Technology and Resource Sharing Plan: 2014-2016

Nicolet Federated Library System

Approved February 18, 2014

Introduction

Section 43.24(2)(m) of the Wisconsin Statutes specifically requires systems to engage in "planning with the division and with participating public libraries and other types of libraries in the area in regard to library technology and the sharing of resources." State required system technology and resource sharing plans are to be submitted at least every five years. Technology plans required by the federal E-rate program are to cover a three-year period. In order to comply with state library system requirements and federal E-rate requirements, this plan covers a three-year period from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2016.

While individual libraries must have an approved technology plan to participate in the federal E-rate program and the state-funded TEACH program (which provides subsidized T-1 telephone lines), the state recognizes that approved library system technology plans may be used to fulfill the individual member library requirements. This is true as long as the system plan supports and validates the E-rate eligible services used by the member libraries, and as long as the plan is developed by the system, working in collaboration with the member libraries. The Nicolet Federated Library System Technology and Resource Sharing Plan is in compliance with these specific requirements, thereby assuring compliance for all member libraries with the federal E-rate program and the state TEACH program.

Background

Demographics

According to the State of Wisconsin Department of Administration Demographic Services Center, which maintains and updates the 2010 Census information for the State of Wisconsin, the System area population estimate for 2012 is 435,390. The service area population details are as follows:

System Population by County

BROWN COUNTY 250,281

Brown County Library

Branches: Ashwaubenon, Central (Green Bay) Denmark, Kress

Family Library (DePere), East, Pulaski, Southwest, Weyers-Hilliard

(Howard) Wrightstown, and Bookmobile.

Oneida Community Library. (This library is an 6,567

independent legally established library operated

by the Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin, Inc., with a

branch in Green Earth.)

DOOR COUNTY 27,867

Door County Library, Sturgeon Bay.

Branches: Bailey’s Harbor, Egg Harbor, Ephraim,

Fish Creek, Forestville, Sister Bay/Liberty Grove, Washington Island.

FLORENCE COUNTY 4,358

Florence County Library, Florence

KEWAUNEE COUNTY 20,637

Algoma Public Library

Kewaunee Public Library

MARINETTE COUNTY 41,718

Stephenson Public Library, Marinette

Branches: Crivitz, Peshtigo, Wausaukee,

Coleman-Pound, Niagara, Goodman-Dunbar.

MENOMINEE COUNTY 4,214

Menominee Tribal/County Library (College of Menominee), Keshena.

OCONTO COUNTY37,829

Farnsworth Public Library, Oconto

Gillett Public Library, Gillett

Lakes Country Public Library, Lakewood

Lena Community Library, Lena

Oconto Falls Community Library, Oconto Falls

Suring Area Public Library, Suring.

SHAWANO COUNTY41,919

Shawano City-County Library, Shawano

Branches: Bonduel, Tigerton, Wittenberg,

Birnamwood, Mattoon-Hutchins.

TOTAL SYSTEM POPULATION 435,390

According to the statistics from the 2010 census, 6,844 residents in the NFLS service area are African-American, 15,217 are Native American or Alaska native, 22,457 are Hispanic, and 8,277 are Asian/Pacific Islander, with “other” races totaling 3,413 residents. Of the 8 counties that comprise the System area, only Brown County is considered an “urban” area, according to the Census Bureau. The System service area covers approximately 5,000 square miles.

There are approximately 271,143 registered library users in the System; which comprises 62% of the System area population. In 2012, System-member libraries circulated 3,968,490 items. This equals nearly 15 items per user, or nearly 9 items per resident of the service area. NFLS member libraries added 108,505 volumes to their collections in 2012. Volumes owned including audio, video and DVD titles were 1,097,883 or over 2.5 items per resident. During 2012, the NFLS ILL service handled 48,383 ILL requests for NFLS and OWLS member libraries (under the joint automation agreement between the two Systems). All the NFLS member libraries have their usage statistics generated either from the OWLSnet (joint NFLS/OWLS) automation system, or from Sirsi Dynix, the automation system utilized by the Brown County Library.

Development of Services

The following is a brief list of some of the technology services and resource sharing activities sponsored or supported by NFLS. More details on the activities and services will be found later in this plan.

