| |
|
 |
 YEAR 1
In order to bring the price down to a manageable amount for participating libraries we decided that if we could get at least 10 libraries to commit to $3,000 for the project we could do it. The library's contribution would entitle it to all of the e-books purchased as part of the group, training and technical assistance with setup, all promotional materials developed and cataloging services and records. The offer was made to all TBLC member libraries in June. The mid-June deadline saw 24 libraries signed up for the project, which grew to 31 in the subsequent months. All libraries signing on after the deadline receive the same benefits as those who met the deadline. Meeting the deadline assured a library of participation in the initial selection process. Our first implementation challenge was how to select titles for our collection. In order to focus the collection and give the subject areas represented adequate coverage we decided to select in a few broad subject areas. We established two basic criteria to help us make the subject area decision: 1. Do we regularly receive requests for information in this subject area? 2. Does the information in this subject area lend itself well to being used online? After much discussion the group decided to include only these subject areas: Collection Development netLibrary supplied us with lists of titles in the subject areas we specified which were used by the subject groups as the main tool for selection. To supplement the selection process netLibrary provided us with access to their entire collection. We used this access to search more specific subject areas, to examine individual titles, and make title comparisons. Each subject group made their selections and submitted title lists to us at TBLC. In order to keep each participating library involved in all selecting areas and not limit their involvement to just the subject area they participated in, we distributed final title lists in each subject area to all libraries. We held a Final Selection Meeting in September to review and discuss the collection. Rather than go title by title through all of the lists each library reviewed the lists before the meeting and marked any titles they questioned adding to the collection. At the Final Selection Meeting the group worked page by page through titles discussing any titles questioned. This resulted in some titles being thrown out, but very few. By airing concerns about title selections in this way each library became a part of the entire selection process. Each library had the opportunity to be well acquainted with the titles being selected and could use the access to netLibrary's collection we had set up to view any titles they wished to evaluate more closely. We took advantage of netLibrary purchase specials on the Complete Idiot's Guide series and the Cliff's Notes series offered during our selection phase to round out our collection. By the end of the Final Selection Meeting we had arrived at an initial collection that numbered 1221 titles. netLibrary offers two models for purchase of your collection, one in perpetuity and the other annual access. We purchased the bulk of our collection from netLibrary on the in perpetuity model. We made the decision to purchase most of our titles on this model which pays for access all up-front so we did not have to go back to participating libraries year after year asking for renewal monies for the e-book collection. However, we decided to purchase all computer and health titles on the annual access model with the understanding that we would review these titles annually, evaluate the use statistics and make decisions to retain titles or replace with newer publications. A reserve of funds from the first-year monies was held for at least one renewal of all of these titles. We continued to develop the first year collection using a bi-monthly schedule for collection development. The subject specialist group formed during the initial selection period came together again during the month that its subject area was the focus. Each bi-monthly purchase also included demand-based selections in any subject area. These selections were made using the netLibrary usage statistics and suggestions from participating libraries. This allowed us to add "hot" titles at any time. MARC Records Publicity We knew that promoting the project to the public was an important key to the project's success. netLibrary provided good, eye-catching promotional materials but we wanted something custom designed for our project. TBLC has a marketing consultant on staff who assisted us in developing an instructional brochure for library users. These brochures are available in every branch and campus library involved in the project. The marketing consultant provided an objective user point of view that helped us refine our message in our promotional materials. He also created the logo and name Librare for our project in an effort to brand the project and differentiate it from the e-book readers currently being marketed to the public. We presented a poster session about Librare at the 2001 American Library Association Annual Conference in San Francisco.
The first year collection was finished in late 2001 with slightly more than 2,000 titles purchased. YEAR 2 Our intent had been to begin the year 2 collection in September/October 2001. All participating libraries were queried regarding their interest in participating in a second year's collection. All but two libraries opted to continue participation. An offer to participate in the year two collection was then extended to all TBLC member libraries. The offer include an option to "buy-back" into the year one collection. Three new libraries joined the project, taking advantage of the offer to participate in the year two collection and buy-back into year one's collection. In late 2001 netLibrary filed for bankruptcy and was soon purchased by OCLC. Our group decided to table all purchases until the sale had been finalized. Due to this delay we did not begin our year 2 collection planning and collection development until 2002. Participating libraries met in January 2002 to discuss collection development, marketing, budget and approach for the year two collection. The year two purchase price was $2,000. This is a decrease from the year one purchase price of $3,000 but reflected the group's belief that we had built a strong year one collection and could feel comfortable building on that with a reduced budget for e-books. From our budget 5% was set aside for marketing and publicity efforts. Collection development continues on the same approach as in year one. Selection teams select in subject areas on a bi-monthly schedule. The addition of start-up, organizational conference calls at the beginning of each group's scheduled selection month jump starts the selection process. The conference call is a time to discuss approach, budget and set parameters for the kinds of title we request from netLibrary as possible purchases. Our year two marketing efforts focus on the development and printing of a promotional bookmark. Again, the TBLC marketing consultant worked with a graphic designer to modify the year one Librare brochure and develop an eye-catching bookmark. These were ordered for all participating libraries in June 2002.
|
|
