§ Kentucky Virtual University Library Budget Support Document:
December 3, 1997
- 1. Z39.50 for Linking SAALCK Libraries: The linking of online catalogs of SAALCK libraries utilizing Z39.50 protocol requires not only the technical knowledge of individual local systems but also special programming and contractual vendor services to enable the transparent linking. As Z39.50 and local systems evolve from version to version, the systems staff in each library has to keep current with the developments in both areas in order to keep the linking dynamic and useful at all time. ** The central funding of $32,000 a year will provide support for special programming and vendor services for each online catalog and for the training of the systems staff in all participating libraries.
- 2. Computer Hardware/Software/Maintenance/Support: In order to develop the statewide Virtual Library, an appropriate technology base needs to be established to store, index, and deliver information resources. Database servers and software will be installed in host libraries to serve as hubs for services in their regions and as the distributed source of access to databases stored in one site for the use of all users. The searching software, OCLC's SiteSearch and WebZ, will provide us a single, unified and seamless Web interface to all the linked online catalogs and all other information resources on the servers or the Internet. This means that users will be able to go to one place for all information using a familiar graphical user interface no matter where they are enrolled. To access this expanded electronic collection, all participating libraries will need high-end workstations and software at their individual locations. ** The central funding of $500,000 in 1998/99 will provide servers and software for housing databases that are locally mounted, such as commercial electronic databases, digitized Kentuckiana collections and state publications, and others. $75,000 per year will provide hardware/software maintenance. ** The central funding of $110,000 in 1998/99 will provide a site license for OCLC's SiteSearch and WebZ software. $16,500 per year will provide software maintenance and support from OCLC. ** The central funding of $32,000 per year will provide programming support for server host sites. ** The central funding of $300,000 in 1998/99 and $300,000 in 1999/2000 will equip libraries with workstations and software to access databases composed of text, images and sound. $45,000 for the 1998/99 and $90,000 per year following will provide hardware and software maintenance. COST AVOIDANCE: If each institution implements this system separately, the total cost of the OCLC SiteSearch/WebZ software will be $256,750. By coming together as a group, we will realize a cost avoidance of $146,750 just in the software license alone. The duplicate overhead of hardware and technical support for such an installation in each institution will be much larger than that.
- 3. Electronic Indexes, Abstracts and Full-Text for Core Academic Journals: The electronic databases included in this budget are those most often used or desired by the state-supported postsecondary education institutions. The central core of databases would level the playing field among the institutions. No longer would access to these resources be a question of where you are and whether your library can afford the resources; all would be equally available to users of all participating institutions. The SAALCK libraries have just initiated a group license to access OCLC FirstSearch databases which enables us to share the cost of accessing 3 databases. The total cost for the 9 libraries participating is $40,100 and it would have cost at least $556,050 if licensed separately. ** The central funding of $500,000 per year for OCLC FirstSearch databases will allow us to achieve economies of scale in providing the same level of access to all 23 libraries. ** The central funding of $500,000 per year for other electronic indexes, abstracts and full-text will allow us to leverage database servers and other technical infrastructure to share those databases that support instructional programs in all participating institutions. ** The central funding of $30,000 for the first year and $15,000 per year for subsequent years will provide continuous training for library staff and users in the use of electronic resources. COST AVOIDANCE: Based on our limited experience in OCLC FirstSearch and the data from VIVA, the Virtual Library of Virginia, the central funding of $1 million for group database licensing will probably cost at least $5-10 million dollars if each institution subscribes to them individually. The cost avoidance in this area is not to be ignored. This is why there has been an explosive growth of consortia and state-funded projects these past two years to enhance their purchasing power.
- 4. Electronic Access to Kentucky-oriented Information Resources: There is a vast amount of unique resources housed in university libraries' special collections and archives, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, and other data centers that are of significance to Kentucky's economic development as well as research. This component will focus on providing global, electronic access to Kentuckiana collections, Kentucky-related statistical, primarily census, data, and Kentucky state publications. These rich collections include historical photographs, literary manuscripts, motion pictures, video recordings, oral history interviews, state agencies' comprehensive data and reports on the Commonwealth, census data, and others. ** The central funding of $37,000 in 98/99 and $37,000 in 99/2000 will provide scanning stations of variant levels to digitize different types of materials, e.g., flat-bed vs. digital camera. ** The central funding of $5,550 in 98/99 and $11,100 per year in subsequent years will provide needed hardware and software maintenance. ** The central funding of $15,000 in 98/99 and $2,250 per year in subsequent years will provide the imaging support software for document image capture, text capture and document description. ** The central funding of $32,000 per year will provide the needed technical support to set up and maintain hardware/software and special programming for the digitizing project. ** The central funding of $187,000 in 98/99 and $5,000 per year in subsequent years will provide funding for the purchase of tapes for Census of Population and Housing, Economic Census, Census of Government and County Business Patterns. ** The central funding of $75,000 in 98/99 and $10,250 per year in subsequent years will provide funding for digitizing major publications included in State Publications of Kentucky: Options for Collection Development.
- 5. Universal Borrowing and Document Delivery: Resource sharing among SAALCK libraries has been a long-held tradition. This component will expand the sharing of journal collections via the Ariel System among the 8 SAALCK libraries to 15 community colleges and extended campuses. It will also initiate a contract courier service to deliver books among libraries so users don't have to travel far to get what they want. Our goal is to provide universal borrowing privileges to all faculty and students in the postsecondary education community for the full use of library collections in any of the participating institutions. ** The central funding of $80,000 in 98/99 will provide hardware and software for the Ariel delivery system for the 15 community colleges and extended campuses. ** The central funding of $20,000 per year will provide maintenance for all libraries to ensure the Ariel system functioning smoothly for document delivery. ** The central funding of $200,000 per year will provide a contracted delivery service for transporting books among libraries in a timely manner. ** The central funding of $140,000 per year will provide support for all libraries to supply journal articles to one another in order to meet bigger demands from users as a result of easier access to libraries' catalogs. ** The central funding of $20,000 in 98/99 and $7,500 per year in subsequent years will provide funding for a viable ID validation system, either centralized or decentralized, in order to achieve universal access to all library collections for all faculty and students.
- 6. Information Literacy: Information literacy is defined by the ability to recognize the need for information; to initiate search strategies and locate relevant information in a variety of resources; to access and interpret the information discovered; and to effectively utilize and communicate the end results. SAALCK members have resolved to offer locally prepared library-oriented programs, bibliographic instruction, and other appropriate programs with a view toward promoting information literacy both on campus and for distance learning initiatives. They have also agreed to explore the development of common programs by using statewide information to promote computer and information literacy. ** The funding of $100,000 per year will provide a cooperatively developed and maintained common course and course materials to be modified and used statewide.
[This page was last updated on 26 July 2000 at the old SAALCK web site. It was moved and reformatted in January 2003]