  • Collaboration with OWLS on the OWLSnet automation project.
  • Support for additional online databases from a variety of vendors to support member library patron information needs.
  • Support for Wisconsin Public Library Consortium activities (NetLibrary electronic books, OverDrive digital audio titles, and digital video titles).
  • Consulting services by NFLS staff in various technology areas.
  • Development of technical training for member librarians.
  • Financial support for continuing education activities and attendance at national conferences.
  • Payment of OCLC and WisCat ILL fees so that all member libraries may participate.
  • OCLC and WisCat ILL training and database training offered to all member librarians.
  • Contracting for website service and support for member libraries through local providers.
  • Contracting for web hosting services and website registration through national providers for all member library websites.
  • Technology support, including hardware and software repairs and updates as well as on-call assistance by the NFLS staff Information Technology Coordinator.
  • Coordination of hardware and software acquisitions/replacement for member libraries.
  • Support of a collection of gaming equipment (Wii, X-Box 360, PS3), games, and adaptive equipment for game consoles which is made available to member libraries.
  • ILL and second level reference services provided to member libraries.
  • Delivery services to all member libraries and between OWLS and NFLS through a contract with WALTCO.
  • Contract with the South Central Library System for statewide delivery.

Nicolet has worked to facilitate resource sharing between its member libraries since its inception 36 years ago. In 1994 and 1995, Nicolet developed a plan to initiate an automation project called NICNET, which would have involved all its member libraries. However, when the Brown County Library withdrew from the project in order to pursue its own automation project, the Outagamie Waupaca Library System (OWLS) made a proposal to include the remaining Nicolet libraries in the OWLSnet automation project which OWLS had begun in 1989. NFLS signed an agreement with OWLS in 1995 to cooperate in the OWLSnet consortium in order to provide OWLSnet services to the NFLS member libraries other than the Brown County Library. In 2000, the last of the NFLS member libraries were connected to OWLSnet.

In 2004, work began on the process of migrating OWLSnet to a new integrated library system (ILS). In June 2005, a contract was signed with Innovative Interfaces, Inc. to migrate to a new ILS. Data was migrated to the new system, OWLS staff provided training to the staff at NFLS OWLSnet member libraries, and a new online catalog, InfoSoup, was developed. NFLS OWLSnet member libraries went live on the new system on February 21, 2006, and public response to InfoSoup has been overwhelmingly positive. Since that time, InfoSoup has received many enhancements. Patron book ratings, reviews, and “My Lists” have been added. Several staff and patron review blogs have been developed, and more booklists have been created. In 2009, a version of InfoSoup for mobile devices, called “InfoSoup To Go” was launched, and a new Job and Career Resources page was developed. Additionally, the InfoSoup Memory Project went live in 2009. This enhancement uses CONTENTdm software to make OWLSnet member library digital collections available through InfoSoup.

Also in 1996, the Brown County Library had awarded a contract to Dynix for a multi-agency shared Integrated Library System (ILS). The system included database management with cataloging and authorities control, circulation and resource sharing and an online public access catalog and acquisitions. The system also incorporated serials control, external databases and community information.

By 2008, the Brown County Library’s (BCL’s) existing Dynix Integrated Library System (ILS) automation product, Horizon, was no longer being produced or supported, and needed to be replaced. Discussions between the Brown County Library, OWLS and NFLS about the possibility of the Brown County Library migrating to the OWLSnet ILS took place in 2009, but an agreement could not be reached and the Brown County Library SirsiDynix ILS was not migrated to the OWLSnet Innovative system.

The Brown County SirsiDynix system was migrated to the newest version, called Symphony, in 2010. The SirsiDynix system is Z39.50 compliant. Operations performed by the new ILS included updated check-out and check-in, reserves, renewals and overdue notices, fine calculation and payment, the online catalog, acquisitions, cataloguing, library card registration, telephone and e-mail notification systems, and an online catalog application for smart phone technology. The Brown County Information Services Department provides maintenance and upgrade services for the library ILS. Additional modules including e-commerce have also been installed.

The Innovative Interfaces Millenium software for OWLSnet was replaced by Innovative’s new Sierra software in 2012. Sierra is used to provide circulation control, a central bibliographic database, a central patron database, management reports, an online public access catalog (InfoSoup), overdue and reserve notices, resource sharing, online patron registration, e-commerce, digital signature capture, SMS notification and acquisitions functions to OWLSnet member libraries. The network also provides OWLSnet member libraries with training, cataloging services, technical support, a network library card program, a new materials database, various electronic resources, email service, antivirus and security software, and Internet service.

In 2006, OWLSnet member libraries were migrated to the state’s newly developed BadgerNet Converged Network (BCN), and OWLS doubled its Internet capacity to 9 mbps. The OWLSnet network continues to connect forty-nine public library sites and both system offices. Forty-eight of these sites are connected directly to the OWLSnet wide area network (WAN) through the BCN. Two sites access OWLSnet resources via the Internet, and Appleton Public Library has a local area network (LAN) connection. OWLSnet has continued to add bandwidth as feasible and affordable to meet the needs of member libraries. OWLSnet has also continued to upgrade routers and switches as necessary at the central site and at member library sites.

Currently, most member libraries connected to OWLSnet via the BCN are connected with 3.0 mbps or 5.0 mbps circuits. One library has been approved for a 10 mbps circuit, and it’s likely that others will be approved for 10 mbps in the near future. It was hoped that all member library connections would be increased to 20 mbps as a result of a federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant received by the Wisconsin Department of Administration. However, the state decided not to accept the grant.

