Update on the State Library Online Resources Review Project
The State Library’s project to review the statewide online resources offered to Iowa libraries is well underway. We wanted to provide an update to where the process is now and the next steps we will be taking to meet the goal of having RFPs for potential tools, utilities, and/or resources released in the spring.
Focus Groups
In addition to the two surveys we sent to libraries this fall, last month we held eight focus groups with more than 130 Iowa public librarians to answer questions about their communities, patrons, and what types of resources would benefit their libraries. Thank you so much to our focus group participants for the helpful feedback and productive discussions!
Task Force
We move now to establishing a task force of Iowa public librarians to advise and select types of tools, utilities, and resources to include in the potential RFPs to be issued in the spring. The application closed last week and we were pleased to see about 20 librarians interested in serving on the task force. Thank you in advance to those librarians for committing their valuable time to help make this process successful.
We also want to note that academic libraries will be conducting an independent resources review process in coordination with a liaison from the State Library.
FY22 Online Resource Offerings
As a reminder, we consider this project a “reset” as to the types of statewide online tools, utilities, and resources we offer libraries. This process is meant to evaluate the needs of Iowa libraries to ensure a worthwhile investment is being made in resources that will find value with librarians and patrons.
To that end, we want to clarify the exact changes to our online resource offerings for FY22, which begins July 1, 2021. The following resources’ vendor contracts are not being renewed; however, depending on the recommendations from the task force, RFPs may be issued for similar types of resources moving forward:
- Gale Databases (including Chilton Library and Opposing Viewpoints)
- Credo
- Transparent Language
- Ebsco Wilson Core Collection
- Foundation Directory Online
- OCLC First Search (Note: this does not affect the CatExpress consortium.)
The following resources are under different contract timelines and will continue to be offered in FY22:
- Bridges
- Brainfuse
- Bold360 Chat
We hope this helps to avoid any confusion and prepare for future changes. We will communicate the recommendations from the task force and plans for issuing one or more RFPs in the coming months.
For more information on this project, visit the webpage below:
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