2016 Annual Meeting

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.