OWLSnet currently has a 100 mbps circuit to aggregate member library traffic on its WAN. In 2010 OWLSnet changed Internet service providers from NTD to WiscNet. OWLSnet currently has a 100 mbps circuit for Internet traffic between OWLSnet and WiscNet. It is likely that OWLSnet’s WAN and Internet bandwidth will need to be increased within the years this plan covers.

The Brown County Library and its branches are in a wide area network that is supported by the Brown County Information Services Department through a contract for county-wide service through AT&T. Fiber lines have been installed in many areas of the county to enhance the network, including to most of the libraries. In 2010, the Brown County library moved to a Voice Over I.P. (VOIP) system, replacing the countywide Centrex service.

In response to member library requests, OWLSnet began installing wireless networks in OWLSnet member libraries in both systems in 2007. Currently, forty-two sites make wireless Internet service available to patrons. Also in response to member library demand, OWLSnet began offering SAM workstation management software in 2008. Currently, thirty-seven OWLSnet member libraries are using SAM to manage public Internet computers. Separately, NFLS worked with the Brown County Library to support wireless installation in Brown County Library branches, and contracted with the SAM vendor to install SAM workstation management software in 2009 in Brown County branch libraries. In 2013, the Brown County Library upgraded from SAM to the ALPS print management and workstation reservation system.

OWLSnet provides NFLS members with automated library functions, Internet access, and web-based information resources. The Innovative Interfaces Millennium automation system is used to provide circulation control, a central bibliographic database, a central patron database, management reports, an online public access catalog (InfoSoup), overdue and reserve notices via e-mail, resource sharing between all libraries in the consortium, Z39.50 search and retrieval, and acquisitions functions to member libraries. Through the OWLSnet network, member libraries are provided with training, cataloging services, technical support, a network library card program, OCLC updating, a new materials database, supplemental online databases, e-mail service, and antivirus and security software. Web hosting services previously maintained by OWLS for OWLSnet members was discontinued for NFLS OWLSnet member libraries, and NFLS contracted for web hosting and web development assistance for all NFLS member libraries, including the Brown County Library.

Similarly, the Brown County Library provides its branch libraries with automated library functions, Internet access, and web-based information resources; including all of those available through the OWLSnet ILS (InfoSoup), using the SirsiDynix ILS. The Brown County Library SirsiDynix ILS provides circulation control, central bibliographic and patron databases, management reports, and an online public access catalog. A self-check system using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and automated materials handling (AMH) check-in are in use at the Central location of the Brown County Library. RFID check-out is expanding to all Brown County Library locations, and the Weyers-Hilliard Branch will be installing an AMH check-in system in early 2014. Brown County branch libraries receive training, cataloging services, technical support, a countywide library card program, e-mail service, and antivirus and security software for staff and patron computers. The Brown County Library maintains a close relationship with the Brown County Information Services Department, which hosts the automation server, county web server, and maintains all staff and public PC’s and printers.

Each of the Brown County branch libraries is connected to the Internet through the Brown County Information Services Department, which maintains fiber optic lines for most of the libraries. Internet access and e-mail are also handled on a countywide basis through Information Services. The Brown County Information Services Department maintains a contract with AT&T for the fiber optic service, and also contracts for filtering of all county-owned and supported computers. Filtering is maintained through a separate server managed by the Information Services Department.

The development of the OWLSnet consortium has led to an explosive increase in the volume of resource sharing between libraries in both systems. In 2012, 953,344 items were shared among OWLSnet members as a result of placing and filling holds using the ILS. The workload associated with handling this volume of materials has become a significant burden for OWLS, NFLS, and many member libraries. Because the growth of resource sharing had become unsustainable, OWLSnet member libraries voted in 2009 to reduce the maximum number of holds allowed to 15 per patron in order to reduce the dramatic growth in resource sharing among OWLSnet libraries. In 2012, for the first time in OWLSnet history, resource sharing among member libraries decreased, and has continued to decrease during 2013. It is likely that this decrease is due to fewer physical items being added to member library collections coupled with the increase in adding to the populardigital collections.

In addition to participating in the OWLSnet shared automation network, NFLS does participate in and sponsor a number of other technology related activities and services. NFLS staff members provide hands on training to member librarians in a wide variety of technology related issues. Staff members also assist member libraries with general ILL and specific OCLC WorldCat, WisCat and BadgerCat training, technology support, and consulting assistance in many areas, as well as providing support for vendors to develop and maintain member library web sites. NFLS maintains a dedicated system web site with links to professional and library related web sites. An NFLS staff member also maintains a general blog for librarians called “NicBits” ( and one for children’s librarians called “Little NicBits” (