November 19, 2015
Topic:  Eperiodicals
Note:
To see a visual comparison of Flipster/EBSCO, Zinio/Recorded Books and Overdrive's eperiodical options for JCLC, please view this spreadsheet.

Attendees:
Shannon, Hoover
Theresa, Hoover
Terri, Vestavia Hills
David, BPL
Debbie, Leeds
Jon, Avondale
Laura, BPL Central

Most of the meeting was devoted to Fritz Schanz of Overdrive informing us of Overdrive Emagazine offering.  Overdrive has a true consortium model.  Currently, they handle CamillaNet in the state of Alabama, which is a consortium of a great number libraries of all sizes across the state.  

Most libraries have between 75-100 different titles with an average subscription price of $70 per magazine.  This seems to be an adequate amount for most libraries.  On Overdrive, there are simultaneous use but those uses are metered.  The lending limits are determined by each library.

Overdrive has had an ongoing partnership with Barnes & Noble for the past year.  The partnership allows Overdrive to use the Nook app platform for Emagazines.  (They do have USA Today and WSJ newspapers, too.)

One note:  Overdrive Nook app is not compatible with Windows 7, which is prevalent at BPL.  Also, there is no option, as with Epub books via Overdrive, to "read online".  All Emagazines are downloaded into the Nook app.

There is a text-to-speech option that could be very useful.  Patrons can manipulate the text size and, of course, see a full spread via the Nook app.

Overdrive is adding new subscriptions everyday and the Overdrive platform is a proven model throughout JCLC.  

All Eperiodical vendor offerings will be discussed by the JCLC Directors to see what model works best for the cooperative.  

To see a complete list of what periodical titles are available through Flipster (EBSCO), visit this website.  For an up-to-date listing of both Zinio (Recorded Books) and Overdrive, refer to these Excel spreadsheets:  Zinio and Overdrive.

NEXT MEETING:  Thursday, November 19, 2015 at 10 am at the Hoover Public Library's Theatre Level Meeting Rooms
Topic:  Conclusion of our months-long research into eperiodical vendors and their products.  First:  Overdrive's Nook Newsstand presentation by Fritz Schanz (30-40 minutes), Then: Compare/contrast all vendors.  [Zinio/Recorded Books vs. Flipster/EBSCO vs. Overdrive's Nook Newsstand]

Updated!  2016 Tentative Schedule:
(Topics subject & locations of meetings subject to change)

January 21, 2016 at Hoover Library
  Topic:  Reference Resources, Or "should it stay or should it go?"
  Visitor:  Greg Sumner, Mergent Inc., Product Review: Intellect  (financial database)

March 17, 2016 at Vestavia Hills Library
  Topic:  Adult Outreach, Collections, Programs, 

May 19, 2016 at Hoover Library
  Topic:  Using Social Media to Your Advantage

July 21, 2016 at Hoover Library
  Topic:  Employment Search Support

September 15, 2016 at Hoover Library
  Topic:  Maker Spaces & Unique Places/Collections

November 17, 2016 at Hoover Library
  Topic:  Library PR, promoting events, collections, etc.

September 17, 2015 Adult Services Roundtable Meeting Minutes

In attendance:
Jaclyn, Southside
Leslie, BPL
Terri, Vestavia Hills
Theresa, Hoover
Shannon, Hoover
Elizabeth, JCLC
Holley, EOL
Patricia, Hoover
Dianne, Bessemer
Deidre, Bessemer
Maura, Trussville
Gina, Gardendale
Angie, Gardendale
Leigh, North B'ham
Jon, Avondale

Topic:  Sierra's Decision Center (DC) Module, Collection Analysis Tool 

Speaker:  Elizabeth Swift with Jefferson County Library Cooperative

To access DC, visit http://dc-jeffa.iii.com.  You can also access Decision Center through the JCLC Intranet.  There is a link under Sierra.  Any username & password combination used to sign into Sierra should work to enter into DC.  Important to know:  there is nothing you can do to "break" the system.  

This is what the front page of Sierra's Decision Center looks like.

Elizabeth encourages you to get into the module and experiment.  Some search results will be similar to those performed through "Create Lists" but others can pinpoint things Create Lists cannot.  The only way to learn to effectively utilize DC is to use it.  

The four parts to DC are:  Evaluation, Development, Balancing and Maintenance.  These are free for anyone to explore. 

Useful Note:  If you hover over anything on the page within DC, a popup explaining its purpose will appear.  Very useful when working out how to use each module.

