The Ohio Library Partnership Summit took place at the Fawcett Center in Columbus, Ohio on May 21, 2007

All Ohio public library directors, academic library directors or deans, and school principals or superintendents were invited.

Library Partnership Summit 2007 Summary

• Introduction
• Keynote
• Libraries Connect Ohio Presentation
• Reactor Panel
• Breakout Groups
• Reports & Discussion

Thank you to everyone that attended and participated in our first Ohio Library Partnership Summit. The statewide event drew over 250 library community members. The summit came together as a result of the collaborative work of Libraries Connect Ohio - a partnership between the State Library of Ohio, OPLIN, OhioLINK, and INFOhio.

Keynote

The day began with keynote speaker Bill DeJohn, Director of the MINITEX Library Information Network. His presentation, entitled "Collaboration and Cooperation in Minnesota - Results", began with a historical perspective of resource sharing among the library community in Minnesota. DeJohn sited the following seven benefits of resource sharing among libraries.

1. Increased access to resources
2. Group purchasing reduces costs
3. Equitable access for all Minnesota residents
4. State Legislators (if you get their attention) like collaboration and will reward this activity with funding
5. Online all the time
6. Links to one another
7. Continually growing and connecting

He continued with his powerpoint presentation with detailed steps and analysis of the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the Minnesota system for statewide resource collaboration and cooperation. To view the powerpoint presentation as a pdf click here.

 Libraries Connect Ohio

Following the keynote address, Tom Sanville, Director of Ohiolink, and Jo Budler, State Librarian presented information and issues driving Libraries Connect Ohio. Each talked about the growing need in Ohio for increased library community cooperation and collaboration. They recommended three goals be considered:

• Create a permanent Ohio Web Library with online reference support
• Expand and Increase Statewide Resource Sharing
• Increase and establish permanent state funding

In order to accomplish these goals the attendees were encouraged to be United, Speak with One Voice, and Think Big. Click here to view their powerpoint as a pdf.

 Reactor Panel

Dr. Greg Byerly, Kent State University, acted as moderator for a five member reactor panel. The panel was asked to respond to four key questions:

1. What do you think about the two key components- the Ohio Web Library and Statewide Resource Sharing (SWRS)? Do you agree that these are the key components to include? Others?
2. The presenters mentioned state funding is necessary for the Ohio Web Library and Statewide Resource Sharing. Are there other practical sources?
3. What will be the most effective message, process and activities to obtain ongoing funding for the Ohio Web Library and SWRS?
4. What do you think your role can be in this? (i.e. you, your institution, organization, profession)

The panel included:
Vicki Montavon – Dean, University of Cincinnati Libraries Abigail Noland, Director, Preble County District Library John Miller, Superintendent of Schools, Loudonville-Perrysville Schools Pat Losinski, Director, Columbus Metropolitan Library Laurie Switzer, Media Specialist, Strongsville High School

A sampling of their comments include:

• Needs professional marketing expertise. Are we branding through OWL or locally? - Pat Losinski
• Good to pursue group purchasing, schools have had success in regional purchasing cooperatives. Databases must align with state curriculum.- John Miller
• Electronic databases are important. Delivery is a key component of SWRS - Vicki Montavon
• SWRS helps address need for equity of access especially in rural areas - Lori Switzer
• Must work with schools and collaborate with all libraries so we don't lose independent libraries - Abigail Noland

Working Lunch - Regional Breakout Groups

The attendees were given the same set of four questions as the reactor panel and divided into four groups:

• North East
• Central South East
• South West
• North West

Each group included representatives from all types of libraries and was lead by a moderator for a ninety minute discussion. The Libraries Connect Ohio organizational Directors did not participate in the groups in order to foster greater openness among the attendees.

 

Breakout Session Reports & Discussions

The moderators from each group reported to everyone several issues and/or recommendations from their breakout sessions.

A sampling of the group comments included:

• Recommend a statewide easy access library card that can be used everywhere
• Recommend a task force to develop plans beyond summit
• Recommend involving a wide range of user age groups especially those comfortable with technology when developing plans
• Concerns expressed over current expense and usage of databases
• A balance between supporting the needs of a statewide effort while delivering local services will need to be addressed
• Recommend exploring additional avenues for patrons to reach databases (i.e. google)
• Recommend working with vendors as a united group to negotiate the best prices for all
• Library community members are willing to advocate for funding to legislators but will need training and talking points

More details about the discussion groups will be available soon.

Libraries Connect Ohio Partners panel discussion. Jo Budler, State Librarian of Ohio Stephen Hedges, Executive Director, OPLIN Theresa Fredericka, Executive Director, INFOhio Tom Sanville, Executive Director, OhioLINK

The panel members each spoke about the value of collaborative efforts and the history that supports the feasibility of success in Ohio. Examples such as INFOhio, OHIOLink and OPLIN demonstrate that bringing groups of varying sizes and specialties together improves products and services for all.

The LSTA funding that currently supports some statewide programs through the State Library of Ohio will not sustain them beyond a few more years. The time is now to work together to develop plans and solutions that will generate sustainable funding for all.

Final Comments

In closing Dr. Greg Byerly urged everyone to continue the dialog and move forward by organizing a Steering Team, as recommended earlier by Jo Budler and Tom Sanville. The Steering Team would be charged with establishing a process for determining priorities for resource sharing, key roles for library community members, strategies for marketing, evaluating funding options, and creating a timeline to report back to the Libraries Connect Ohio initiative.

Links to related Documents