internet is free?
  7. How are LCO activities funded?
  8. Will LCO's funding be sustained?
  9. Who can I contact for more information?

What is Libraries Connect Ohio?

Libraries Connect Ohio (LCO) is a partnership of Ohio libraries and library organizations that work together to provide a core collection of information resources and library services that will help all Ohioans compete in the global knowledge economy. This collection of resources, called the Ohio Web Library, supports quality education, a skilled workforce, business growth, and lifelong learning in Ohio. By providing resources statewide, LCO can cost-effectively provide necessary information resources to all Ohioans, regardless of their location, age, education, or economic status.

Who are the Libraries Connect Ohio partners?
Libraries Connect Ohio is a collaborative effort of Ohio libraries and the following organizations:

How does Libraries Connect Ohio benefit the state?
The Ohio Web Library provides all Ohioans with access to the authoritative, educational resources that are necessary for life in the information-intensive 21st century, and ensure that:

  • Every school, public, and academic library throughout the state—regardless of size, location, or fiscal resources—has equal access to available online materials.
  • Ohio students have a consistent set of online resources to use, at home or at school, as they move through primary, secondary, and higher education.
  • Educators across the state have access to a broad range of online materials to support curricula and to meet core competencies and proficiencies.
  • Ohio business owners, entrepreneurs, government officials, state employees, and workers have instantaneous access to the vital information necessary to do their jobs, make decisions, develop the workforce, and promote economic growth.
  • All Ohioans are provided tools for lifelong learning, and for improving the quality of their personal lives through more informed decisions.

Why license and provide these resources statewide?
As a democracy, it is critical that access to necessary information resources be provided to all citizens. Historically, in print and even now via the internet, the highest quality information is sold commercially. Libraries have traditionally provided the means of providing information access to the masses. By working together and purchasing authoritative, commercially-provided reference and research resources at the statewide level, Libraries Connect Ohio is able to provide all Ohioans with access to the resources necessary for life in the information-intensive 21st century. Comprehensive individual purchases by libraries across the state are not affordable, and thus statewide access is not assured. If every school, college, university, and public library were to purchase these resources individually, either in print or electronic forms, the cost would be in the multi-millions of dollars. With ever-tightening local budgets, few libraries can afford these resources on their own, let alone the space to store them. Electronic access also allows for more convenient, faster, and cheaper information sharing.

What resources does LCO currently provide?
Via the Ohio Web Library, Libraries Connect Ohio provides instant access to thousands of online publications and research resources. The current Ohio Web Library includes: popular magazines, trade publications, scholarly research journals, encyclopedias, dictionaries, speeches, poems, plays, maps, satellite images of Ohio, and more. For more information about the Ohio Web Library, read the FAQ.

Why does LCO provide these resources when the internet is free?
It is a myth that the authoritative information Ohioans need for school, work, and lifelong learning is available for free on the internet. Authoritative information has never been and will never be free. When you need reliable, authoritative resources for school assignments, business research, or lifelong education, turn to the Ohio Web Library for trusted information.
While the free internet can also be useful in the research process, you have to watch out for broken links, unverified information, questionable results from search engines, and fees for full-text materials. The Ohio Web Library goes beyond the internet and provides you with access to subscription-only resources. Ohio Web Library resources are verified by editors and scholars, are created by reliable sources, and are acceptable for class assignments.

How are LCO activities funded?
As a taxpayer, you fund the Ohio Web Library through a combination of state and federal taxes. Specifically, the Ohio Web Library is funded by a federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant through the State Library of Ohio, which provides about $1.5 million per year for five years. In addition, the three LCO library networks—INFOhio, OhioLINK, and OPLIN—provide about $2.5 million in state funds each year from their current budgets.

Will LCO's funding be sustained?
There is no permanent funding in place to sustain these resources, let alone expand them. The LSTA grant and matching funds that support the Ohio Web Library are likely to continue as long as funds are available and Ohio libraries/residents continue to see the value in the collection.

