Alabama Virtual Alabama Virtual LibraryLibrary

Sue O. MedinaSue O. MedinaNetwork of Alabama Academic Network of Alabama Academic

LibrariesLibrariesfor thefor the

Alabama State Department of Alabama State Department of EducationEducation

7 September 20077 September 2007

Alabama Virtual Alabama Virtual LibraryLibrary

http://http://www.avl.lib.al.uswww.avl.lib.al.us

What is a Virtual What is a Virtual Library ?Library ?

Core information supporting Core information supporting instruction and research for instruction and research for Alabama’s students, teachers, and Alabama’s students, teachers, and citizenscitizens

Online access via the Internet Online access via the Internet Scholarly, essential, authoritative Scholarly, essential, authoritative

contentcontent everywhere but nowhere!everywhere but nowhere!

What is the vision for What is the vision for the Alabama Virtual the Alabama Virtual Library?Library?

Every Alabamian will have access Every Alabamian will have access to the information resources to the information resources available in Alabama libraries and available in Alabama libraries and other repositories as well as to a other repositories as well as to a rich array of electronic rich array of electronic information.information.

What is the vision for What is the vision for the Alabama Virtual the Alabama Virtual Library?Library?

Each Alabama library will serve as Each Alabama library will serve as a gateway to make information a gateway to make information available to all Alabamians available to all Alabamians regardless of location or time and regardless of location or time and via traditional and non-traditional via traditional and non-traditional means.means.

Who created the Who created the Alabama Virtual Alabama Virtual Library?Library?

Alabama’s virtual library is the Alabama’s virtual library is the result of years of advocacyresult of years of advocacy– Sought formal endorsements Sought formal endorsements – 1998 legislature appropriated “seed 1998 legislature appropriated “seed

money” to develop the projectmoney” to develop the project

The Advocacy The Advocacy CampaignCampaign

Developed a grassroots strategyDeveloped a grassroots strategy Established a consistent messageEstablished a consistent message Trained AVL Advocates to use a Trained AVL Advocates to use a

consistent messageconsistent message Established a “legislative tree”Established a “legislative tree” Contacted newspaper editorsContacted newspaper editors

Alabama Virtual Alabama Virtual Library Library MessageMessage

EquityEquity - every citizen, student, and - every citizen, student, and teacher will have access to core teacher will have access to core information needed for instruction, information needed for instruction, research, and lifelong learningresearch, and lifelong learning

EconomyEconomy - significant savings can be - significant savings can be realized by negotiating state-wide licenses realized by negotiating state-wide licenses

ExcellenceExcellence - information content is - information content is appropriate, accurate, reliable, scholarly, appropriate, accurate, reliable, scholarly, and up-to-dateand up-to-date

School library exampleSchool library example(1998 State Dept. of Ed (1998 State Dept. of Ed survey)survey) average number of print magazine average number of print magazine

subscriptions per school was 11 subscriptions per school was 11 8000+ magazines and journals 8000+ magazines and journals

available onlineavailable online average age of science books in average age of science books in

Alabama school libraries was 19 Alabama school libraries was 19 yearsyearsAVL resources are currentAVL resources are current

Campaign MaterialsCampaign Materials

PosterPosterBrochureBrochurePostcardsPostcardsVideoVideo

The Advocacy The Advocacy CampaignCampaign 140,000 postcards140,000 postcards

– Distributed to librarians to obtain Distributed to librarians to obtain signatures in libraries/schoolssignatures in libraries/schools

– Used with the brochure in Used with the brochure in presentations to PTA, Rotary, etc.presentations to PTA, Rotary, etc.

80,000 postcards returned to the 80,000 postcards returned to the State HouseState House

How was the Alabama How was the Alabama Virtual Library Virtual Library established?established?

Education Trust Fund; line item in APLS Education Trust Fund; line item in APLS budgetbudget

No separate authorization billNo separate authorization bill FundingFunding

– FY2000 Appropriations bill signed June, FY2000 Appropriations bill signed June, 19991999

– First databases accessible in August, 1999First databases accessible in August, 1999– Funding began on 1 October, 1999.Funding began on 1 October, 1999.

Who Governs the Who Governs the Alabama Virtual Alabama Virtual Library?Library?

