On May 13, 2010, the State Library of Ohio Board approved a $1,518,401 federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) LSTA grant for the Libraries Connect Ohio partners to continue purchasing a core collection of electronic resources for the statewide Ohio Web Library. The collection is available to all Ohioans and includes information and resources such as full text journals, reference materials, newspapers, art, test prep, tutorials, and online courses.

OPLIN, OhioLINK, INFOhio, and the State Library formed Libraries Connect Ohio in 2003 as an initiative to define and deliver a "Statewide Core Electronic Information Collection" to provide a common set of information resources for all Ohioans. The partnership improves the buying power and breadth and scope of electronic resources available to all Ohio residents regardless of where they live or go to school. Savings of 30% to 80% are achieved over the cost of licenses by individual libraries. "One of the goals of the State Library is to foster collaboration between libraries and library organizations," said Interim State Librarian Missy Lodge. "Libraries Connect Ohio is a prime example of collaboration and partnership. Without these organizations working together, Ohio residents would not have access to many of the resources available through the Ohio Web Library."

"Libraries Connect Ohio demonstrates Ohio's commitment to life-long learning," said Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric D. Fingerhut. "Through this grant, eight unique databases are available to all Ohio residents, from kindergartner to senior citizen."

In 2008, OPLIN developed the Ohio Web Library website – a fast, Google-like search interface for Libraries Connect Ohio's entire core collection of electronic resources. Libraries include access to the Ohio Web Library as part of their online resources. "Because of the Ohio Web Library, every public library in the state can assure its users that they will have access to a reliable and consistent collection of basic information," said OPLIN Director Stephen Hedges. The Ohio Web Library search is also available as a special application that Facebook users can add to their personal page and it can be added as a widget to any web page.

Libraries Connect Ohio has enabled the development of new tools and partnerships for education. INFOhio's participation in Libraries Connect Ohio provides equitable access to information for all K-12 students, public and private schools, regardless of school size, location or fiscal resources. INFOhio incorporates access to and training on how to use the Ohio Web Library. They recently created a Learning Commons and a new video, 21st Century Tools and Electronic Resources for Students, Teachers and Parents. Produced in cooperation with the Montgomery County Educational Service Center and with assistance from Centerville City Schools, this video introduces 21st century literacies in relationship to the INFOhio Core Collection of Electronic Resources. "INFOhio's Core Collection of Electronic Resources provides students with valid sources of information resulting in efficient, effective searches, as opposed to finding information by 'surfing the net,'" said Terri Fredericka, INFOhio's Executive Director. "INFOhio's resources are age-appropriate and curriculum-related."

OhioLINK will use the funds to provide access to full-text articles and encyclopedias through eight databases including EBSCO, an online database of periodicals, as well as to maintain database services.

The Ohio Web Library is an investment in addition to the efforts of local libraries, the State Library of Ohio, OhioLINK, OPLIN, and INFOhio to meet their continuing information needs and to meet those of local or programmatic interest. The Ohio Web Library is the most efficient way to meet the Libraries Connect Ohio partners' common information goals.

LSTA grants can only be awarded for one year at a time. Libraries Connect Ohio has used LSTA funding for the past six years to purchase databases to enhance the basic EBSCO databases and it is the intention of the State Library of Ohio Board to continue supporting the subscription of the suite of databases for an additional four years. The Ohio Web Library includes the following electronic resources:

  • The ART Collection: Digital images of a wide variety of art objects including paintings, sculptures, textiles, and decorative art.
  • Biography Reference Bank: Biographies, obituaries, and photographs of thousands of individuals – both living and deceased.
  • LearningExpress Library: Comprehensive, interactive online learning platform of practice tests and tutorial courses designed to help students and adult learners succeed on the academic and licensing tests.
  • Job & Career Accelerator: Personalized, step-by-step job search assistance for all levels of job seekers.
  • Oxford Reference Online: Wide variety of reference books online, including English and bilingual dictionaries, maps and atlases, timelines, an encyclopedia, and subject references.
  • Science Online: Comprehensive, curriculum-oriented overview of a broad range of scientific disciplines in a variety of useful formats.
  • World Book Online: World Book Encyclopedia content, e-books, multimedia, a vast collection of primary source documents, and a wealth of research tools that allow students to customize and save their work.
  • EBSCOhost Databases: Wide variety of periodicals covering general reference, business, health, education, general science, multicultural issues and much more.