Other specifics that are useful:  a)  "Year-to-date" means from January to current date.  b)  Physical formats are the ITypes of items, but not all ITypes are individual choices within DC.  They have been grouped together by Elizabeth.  Like codes are together.  If you need to analyze more discreetly, please inform Elizabeth and she can work to implement your IType needs.  c)  There is currently no ability to create reports by Call Numbers --YET.  As soon as that capability becomes available, Elizabeth will let us know.  d)  "Collections" within the module are the Location Codes.

First:  Evaluation-  There are four subsets to this module. Acquisitions, which is only used by BPL and EOL.  Then there is Circulation, which has numerous useful subsets that determine such things as circulation by transaction type, circulation by patron postal code, etc.  Next useful module is Collection.  This allows you to look at your collection's circulation such as item trends and turnover. Finally within Evaluation is Encore, this allows you to look at how patrons are using the public face of Sierra, such as what searches are most often used.

Second:  Development-  the two sections here are Budget and Selection.  The Budget tool looks at how you are using your expenditures within your collection.  The search tool allows you to look back several years.  The Selection tool allows you to determine most popular/least popular authors in your collection.  It also determines supply and demand for popular titles, projecting what should be ordered in the future.  It also gives Hold-to-Item ratio buying information.

Third:  Balancing- the only working component here is Collection Use.  This is used to evaluate usage of your collection for making purchasing and weeding decisions and allows you to analyze the usage of your collection by types.

Fourth:  Maintenance-  within this, useful tools are Weeding and Clean-up.  Weeding gives you high circulating items and low circulating items.  Clean-up gives you Missing items, but are not necessarily marked as missing in Sierra.  It shows you In Transit/On the Holdshelf items that have lingered for longer than set periods of time so that you can track items down.  These tools will also include useful information about an item such as it being last copy in your branch and/or the system.  You can analyze the age of your collection and determine supply and demand.

Search Results:  a) Everything created from searches within modules can be exported.  All are able to export into Excel files and some are able to export as .pdfs.  Within the exported file, you will be able to sort any column.  b)  Some search results can be exported into Create Lists as well.


Flipster Representative:  Kirk Langlois 


Kirk spoke briefly on EBSCO's eperiodical product called "Flipster".  As of now, BPL and its branches along with EOL have subscriptions to this online tool and app.  Basics to know:  No platform fee, 5% service fee, created only for the Library market (unlike other tools created as a consumer product).  Most periodicals have a subscription fee for unlimited usage.  A few magazines have "100 simultaneous users" limitation, but even the largest library systems currently using Flipster have not needed more than that.  They also have Time, Inc. periodicals which include some of the most popular titles such as People, Southern Living, Sports Illustrated, Cosmopolitan and Consumer Reports. Another item worthy of note, if you currently get your hard copy periodicals via EBSCO, you automatically receive a 25% discount on Flipster costs.  According to Kirk, the app installation & use is very user-friendly and works on all electronic devices.  Full page, full text & photos are accessible through Flipster.

NEXT MEETING:  Thursday, November 19, 2015 at 10 am at the Hoover Public Library's Theatre Level Meeting Rooms
Topic:  Conclusion of our months-long research into eperiodical vendors and their products.  First:  Overdrive's Nook Newsstand presentation by Fritz Schanz (30-40 minutes), Then: Compare/contrast all vendors.  [Zinio/Recorded Books vs. Flipster/EBSCO vs. Overdrive's Nook Newsstand]

2016 Tentative Schedule:
(Topics subject & locations of meetings subject to change)

January 21, 2016 at Hoover Library
  Topic:  Employment Search Support

March 17, 2016 at Vestavia Hills Library
  Topic:  Adult Outreach, Collections, Programs, 

May 19, 2016 at Hoover Library
  Topic:  Using Social Media to Your Advantage

July 21, 2016 at Hoover Library
  Topic:  Reference Resources, Or "should it stay or should it go?"

September 15, 2016 at Hoover Library
  Topic:  Maker Spaces & Unique Places/Collections

November 17, 2016 at Hoover Library
  Topic:  Library PR, promoting events, collections, etc.

September 11, 2015

Hopefully, you were lucky enough to participate in JCPLA's Staff Day on Friday, August 28th.  There were so many great presentations!  I presented a slideshow entitled, "Bienvenitos, Bonjour, Willkomen...Attracting Foreign Language Speakers to your Library."  I'm hoping it will give you some ideas for bringing in more patrons to your library.  Enjoy the slideshow loaded onto Dropbox.  I hope with all our ideas put together, we can reach more foreign language patrons.  At the end, there is a new Spanish-language YouTube instructional video on such things as signing up for a library card and basic services, rules and regulations.  Feel free to recommend it.  Some of the rules are Hoover-specific, but you can get an idea of what we can do for our patrons.  