Alabama Commission on Higher Alabama Commission on Higher EducationEducation

Alabama Department of Alabama Department of Postsecondary EducationPostsecondary Education

Alabama Public Library ServiceAlabama Public Library Service Alabama State Department of Alabama State Department of

EducationEducation Alabama Supercomputer AuthorityAlabama Supercomputer Authority

Governor Riley signing SB-393Governor Riley signing SB-393Alabama Virtual Library BillAlabama Virtual Library Bill

07/29/2004 Photo Credit: Governor Staff - Kevin Glackmeyer 07/29/2004 Photo Credit: Governor Staff - Kevin Glackmeyer

How are Alabama How are Alabama Virtual Library funds Virtual Library funds used?used?

Information Content – licensed Information Content – licensed databasesdatabases

AVL Help DeskAVL Help Desk Training –very limited funds (printing)Training –very limited funds (printing) Each state agency is responsible for Each state agency is responsible for

supporting its constituents’ supporting its constituents’ infrastructure needsinfrastructure needs

NO AVL FUNDS ARE USED FOR STAFF OR EQUIPMENT!

How do I use the How do I use the Alabama Virtual Alabama Virtual Library?Library?

IP authenticated access viaIP authenticated access via– academic members of the Network of Alabama academic members of the Network of Alabama

Academic LibrariesAcademic Libraries– all public two-year college librariesall public two-year college libraries– all public school systemsall public school systems– all public librariesall public libraries

Remote access using Remote access using AVL CardsAVL Cards issued issued by Alabama public libraries, public school by Alabama public libraries, public school libraries, and two-year community collegeslibraries, and two-year community colleges

How are databases selected How are databases selected for the Alabama Virtual for the Alabama Virtual Library?Library? Database Review Committee reviews Database Review Committee reviews

products continually. products continually. Databases must: Databases must:

Support education purposesSupport education purposesMeet needs of a broad spectrum of usersMeet needs of a broad spectrum of usersProvide reliable, high-quality contentProvide reliable, high-quality contentRepresent good value for costRepresent good value for costProvide use data for management Provide use data for management

decisionsdecisions

How are databases selected How are databases selected for the Alabama Virtual for the Alabama Virtual Library?Library?

AVL Council receives Database AVL Council receives Database Review Committee evaluationsReview Committee evaluations

For favorably reviewed products, may For favorably reviewed products, may refer to Database Negotiating Team refer to Database Negotiating Team for price quote and license reviewfor price quote and license review

Database Negotiating Team submits Database Negotiating Team submits its recommendation to the AVL its recommendation to the AVL CouncilCouncil

What’s next for the What’s next for the Alabama Virtual Alabama Virtual Library?Library?

More content - always!More content - always! Federated search engine - has been Federated search engine - has been

suggestedsuggested Access to government and other high-Access to government and other high-

quality advertising-free databases (e.g. quality advertising-free databases (e.g. PubMed)PubMed)

Training – always an ongoing needTraining – always an ongoing need Alabama history resources: Alabama Alabama history resources: Alabama

Mosaic Mosaic www.alabamamosaic.orgwww.alabamamosaic.org

For More Details:For More Details:AVL Publications posted at AVL Publications posted at www.avl.lib.al.uswww.avl.lib.al.us A Miracle for the A Miracle for the MilleniumMillenium

: How the Alabama Virtual Library Governance Succeeds: How the Alabama Virtual Library Governance Succeeds (reprinted (reprinted with permission from The Alabama Librarian, a publication of the with permission from The Alabama Librarian, a publication of the Alabama Library Association, Inc.)Alabama Library Association, Inc.)

BrochureBrochure 2004-05 Annual Report 2004-05 Annual Report

– Annual ReportAnnual Report – AVL Partners insertAVL Partners insert – AVL Resources insertAVL Resources insert

2003-04 Annual Report2003-04 Annual Report PostcardPostcard Morgan, Josie. "Morgan, Josie. "

Turning a Dream into a Virtual Reality of Statewide Information SharinTurning a Dream into a Virtual Reality of Statewide Information Sharing.g." Computers in Libraries. January 2001: 51-55. Academic Search " Computers in Libraries. January 2001: 51-55. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost. Huntsville, AL. Alabama Virtual Library.19 July Premier. EBSCOhost. Huntsville, AL. Alabama Virtual Library.19 July 2007 <http://web.ebscohost.com>.2007 <http://web.ebscohost.com>.