Ohio Public Library Information Network

Strategic Plan, FY 2009-2011

Mission

Statement:: The MISSION of the Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN) is to provide equal access to electronic information for all Ohio citizens, regardless of format and regardless of location of the user.

OPLIN will accomplish this mission by purchasing Internet connections for Ohio public library systems, by subscribing to information databases for all the residents of Ohio who are served by public libraries, and by helping Ohio public libraries deliver information to their users.

Purpose

The Ohio Public Library Information Network is defined in the Ohio Revised Code as "... an independent agency within the state library of Ohio, for the purpose of ensuring equity of access to electronic information for all residents of this state." (ORC Sec. 3375.65)

This equity of access is achieved by providing services to the public library systems of Ohio, which then provide direct services to Ohio residents. OPLIN connects the public library systems to the Internet so they can provide information and services to the public by way of the Internet. OPLIN partners with Libraries Connect Ohio to purchase a basic collection of information databases, known as the Ohio Web Library, which is available to Ohio residents either through the web sites of the public libraries or directly through the ohioweblibrary.org website, which is maintained by OPLIN. Finally, OPLIN provides assistance with some Internet technologies to public libraries that request it.

Collaboration

In order to provide services as efficiently as possible, OPLIN actively seeks strategic and purposeful collaborations with other institutions providing direct or indirect services to public libraries. These collaborations may take the form of partnering among the institutions, sharing common basic functions, and/or development of coordinated approaches to providing services, while maintaining the separate identities of the institutions.

Funding Environment

OPLIN funding from the establishment of the network in the FY 1995 budget bill through FY 2007 varied between $5 million and $8 million each year, with a significant portion of the budget coming in the form of "spending authority" for funds collected from sources other than the Ohio General Revenue Fund (GRF). From FY 2005 through FY 2007 OPLIN received $4.33 million in GRF; in February 2008 this was reduced by 10%, applied to FY 2008, and this same 90% funding level carried into FY 2009, until GRF funding was reduced by an additional 4.75% early in September 2008. The Office of Budget and Management (OBM) currently anticipates that OPLIN GRF funding in FY 2010 will be reduced an additional 10% over July 2008 funding, putting OPLIN at 81% of the FY 2007 funding level, and that this level of funding will continue through FY 2011. To date, OPLIN has been able to maintain most services by drawing on reserves of E-rate reimbursements; however, these reserves will be depleted during FY 2011 if there is no change in current levels of funding and expenditures.

This document provides details of OPLIN's strategic plan for meeting its purpose within this challenging funding environment. In general, OPLIN intends to continue to fulfill its basic mission to Ohio public libraries and citizens at no charge, but current free services are subject to reductions, and enhanced, or "premium," services may be offered for a fee to generate new revenue. Examples of possible premium services are identified as such within the objectives listed in this document; in all cases, premium services are intended to ultimately improve the services offered by public libraries and/or result in cash savings for public libraries.

Goal: Internet

Connect Ohio public libraries to the Internet

OPLIN will connect Ohio public libraries to the Internet so Ohioans can access the diverse resources of Ohio's public libraries and, through the libraries, access international, federal, state, regional, and local information resources.

Background:
One of the unusual characteristics of OPLIN is the fact that it provides and manages a physical network connecting libraries to the Internet; most other library "information networks" primarily deliver content and services over a physical network provided by some other organization. When OPLIN was established in 1995-96, the network was built from copper-wire "T1" circuits. In 2006, fiber-optic "Ethernet" circuits began replacing the older T1 circuits.

Objective: Provide an adequate Internet connection to every public library system

OPLIN will:

provide a backbone of broadband telecommunications to every Ohio public library system;
maintain the health of the network, with a goal of no failures or bottlenecks, to support the activities of libraries and their users; and
prevent degradation of network service.

This objective is achieved if every library system has an Internet connection that is working properly at least 99% of the time.

Objective: Provide Internet bandwidth to every Ohio public library system

OPLIN will:

provide Internet access bandwidth and circuit capacity to each Ohio public library system proportional to the library system's needs; and
provide circuits for chartered regional libraries and the State Library sized to accommodate the services they provide to their customers (subject to OPLIN Board review).

This objective is achieved if every Ohio public library has an Internet connection that is large enough to insure that the library's average circuit utilization does not exceed 80% during peak afternoon hours, and regional libraries and the State Library are able to provide reasonable Internet services as requested by their customers. No current circuits will be replaced with smaller circuits simply to meet this benchmark. If a library chooses to purchase a larger circuit than the one provided by OPLIN, OPLIN will endeavor to provide financial assistance up to the amount of the cost of a circuit meeting this benchmark.

