Napa Valley School Library Consortium

A different solution for a very difficult timeKate MacMillan, Sandy Biale, Michelle

Holguin

Who We Are & What We look Like Napa Valley School Library Consortium Members *

Michelle, Susan, Lisa, Paula: SHUSD Janis, Cathy: CJUSD

Michelle W, Alissa, Matilda; PARTNER Loreen, Sandy ,Suzanne, Anne, Colette,

Cathy, Roberta, Sean, Stefani, Pam Terry, Diane, Amy, Nancy, Terry, Julie,

Roberta, Janine, Deana, Tina, Bobbie, Grace, Joanne, Linda, Laura, Lorrie, Melissa, Louisa, Cathy, Deb: NVUSD

Kate: Library Services Tim: IT: Bea, Aeries

con·sor·ti·um

 

a. An association or a combination…..for the purpose

of engaging in a joint venture.

b. A cooperative arrangement among groups or

institutions: a library consortium

The Rationale for School Library Consortiums*

Innovative solutions to support library management at the

district and site level

Keep libraries open

Databases and automation programs stable

Equal access to resources for all students*An integrated Web based library system is required for this type of school library

consortium

What the NVSL Consortium Can Do

Provide technical hardware, stability and support

Provide training/networking

Host automation software & library databases

Provide managed library services as per MOU

What the NVSL Consortium Cannot Do

Mandate District or Site staffing

Mandate District or Site budgets

Deviate from the MOU*

*Agreed upon by member administrations

What Are the Benefits? Consortium members benefit from peer support

Consortium host provides:

Up-to-date technology

Technical support

Hardware/Servers

Software upgrades

Database hosting/including backups

What Other Benefits?

Autonomous cost efficient funding

Agreed upon managed library services as per MOU

District/Admin buy-in

Strength of numbers

Training and networking opportunities

Consortium Bills

Members

Members Pay

Invoices

Funds Deposited

Funds Used for Upkeep

Members Benefit

Cost Efficient Funding

Members

Fees

Consortium

Funding

Fees = Funding

Background: California School Districts

1998 – 2001 State funds for school libraries

Updated Collections

Sophisticated library automation programs

Outcome: improved school libraries

Post California Public School Library Act of 1998

Library and technology staffing not keeping pace with

school library needs.

Districts have difficulty funding necessary library

services

…..or even keeping their libraries operational

Background: Tough Times Require Innovative Solutions ( 2004 – 200?)

Lack of funding

District/site level

Lack of funding libraries

Ongoing fiscal crisis at State/Federal

level

Background: Funding Shortages

Funding

• Less money = less library staffing

• Less resources for students, faculty and parents

Support

• Less money = less technology = less techs

• Less time to fix problems or run updates

Services• Less funding = less library services

• Students suffer

Background … Spread All Over Napa County: 612 square miles

Small rural districts: tiny remote sites:

private/parochial schools

Little federal funding: average poverty level

Minimal funding, less purchasing power of larger

districts

Background: NVUSD

NVUSD = acts as a COE

ISP for the county

Established business relationship with surrounding

districts, private/parochial schools

Technology and library staff to implement and

support a library consortium

Background: How It All Began……. 2003 Napa COE Curriculum Library

Server crash

Web Collection goes offline

Curriculum Library can’t circulate

IT asks NVUSD for assistance

Partnership formed

Background: Consortium Partners Napa Valley USD

Napa County Office of Education: 2004 Calistoga Joint Unified: 2005

Justin Siena High School: 2005 St. Apollinaris: 2006

St. Helena Unified: 2007 Blue Oak School: 2008

Consortium = members = power

Strength in Numbers

So What Technology Does the Member Need ?

Web based ILS program

Sufficient internal bandwidth

Sufficient to internet

Ensure speed

Variable depends on District size

.

What Technology Does the Host Need?

Stable ILS-trained IT department

SQL based server

Sufficient bandwidth

Available staff to provide support to sites

So …. What’s the Next Step?

Consortium host and member(s) agree uponMemorandum of Understanding

MOU = a business plan MOU = a menu of services

The Glue That Holds It Altogether

The MOU (Memorandum of Understanding)

Board approved document that outlines services

and charges

Protects both parties

A form of business plan * ILS Lead included

Memorandum

of Understanding

Different districts, schools and librariesRequire

Different solutions while maintaining centralized automation services

Recommended Reading

Management

Management Styles

Centralization = clearly defined structure

Consortium = collaboration, loose structure

Centralization = top down management

Consortium = open ended leadership

Centralized Management

Centralization = all resources under one authority

All decisions from one source

Top down ‘spider’ management

3 C’s of Consortium Member Management

Members provide peer management through

Cooperation

Collaboration

Consensus

Centralized ILS

Holdings on a single server

Centralized automation administrators

Single point of contact

Standard automation features

Standard student management queries*Agreed upon at implementation

NVUSD

IT Department

Partner Districts

Site Libraries

Library Services

TL & MS

The Relationships

Most Important Relationship

IT

Library

Services

DL Vendor

IT

Facilitates ILS implementation at the hardware level

ILS upgrades

Data queries and updates

Troubleshoot and/or fix the problem(s)

Library Services

*ILS Administrator represents consortium and host

*DL: Site Teacher Librarian/ Media Specialist represents district

Implementation Team

Vendor Relationship Vital

Training

Support

Communication

IT/Technology

SupportTraining

Library Services

Who Does What?

Technology IT support includes*

*IT administrator Student management specialist Technicians Bandwidth ILS Program SQL based Server

(Implementation Team)

Library Services

Facilitates and supports ILS implementation at

the consortium level

Provides managed library services including

Administrative guidelines

Initial training sessions

Managed Services(as per MOU)

District and/or site reports

Library committee and district site visits

Collection development

Trainings; cohort meetings

Library 101 Help Page

Liaise with technical support

Collaboration/

Networking

Collection Developme

nt

Support/Training

District/Site & Board Reports

Managed Services Collaboration

Support: Annual Reports

Collection/circulation data including:

Collection maps; Collection reports

Annual inventory results

Weeding lists with recommendations

Site and aggregate reports to consortium schools and

School Boards

Library Services/Collection Development Recommend curriculum/ standard based materials

Participate in site library committee

Provide current collection maps

Collection Development Communication

Keeping track of list and requests

Titlewave Accounts

Baker and Taylor Web lists

Permabound Web lists

One account per site

Common password

Staff

Provide growth and staff development

opportunities to all members

User group/open circle training model

Network

Collaborate

Share

Training*

Training = all library staff

Consortium decides needs and presenters

Correlates training sessions to needs

Provide networking and feedback opportunities

Request professional resources as needed

Open ended circle model *biggest change

Communicating, Networking & Sharing

How to keep the information lines open How to keep information current

How to keep information available 24/7 How to keep information relevant

Library 101 Help Page Support Available 24/7

Archived trainings

Current Library information

Areas of interest for parents, students, teachers and

library staff

Online resource links

Current newsletter

Logical Hosts = County Offices of Education

Form consortium with member districts

Node for the DCP (Digital California Project) and

the Internet Service Provider (ISP)

Expand existing technology to include school

libraries

The Outcome and the Result

Consortiums are cost efficient

Generate income to support the consortium host

and pay for general support of the consortium

member

Offer much needed support and direction to school

libraries

Thanks for taking Napa Valley USD School Library Consortium Guided Tour

Any questions or comments, please contactKate MacMillan