Contact:State Library of Ohio's Spanish Outreach Program Kicks Off Statewide Initiative
The State Library of Ohio has announced a new statewide program, Ohio Spanish Language Outreach Program, for librarians. The purpose of the program is to increase awareness and use of library services and technology access for Spanish speaking residents. According to State Librarian Jo Budler, the program is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and sponsored in partnership with WebJunction and the State Library of Ohio. “The Ohio Spanish Language Outreach Program trainers will conduct workshops to equip librarians with strategies and resources to reach out to Spanish speakers in their communities” said Budler.
Librarians participating in the program workshops will learn from trainers and community representatives currently serving Spanish speakers. Participants will develop action plans for outreach and gain access to content and resources posted on WebJunction. WebJunction is an online community where library staff meets to share ideas, solve problems, take online courses - and have fun.
Jan Haines, State Library of Ohio co-coordinator for the program, and three trainers traveled to Albany, New York for an intensive training program given by Yolanda Cuesta, a nationally-recognized consultant in outreach to multicultural communities. Rachel Rubin, Team Leader II, Humanities, Fine Arts, and Recreation Columbus Metropolitan Library, Kathy Lechman, Leader of Diversity Development at Ohio State University Extension, and Tom Lianez, independent trainer and consultant have been chosen as trainers for the Spanish Language Outreach Program for Ohio librarians.
The trainers will conduct 9 workshops in Ohio in March - May 2007 that provide information about marketing techniques, understanding cultural differences, providing technology training, and partnering with local community organizations serving Spanish speakers. Workshops are open to librarians from all types of libraries.
January 9, 2007
State Library of Ohio Unveils Resource Sharing System Among Libraries Throughout the State
The Ohio Libraries Share:MORE program allows any library user to request an item from any Ohio library and have it delivered for them to their local library. This resource sharing system exemplifies the future of collaboration using library information technology. The program, previously know as MORE (Moving Ohio Resources Everywhere), will be available at participating libraries on January 15. It has been improved to reduce the time and number of steps it takes for library staff to respond to requests from patrons of other libraries for books, videos, DVDs and other resource materials. According to State Librarian Jo Budler, “When libraries share resources it provides greater opportunities for meeting the needs of their patrons.“
State Library of Ohio Project Manager Angela Thomas will be demonstrating the updated system to library staff in Cincinnati on January 9, Columbus on January 10, Warren on January 11, and Caldwell on January 12. Over 130 libraries currently use the system paying only for the cargo delivery. Angela Thomas said, "The Ohio Libraries Share:MORE system is a highly efficient and cost effective program that is patron centered and patron driven."
Here's how it works: A patron searches her local Web-based catalog for an item. Her library doesn't own it, so she clicks the "Ohio Libraries Share: MORE" button and searches catalogs across the state. She finds the item, and places a request using her library card (which identifies her as a patron of XYZ Library who is able to make requests). The Ohio Libraries Share: MORE system identifies libraries that own the item and builds a "lending string," or list of potential lenders. The request is routed sequentially to these potential lenders. The library that has an available copy (that status of copies is “on shelf“ or “not on“) indicates to the requesting library through the MORE request management system that they will fill the request; they put it in a delivery bag for U.S. Cargo (the delivery vendor), and it is shipped to the requesting library for check out. When the patron returns the item to her home library, it is returned via U.S. Cargo to the owning location. All movement related to the request and the item is tracked through the MORE request management system.