For Immediate Release
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Dr. J. Richard Madaus Executive Director, CCLA (850) 922-6044 rmadaus@ccla.lib.fl.us |
Diane Solomon Executive Director, TBLC (813) 622-8252 solomod@tblc.org |
August 29, 2002 - Tallahassee, FL
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A joint project of the College Center for Library Automation (CCLA) and the Tampa Bay Library Consortium (TBLC) has been awarded a $339,000 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant. The grant will provide for the collaborative development and delivery of live virtual online reference services to over four million library patrons throughout Florida. Initial implementation is anticipated for spring 2003. "This grant builds on a long tradition of collaboration between libraries in Florida," commented Dr. Richard Madaus, CCLA's Executive Director. "The goal of this new service is to ensure that library users have access to quality, live help services in real time, regardless of the library they use. The launch of this service continues Florida's national leadership in the library services and technology arena." Under the terms of the grant, CCLA will purchase and enhance Internet-based library user communications software, and maintain the service's infrastructure for TBLC and community college campus libraries participating in the project. The two groups, along with representation from the State Library of Florida, will collaborate to offer online help services that provide their patrons with fast, convenient access to a library professional that can offer one-on-one online interaction and teaching sessions for navigating an increasingly complex online research environment. The librarian can link with the patron to see what the patron sees, provide instruction using a live chat session, help the patron locate information, and provide professional guidance on how to use that information—all in a real-time, interactive, virtual environment. Remarked TBLC Executive Director Diane Solomon, "The focus of this new service is to provide online users with an all-important human element when trying to locate and use online databases and other electronic resources, and to offer that same high quality service regardless of whether the user comes from the academic or public library sector. For TBLC libraries, it is a natural extension of our 'Anywhere—Anytime' virtual library, and one that benefits from the added expertise of academic librarians." The project will be funded, in part, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by the State Library of Florida. It will serve as a pilot program designed to provide the Florida Library Network Council (FLNC) with information about cost, procedures, and operations for a virtual reference service component of a larger Florida Virtual Library to serve all Florida citizens. An Advisory Committee comprised of representatives from community college and TBLC libraries, the State Library of Florida, and the FLNC will provide guidance for the project's development and implementation. Added Barratt Wilkins, Director of the Division of Library and Information Services, "This will serve as the prototype online reference service—one viewed as a critical cornerstone of a larger Florida Virtual Library, proposed by the FLNC, that would serve every citizen in Florida. Libraries provide the foundation for lifelong learning and a service such as this demonstrates a clear commitment to delivering that learning experience to all citizens, at any time and from any location they choose. About CCLA and TBLC CCLA operates the statewide Library Information Network for Community Colleges (LINCC) and associated Web-based information portal, LINCCWeb, from its headquarters in Tallahassee, Florida. As an administered program of the Florida Department of Education's Division of Community Colleges, CCLA serves 28 community colleges and 70 campus libraries in 57 cities throughout Florida. Online at: www.ccla.lib.fl.us and www.linccweb.org. TBLC is a nonprofit multi-type library cooperative comprising 93 member libraries serving twelve west central Florida counties. TBLC member libraries include 6 community colleges, 3 State University System libraries, 25 private academic colleges and universities, 4 public school systems, 41 public and 14 special libraries. TBLC's Anywhere—Anytime virtual library includes Alleycat, a union catalog of over 40 libraries in west central Florida. Online at: www.tblc.org and http://alleycat.tblc.org. |
Page updated:
30 August 2002