Objective: Protect the network from intrusion

OPLIN will:

protect the network core from malicious network activity;
take proactive steps to neutralize attacks on OPLIN circuits; and
advise libraries on steps they can take to protect their local area networks from intrusion.

This objective is achieved if the network core is protected by a firewall and all anti-malware and intrusion-detection software is up to date.

Goal: Databases

Provide selected electronic information

OPLIN will provide access to high-quality databases of electronic information for Ohio's public libraries and for all Ohioans.

Background:
Providing answers to questions is a basic service of public libraries; currently this service may be delivered in-library, using print and electronic resources, or remotely, generally using electronic resources. Because of the importance of electronic resources, one of OPLIN's main functions has always been to provide access to high-quality electronic information databases.

Objective: Provide online subscriptions to high-quality databases of electronic information

OPLIN will:

provide selected electronic database content to all Ohio public libraries and to all Ohioans via a combination of funding, including grants.

This objective is achieved if 99% of Ohio public libraries are able to provide Ohioans with free access to at least one high-quality database (each) of: full-text magazines and journals; full-text Ohio newspapers; a general encyclopedia; and health information.

Objective: Increase usage of high-quality databases

OPLIN will:

increase usage of the electronic databases, both within and outside of Ohio public library buildings.

This objective is achieved if the total number of documents retrieved from the databases increases from one fiscal year to the next.

POSSIBLE PREMIUM SERVICE:: Custom interfaces that allow libraries to provide their users with simple searching interfaces for all statewide databases, locally purchased databases, and/or the library catalogs might be provided to public libraries for a fee.

Goal: Technology Leadership

Lead public libraries in the implementation of Internet technologies

OPLIN will provide direct and indirect leadership and assistance to Ohio public libraries in the implementation of technologies that enable efficient Internet-based delivery of services to library users and all Ohioans.

Background:
This role for OPLIN is becoming increasing important as libraries struggle to remain relevant in the rapidly changing environment of the World Wide Web. This goal should be of particular benefit to the smaller public libraries.

Objective: Communicate information about Internet technologies

OPLIN will:

use a variety of means to actively disseminate information about network technologies, data security, and World Wide Web technologies to Ohio public libraries.

This objective is achieved if at least three communications about Internet technologies are available to public libraries each month.

Objective: Provide public libraries with a forum for discussion of Internet technologies

OPLIN will:

maintain at least one online environment where public library technical staff can share their experiences of implementing and experimenting with new web technologies.

This objective is achieved if at least ten discussions of new technologies take place each year among public library technical staff within OPLIN-provided online environments.

Objective: Provide web site hosting services for public libraries

OPLIN will:

provide a generic public web site incorporating advanced web technologies to any Ohio public library system that requests it, at no cost to the library; and
provide a web server for each such library to place the web site on the Internet, at no cost to the library.

This objective is achieved when a generic web site and web hosting package is available to libraries; however, revision of this objective may be considered if less than ten percent (10%) of Ohio public libraries request the web site hosting service. The extent of web services provided through web site hosting will be controlled by the resources available to OPLIN, as determined by the Executive Director.

POSSIBLE PREMIUM SERVICE:

Libraries who wish to have customized (non-generic) web sites developed and hosted for them might be charged a fee.

Goal: Marketing

Market and promote all OPLIN services and products

OPLIN will develop and refine services and products based on the needs of Ohio's public libraries and will then promote those services and products to the libraries.

Background:
Focus groups of public librarians indicate that many of them take OPLIN's services for granted. Since the public libraries are our greatest champions in the struggle to retain state funding, OPLIN should inform libraries of all the various products and services which OPLIN provides.

Objective: Determine the information technology needs of Ohio public libraries

OPLIN will:

solicit information from public librarians about their Internet technology and information resources needs; and
observe the ways in which public librarians use Internet technology and information resources.

This objective is achieved at least two new Internet technology and information resource needs are identified each year.

Objective: Increase marketing and promotion of OPLIN information resources

OPLIN will:

provide proprietary content as well as other types of information in an appealing and accessible manner;
increase and improve the promotion of OPLIN resources to public library staff; and
assist Ohio public libraries with the promotion of OPLIN information resources to their users.

This objective is achieved if at least four information resources marketing activities are initiated each year.

Objective: Increase awareness of telecommunications services

OPLIN will:

share information with Ohio public libraries about the various telecommunication services provided by OPLIN; and
call attention to the costs incurred by OPLIN to provide these services to libraries.

This objective is achieved if at least two publications each year convey information about OPLIN telecommunications services and costs to public libraries.

Note
These goals and objectives are subject to change by the OPLIN Board without notice.
Subsequent versions of the strategic plan will be discussed at the annual Board retreat each spring. This version was approved by the OPLIN Board on October 10, 2008.

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