Regionalization: Regionalization: Combining Our StrengthsCombining Our Strengths

South Central RegionSouth Central Region

June 9, 2010June 9, 2010

Altoona is central Open meeting – attendees from all

countiesLibrary directorsSystem administratorsConsultantsDLC administrators

The RegionThe Region

Total of 10 Counties 54 Library Outlets

12 Branches5 Bookmobiles5 Systems

SWOC to Find CommonalitiesSWOC to Find Commonalities

Strengths Teamwork Sharing from CE to grants to info Transparency Quality of district personnel

Weaknesses No money Very rural (no cell service in some

areas) Losing population (except Centre

Co) Inadequate PR MLS wages are low

Opportunities Marketing Advocacy Opening of the Library Code Patron demand for the latest

technology Work of the PaLA’s nextgen group

Challenges Lack of local support Geography Aged buildings & librarians!

Criteria for a Regional ProjectCriteria for a Regional Project

Must identify what our area consists of

Must touch all the libraries 1 year duration No money & only limited staff

time Must be sustainable

The Chosen ProjectThe Chosen Project

To identify the needs, benefits, concerns and interest in joining together to embrace the state

joint ILS

Survey DevelopmentSurvey Development

Regional meeting attended by library Regional meeting attended by library directors, district administrators and directors, district administrators and district consultants to decide the district consultants to decide the purpose and goals of the survey and purpose and goals of the survey and method of data collection.method of data collection.

PurposePurpose

Summarize the current ILS needs of Summarize the current ILS needs of public libraries in the South Central public libraries in the South Central PA Region.PA Region.

Assess the interest of libraries in Assess the interest of libraries in participating in an ILS consortium.participating in an ILS consortium.

Give each library in the South Central Give each library in the South Central PA Region the opportunity to discuss PA Region the opportunity to discuss ILS consortia. ILS consortia. Opportunities, barriers, etc. Opportunities, barriers, etc.

MethodologyMethodology

Each consultant attended the monthly Each consultant attended the monthly district directors' meetings in each district directors' meetings in each district to review and clarify the ILS district to review and clarify the ILS survey questions with librarians.survey questions with librarians.

Based upon feedback from the district Based upon feedback from the district directors' meetings, the regional ILS directors' meetings, the regional ILS survey was modified.survey was modified.

Survey will be electronically distributed Survey will be electronically distributed mid-October 2010.mid-October 2010.

MethodologyMethodology

Survey results shared with Survey results shared with participants, Commonwealth Libraries participants, Commonwealth Libraries and state-wide ILS committees.and state-wide ILS committees.

Survey and survey results made Survey and survey results made available to other regions.available to other regions.

Survey Questions: ExamplesSurvey Questions: Examples

What bandwidth does your library have? Please go What bandwidth does your library have? Please go to: http://speedtest.net, click on the “Begin Test” to: http://speedtest.net, click on the “Begin Test” button located in the center. A “speedometer” will button located in the center. A “speedometer” will appear in the middle of the screen.....appear in the middle of the screen.....

Do you currently have technology support?  Is it Do you currently have technology support?  Is it adequate? Who provides it?adequate? Who provides it?

What is the cost of your current yearly service What is the cost of your current yearly service agreement for your ILS? If possible, please attach a agreement for your ILS? If possible, please attach a copy of your most current service agreement to this copy of your most current service agreement to this survey.survey.

Survey Questions: ExamplesSurvey Questions: Examples What would you need to save in yearly ILS costs What would you need to save in yearly ILS costs

to join a consortium of libraries running an ILS?to join a consortium of libraries running an ILS?0-20%0-20%21-40%21-40%41%-60%41%-60%61-80%61-80%81+%81+%Unable to determineUnable to determineI am already in a consortiumI am already in a consortiumI would never join an ILS consortiumI would never join an ILS consortium

Survey Questions: ExamplesSurvey Questions: Examples What is the best way to communicate with your board, staff What is the best way to communicate with your board, staff

and community the benefits of a regional or statewide ILS? and community the benefits of a regional or statewide ILS? Please rank the following options in order of importance Please rank the following options in order of importance from 1-9:from 1-9:

CommunityCommunity BoardBoard Staff Staff

On-site Presentation:On-site Presentation:District Directors’ Meeting:District Directors’ Meeting:Regional Meeting:Regional Meeting:Website:Website:Listserv:Listserv:Webjunction:Webjunction:Marketing Toolkit:Marketing Toolkit:PR push by State Library:PR push by State Library:Other:Other:

Survey Questions: ExamplesSurvey Questions: Examples Please estimate how many original bibliographic records your Please estimate how many original bibliographic records your

library staff creates in a year. Examples of original records may library staff creates in a year. Examples of original records may include records created for: family histories, local authors, include records created for: family histories, local authors, yearbooks, local maps, etc. yearbooks, local maps, etc.

Do you use unique customer types to control circulation? Do you use unique customer types to control circulation? Examples include: Adult, Juvenile, Senior Citizen, Staff, etc. Examples include: Adult, Juvenile, Senior Citizen, Staff, etc. What special privileges or limitations are associated with each What special privileges or limitations are associated with each unique customer type that your library has?unique customer type that your library has?

Customer Type A:Customer Type A:Customer Type A - Loan Period:Customer Type A - Loan Period:Customer Type A - Additional Privileges/Limitations: Customer Type A - Additional Privileges/Limitations:

How would you prefer to receive ILS training?How would you prefer to receive ILS training?Hands-onHands-onOn-the-jobOn-the-jobRegularly scheduled classes at the county or regional levelRegularly scheduled classes at the county or regional levelOther:Other:

Collaborative Continuing EducationCollaborative Continuing Education

Generational Marketing Workshop (9/29/10)Generational Marketing Workshop (9/29/10) Leta Beam, Vantage International/PSULeta Beam, Vantage International/PSU

Fundraising Workshop (10/22/10)Fundraising Workshop (10/22/10) Dee Jay Oshry, Professional Fundraising ConsultantDee Jay Oshry, Professional Fundraising Consultant

Dr. Carrie Gardner presentation (11/4/10)Dr. Carrie Gardner presentation (11/4/10) Expert on intellectual freedom issuesExpert on intellectual freedom issues

PA Gang Investigators Association Workshop PA Gang Investigators Association Workshop (11/17/10)(11/17/10) Dr. Todd Negola, Vice-PresidentDr. Todd Negola, Vice-President

Future Regional Project Future Regional Project Proposals & ConsiderationsProposals & Considerations

E-books & E-audiosE-books & E-audios

Delivery, IDS, & ILLDelivery, IDS, & ILL

Technology ProjectsTechnology Projects

Continuing EducationContinuing Education

Regional GrantRegional Grant

2011-12 LSTA Grant Application2011-12 LSTA Grant Application Piggy Bank Tales – financial literacy Piggy Bank Tales – financial literacy

story hours and programming for story hours and programming for children – all libraries in Regionchildren – all libraries in Region

Thank you Tim Salony – Blair County Library Thank you Tim Salony – Blair County Library System Administrator – for writing this grant.System Administrator – for writing this grant.

District Consultant Contact District Consultant Contact InformationInformation

Johnstown District - Mary Lou Repsher Johnstown District - Mary Lou Repsher repsherml@cclsys.orgrepsherml@cclsys.org

Altoona District - Amy Horell Altoona District - Amy Horell dlc@altoonalibrary.orgdlc@altoonalibrary.org

Central PA District - Lisa Rives Collens Central PA District - Lisa Rives Collens lcollens@schlowlibrary.orglcollens@schlowlibrary.org