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 ASK ONTARIO
askON / ONdemande new library training
Training is underway for the new libraries set to join Ask Ontario's askON service in September 2011. Huntsville and East Gwillimbury join 18 other public libraries in offering virtual reference to their communities and Sault College joins 11 returning colleges. More libraries have signalled their intent to join in January and others are welcome.
A strong and growing network of interns will supplement the staff of askON libraries. For the first time, library technician students and recent grads from Seneca, Mohawk and Algonquin colleges will join the interns from the MLIS programs at Toronto, Ottawa and Western universities.
Beginning summer 2011, askON has a funding plan in place and commitments of service hours necessary to sustain services for the coming year, to the end of June 2012. KO anticipates that model will see us into future years as well. Participating libraries pay a fee for service, based on population for the public libraries and number of full-time students for the college libraries. This fee covers costs of coordinating schedules, providing training and support, and managing the service. Participating libraries can expect to receive service invoices by early August.
For more information, contact Project manager Jan Dawson
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CONNECT ONTARIO
BiblioCommons savings as early adopter phase ends
Knowledge Ontario's charter subscriber agreement with BiblioCommons ends on July 31. This is the end of the early adopter phase through which we were able to offer all Ontario public libraries no-cost access to the industry leading online catalogue and social discovery service.
A renewal of the provincial license is not currently possible based on the number of Ontario public libraries participating in the service. However, in recognition of the fostering role that Knowledge Ontario played during its early days, BiblioCommons will extend preferred pricing for a year to any public library in Ontario that signs on by September 30. This preferred pricing includes the waiving of the initial implementation fee as well.
This extension offers significant savings to Ontario public libraries. Knowledge Ontario urges any Ontario library or consortium thinking about subscribing to this service in the next two years to do so now. With the offer of reduced fees, and reduced annual minimums for smaller libraries, the total cost will be less than if you subscribe later - plus you get the added bonus of having BiblioCommons up and running earlier. If you are a smaller or mid-sized library system, this is your last opportunity to take advantage of pricing for BiblioCommons otherwise only available to larger libraries - it's worth making inquiries.
BiblioCommons is working with the existing early adopter libraries to move to standalone agreements. As an additional bonus for coming on board early, the summer reading module will continue to be extended to you at no additional cost.
More information
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OUR ONTARIO
A new business model for Our Ontario
The Knowledge Ontario board of directors has determined that the future success of Our Ontario requires the transition to a new business model that can extend its reach and expand markets for its services. A transition team has been formed to lead this effort and guide Our Ontario as it explores new and expanded partnerships for its digital toolsets and search technologies. OLA executive director Shelagh Paterson will convene the transition team on behalf of the board. The transition team's report will be submitted to the KO board in late September.
In the meantime, Our Ontario toolkit services are also moving to a fee structure. Current partners are in the process of moving to that model.
For more information:  Loren Fantin, project manager Jess Posgate, project coordinator |
RESOURCE ONTARIO
Moving forward with 2012 eResources
Ontario school boards, colleges and universities have benefitted from Knowledge Ontario's collaborative licensing consortium for eResources - which has been conducted in cooperation with Ontario public libraries, to help ensure further savings. Together, all participating organizations get many more resources at a better price than they would if they went it alone, and with added leverage to increase Canadian content as well.
The 2011 eResource licensing agreements currently in place were, in fact, year one of agreements that can be renewed for up to two additional years on the same terms. Knowledge Ontario is in the process of confirming participation of sectors in moving forward with extending licenses for 2012. School boards have already completed a survey reviewing the licensed databases, demonstrating t hat the current content is highly valued. As a result, KO is in the process of issuing renewal notices for the second year, 2012. Each board will have a clear basis for indicating their continued participation.
Similarly, academic libraries are reviewing the value of the licensed databases they receive through Knowledge Ontario. Conversations are underway, and we expect to have an indication of their level of participation by late summer.
More information: K-12
Lisa Weaver
lisaradha@gmail.com
More information: academic
David Thornley
dthornley@knowledgeontario.ca
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eResources Portal
The eResources Portal was launched at the start of the school year in September 2010 to give hassle-free access to the eResources available to all Ontarians. It uses new technology that lets Ontarians avoid the need for logging on using a password or student or library card. It's been a resounding success!
- 225,000+ visitors since September
- 450,000 pageviews
- 86,409 visitors return to the site
In addition to the eResources, the portal also brings together askON and ONdemande virtual reference, Our Ontario digital collections, newspapers and government documents, and Learn Ontario's tech help tutorials. TALCO is in the process of setting up a teacher resource page in the portal to be available in September. The portal is fully bilingual with an in terface available in both English and French.
Knowledge Ontario is committed to keeping the portal available beyond December 2011. This will happen if a) enough school boards, colleges and universities remain as part of KO's consortium and together they serve enough population; and b) both KO and SOLS, who negotiates on behalf of public libraries, are able to renew licensing agreements for 2012.
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