December 17, 2007
State Librarian Jo Budler and Legislative Liaison Bill Morris met with Governor Strickland today to discuss Ohio libraries and State Library of Ohio initiatives. "It was an honor to talk with Governor Strickland about our programs and services. Our initiatives are closely aligned with his 'Turn Around Ohio' goals", said the State Librarian. Budler presented information about the Statewide Resource Sharing Initiative and the opportunity to make all Ohio library collections available to all Ohioans. In addition to Statewide Resource Sharing and services for state government, Budler and Morris discussed the following programs and services:
• Ohio Ready to Read Initiative: Program and resources to benefit children from birth to kindergarten through collaboration between public libraries and social service organizations and agencies working with parents and early childcare providers,
• Netwellness: Consumer health web site that provides high quality information
created and evaluated by Ohio medical and health professional faculty,
• Learning Express Library: Online test preparation and tutorial service available 24/7 to improve student success and job readiness skills, and
• KnowItNow and HomeworkNow: Online reference service available 24/7
providing answers to questions with high quality and authoritative information
to enhance children’s and adults’ knowledge base and develop research
skills.
Terra Goodnight from the Department of Development and Cabinet Secretary Jan Allen also attended the meeting.
December 14, 2007
On December 19, 2007 the State Library of Ohio will host the second in a series of videoconferences focusing on the Next Generation of Statewide Resource Sharing. Library representatives will gather at nine videoconference sites throughout the state to discuss the Executive Summary of the Needs Assessment of SWRS in Ohio Report prepared by consultant Rob McGee. The group will also discuss the recent State of the States summary report prepared by the State Library describing resource sharing in other states.
Rob McGee, in coordination with the State Library of Ohio, recently issued a Request for Information RFI to vendors of resource sharing solutions. The RFI will be reviewed during the December 19 video conference. A Cost Analysis of RFI Responses will be produced, and then a report, Plans and Recommendations for Enhanced Statewide Resource Sharing, will be presented to the library community in January 2008.
For more information about the Next Generation of Statewide Resource Sharing or to register for the videoconference got to: www.library.ohio.gov/swrs/swrs-nextgen.html