OLIS News & Updates

August 2024

Delivery Holiday

Monday, August 12, 2024

There will be no LORI delivery on Victory Day - Monday, August 12, 2024.

Library Certification and Annual Survey Open Now

Resource Sharing LORI Certification

The FY2025 Resource Sharing Library of Rhode Island (LORI) Certification is still open and closes Sunday, September 15, 2024 for academic, public and special libraries. School libraries have an extended deadline of Monday, September 30, 2024 to complete the certification. Rhode Island libraries are required to certify compliance with the Library of Rhode Island Standards and Regulations annually to gain or maintain membership within this resource sharing network. Only certified members are eligible to participate in statewide delivery and other resource sharing activities such as FirstSearch and the ILL Clearinghouse. Support materials and instructions are available on the Resource Sharing LORI Certification Guide.
Reminder: A second training session is scheduled for Monday, August 19 at 1:00pm.

PLAS - Contributing to the Scope of Library Data, Locally and Nationally

The FY2025 RI Public Library Annual Survey (PLAS) is now open! The survey will close September 15, 2024. Public libraries are required to submit the PLAS in order to qualify for state library grant-in-aid. There will be a virtual training session on August 14 to review use of LibPAS (the data collection platform), introduce new questions, provide clarifications for reporting data, and review the grant-in-aid application process. A recording of the virtual training session held July 18 is available on the Public Library Annual Survey LibGuide. For more information, visit Public Library Annual Survey.

PLA Project Outcome Update

Project Outcome is a free toolkit designed to help libraries understand the impact of library programs by using simple surveys to analyze outcomes. However, as Project Outcome prepares to celebrate its 10th year, there is a strong possibility that the toolkit will soon be unavailable.

The Public Library Association (PLA), which hosts the online toolkit, is considering sunsetting Project Outcome. The Measurement, Evaluation, and Assessment Advisory Group (MEAAG) of PLA is putting together a committee to save Project Outcome, with a proposal due to ALA Board in January. If you find Project Outcome useful, please use it! Encourage your colleagues to use it, too. If you are unsure how to get started, check out this upcoming webinar or reach out to Kelly Metzger and she will assist you.

Let’s show PLA and ALA that outcome measurement is an important and valued part of improving public libraries!

For all the latest news and updates, visit the OLIS Website

Available Now: International Language Quarterly

Thanks to the Marrakesh Treaty and expanded book acquisition, NLS continues to add more international language books to their catalog than ever before.

To help patrons and network library staff locate these titles, NLS is pleased to announce the current issue of the online publication International Language Quarterly (ILQ).

The National Library Services (NSL) Moves Location
After 57 years, NLS is—literally—on the move.

In 1967, NLS—then known as the Library of Congress’s Division for the Blind and Physically Handicapped—moved from Capitol Hill to a former local government building at 1291 Taylor Street in far Northwest Washington. Now NLS is going back home. NLS has long been in discussions with Library of Congress leadership, Congress, and the Architect of the Capitol about returning to Capitol Hill or other government-owned properties nearby. Last year, it was decided we would move to the third floor of the Library’s John Adams Building.

Talking Books Library Info Session

Thursday, August 22 @ 10:30 am

Join Talking Books Library staff to find out how your library can become an institutional member to provide FREE books, magazines and music materials for the print disabled.