October 5, 2010
State Library Board awards $622,471 in federal Institute of Museum and Library Services LSTA grants to 11 libraries and organizations
The State Library of Ohio is pleased to announce that the State Library Board recently awarded $622,471 in federal Institute of Museum and Library Services LSTA grants to11 libraries and organizations. Northeast Ohio Network for Education Technology (NEONET), the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction/Ohio Central School System, Switzerland of Ohio School District, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Northern Buckeye Education Council/INFOhio, The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, and Northern Buckeye Education Council/NWOCA received LSTA Full Grants. Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library, Northeast Ohio Regional Library System (NEO-RLS), Oakstone Academy, and Shaker Heights Public Library received LSTA Entrepreneurship Grants.
“We are very excited about the programs being funded by these grants and hope they can be replicated in other libraries,” expressed State Librarian Beverly Cain. “These LSTA grants awarded by the State Library are critical during the current economic crisis when Ohio’s libraries are being challenged financially. Grant funding makes it possible for libraries to develop innovative programs and services to meet the changing needs of their communities.”
The grant period is October 1, 2010 – September 30, 2011. The libraries and organizations, grant amounts, and program activities include:
Northeast Ohio Network for Education Technology (NEOnet), $84,222 to automate 18 library media centers using the INFOhio SIRSI automation system in partnership with the Akron Public School District. This will complete automation of the Akron Public School library media centers.
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction/Ohio Central School System, $177,553 to establish a standardized library network to unify library services, support, training and report features while improving resource sharing among Ohio prison libraries. Additionally, the project will allow for training of inmates on library automation programs which will assist them as they re-enter society.
Switzerland of Ohio School District, $48,057 to automate the eight school library media centers in the district using SIRSI and link them to the INFOhio union catalog.
Cuyahoga County Public Library, $53,137 to provide library customers greater and more convenient access to the library’s DVD collection. To accomplish this goal, the library will purchase two self-serve kiosks to host DVD collections at two locations.
INFOhio, $5,587 to assist deaf and hard of hearing populations by acquiring the rights to include captioning for the most frequently used digital videos currently licensed by the Area Media Centers.
Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, $78,922 to provide physical and virtual access to the 1848 Panorama of Cincinnati daguerreotype housed at PLCHC. Using special software, users will be able to zoom in to specific points on the daguerreotype. They will then receive a brief description of the data point and links to additional resources related to that data point.
NorthWest Ohio Computer Association (NWOCA), 79,579 for the Virtual Connections to Support 21st Century Learning Skills project. NWOCA, in collaboration with six area school districts, will utilize videoconferencing technologies to provide collaboration and communication, research activities, and continuing education programs between and amongst the participants. TRAILS will be used to assess the increase in information literacy skills.
ClevelandHeights-University HeightsPublic Library, $35,652 for the P.L.A.Y. (Pre-Literacy and You) Room Project. This project will allow the library to create a pre-literacy center at the Noble Library branch and to create programs that support literacy, community and the family. Additionally, the library plans to develop a workbook entitled “Guide to Building a P.L.A.Y. Room” that will be shared with Ohio public libraries.
Northeast Ohio Regional Library System (NEO-RLS), $14,512 for the development of Bookcommericals.tv, a product for libraries looking to use television advertising methods to attract children and teens to books and to the library. During the course of the project, 108 individual book commercials will be produced. This is a cooperative project with Madison Public Library and Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library.
OakstoneAcademy, $7,607 to purchase and utilize iPad computers and eBooks at the Oakstone Academy Library to provide access to information for students with autism. Oakstone will track and share information on the success rate of using these products with autistic students and will prepare guidelines on best practices.
Shaker Heights Public Library, $37,645, to create a Community Entrepreneurial Office that will help stabilize the community and the economy. By working closely with the City’s Economic Development Director and the Chamber of Commerce, the library will become a community service center that can be used by the city’s businesses, home –based businesses and as a meeting center.
The State Library administers the Ohio LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) program, funded through the independent federal agency IMLS (Institute of Museum and Library Services).