Who can I contact for more information?
Please send questions about Libraries Connect Ohio to director (at) oplin (dot) org. If you need help finding information or using the Ohio Web Library, please contact your local public library, academic library, or school library for assistance.

 

ITN VENDOR FAQ - 2022

ITN VENDOR FAQ - 2022 oplin

Preliminary FAQ

The current contracts for Ohio Web Library content run through June 30, 2023. This means that the Libraries Connect Ohio (LCO) group will engage in an Intent to Negotiate (ITN) process in 2022.

Interested vendors may have questions about that process now. Here are answers to a few that have come up already.

What is the timeline for the ITN process?

The LCO group expects the upcoming process to follow this general timeline; specific dates will be announced in the fall:

  • September 2022 - ITN documents posted
    • Released on September 21
  • September 2022 - bidder conference (real-time Q&A session)
    • 1pm on September 27 via Microsoft Teams; connection details in Ariba
  • October 2022 - deadline for written clarifying questions from bidders
    • Question due date is October 10
  • October 2022 - bids due; evaluations begin
    • Close date is October 18
  • November 2022 - committee determines bids for further negotiation
  • December 2022 to January 2023 - OhioLINK leads negotiations with prioritized bids
  • February 2023 - final selections
  • March 2023 - request for LSTA funds from State Library Board

What will the ITN look like?

The LCO group is expecting that the upcoming ITN process and documents will be very similar to the ones used in 2017-18. For reference, copies of those documents are available now:

Can you tell me more about the ITN process?

The ITN will be sponsored by The Ohio State University, which is the fiscal agent for OhioLINK. Their procurement process uses the Ariba Discovery service. More information about the procurement process is available at https://busfin.osu.edu/buy-schedule-travel/purchasing/suppliers/doing-business-ohio-state.

Can you tell me more about the LCO partners?

The LCO partners are comprised of INFOhio, OhioLINK and OPLIN. These organizations represent all PreK-12, academic, and public libraries in the state, respectively. Details about each constituency can be found in Section 3.7 of the 2017 RFP (Program Profiles).

Additional information about Ohio public libraries can also be accessed via the State Library of Ohio.

Publicly available details on OhioLINK membership can be found at https://www.ohiolink.edu/members.

Local K-12 school information is managed by the Information Technology Centers, or you can use the Ohio Department of Education website to download data.
 
You may also find the National Center for Education Statistics helpful as you explore Ohio's library landscape.

Can you tell me more about the content that the LCO partners are seeking?

The 2022 ITN will have additional details about the types of resources and the subject areas desired. In the meantime, you may refer to Section 8 of the RFP (Specifications) to see what was requested in the previous bid.

Can you tell me more about the accessibility and authentication requirements for the proposed content?

The 2022 ITN will have additional details about the measures of accessibility and types of authentication required. In the meantime, you may refer to Section 9 of the RFP (Service Elements) to see what was requested in the previous bid.  For more information about W3C WCAG 2.0 Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, you may wish to refer to https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/quickref.

Will there be an opportunity to share a trial?

Similar to section 4.22 of 2017 Vendor Response Form, the evaluation committee may request a trial for your product. The Vendor Response Form will ask you for a contact in case of a need for a trial.

Will there be an opportunity to share a demonstration?

Similar to section 4.23 of the 2017 Vendor Response Form, the evaluation committee may request a demonstration. The Vendor Response Form will ask if you can provide a demonstration with a two week notice.

When the RFP is open, who can I contact for help?

If you have any questions about Ariba, the procurement software used for this RFP, please refer to the Help link at the upper right corner of the Ariba website.  Clicking the Help link will enable you to login and make specific requests for help with your account; the Help link will also enable you to register, reset a username, or reset a password.  Please do not contact OSU procurement with questions requiring Ariba support.

If you have any questions about the RFP process or documents after September 21, please contact Jeff Ulrich from The Ohio State University Purchasing Department at ulrich.78@osu.edu. 

 

Note: updates will be made to this FAQ as additional questions arise; the official ITN documents and FAQ will be posted in September 2022.