If you have any suggestions, corrections, additions to either the presentation or the video, please post.

Also, everyone is invited to the Adult Services Roundtable discussion taking place on Thursday, September 17th at 10 am at the Hoover Library's Theatre Level Meeting Rooms.  We will be discussing Sierra's Decision Center module with guest Elizabeth Swift with the cooperative.  Thank you!

July 16, 2015

Topic:  eResources and ePeriodicals in particular

NEXT MEETING:  Thursday, September 17, 10 am, Hoover Public Library

TOPIC:  Sierra Decision Center (Collection Development Tool)

SPEAKER:  Elizabeth Swift

Possible Guest: Flipster representative or Overdrive Periodicals representative

Attendees:

Shannon, Hoover

Samuel, FPW

Leslie, Central

Maura, Trussville

Terri, Vestavia

Jim, Central

Allie, Central

Jon, Avondale

Debbie, Leeds

David, Central

Jiemin, Central

Caleb, Central

Catherine, Central

Karyn, Central

Jared, Central

Michele, Irondale

Katie, EOM

Laura, Central

The first thing we discussed was the BPL Central Branch's online database of Chinese language resources.  Because Sierra does not allow the use of Chinese characters, many patrons were not able to find what they were looking for within the catalog.  Jiemin, who works downtown and has been responsible for creating and building the Chinese-language collection, has developed an accessible database using Anobi.com.  This acts like GoodReads or LibraryThing.  Patrons can access by visiting:   anobii.com/bplchinese/books.   It is very easy to use and can be accessed anywhere.

We also discussed the RosettaStone online product and compared it to Mango Languages.  For now, only Emmet O’Neal subscribes to Rosetta Stone online.  

Mango Basic (BPL) offers five foreign languages:  Spanish, French, German, Chinese and Japanese as well as English for Spanish Speakers.  Mango Deluxe (HPL, HW, VH & TR) offers 65 foreign languages, English for speakers of 18 native languages, generic ESL, 36 specialty mini-courses (example:  Oktoberfest for German) and captioned foreign films. 

Evidently, it is hard to obtain user statistics for Rosetta Stone.  On the other hand, Mango makes it relatively easy.  Patrons seem to like Mango for its ease of use.  Mango is very good for basic language learning needed for travel or conversational language usage.  Please note, if your library does not subscribe to either Rosetta Stone or Mango Languages, any patron can access DuoLingo.com, which is a free online learning database.

Katie (EOM) talked about Flipster, the vendor of ePeriodicals for Emmet O’Neal and all the BPL branches.  “Flipster is EBSCO’s next-generation digital magazine solution that makes it easy for you to read your favorite magazines on your computer or mobile device.”  Our representatives are Kirk Langlois and Lauren Weyburn.

·         Supported platforms include iOS and Android as well as Kindle Fire – Flipster is an app downloaded through iTunes or Google Play.

·         Users read from the Flipster site, or they can choose “open in app” and download the magazine to read for later.

·         No platform fees

·         Instant access

·         Simple sign in – no additional accounts needed

·         Online and offline access

·         Simultaneous users – not sure if this is strictly unlimited.  (Emmet O’Neal’s limit for most magazines is 500. We usually have 500 hits total per month across all subscriptions. Not sure if this number is increased based on the size of the subscription or not.)

·         Flexible magazine subscription options

·         Seamless user authentication

·         App has zoom for easy readability

·         Searching within a magazine is available on the desktop and mobile versions

·         Printing is available when on a desktop or laptop, but not from a mobile device or iPad.

·         Back issues available from the start of the subscription (accrued)

·         Top magazines:  Consumer Reports, People, Mental Floss, Southern Living and Sports Illustrated

Samuel (FPW) told us that he tried several times to get a representative from Magzter to contact him, but to no avail.  By checking out their website, I found that as of June 2014, Magzter began offering libraries an online product.  “The Magzter Digital Library Program allows patrons to check out and read popular domestic and international consumer titles in digital format when libraries participate…”  They “have no upfront cost and it enables patrons to read the magazine on any device.”  According to press releases, “Magzter gives libraries unlimited checkouts and usage details by title and user, which assists in the ability to quantify digital collection purchases.”

As a follow-up, I have submitted more questions on their website in order to answer more questions about the product.  When they provide answers, I will post an update.

Two representatives from Zinio (Recorded Books) came to the meeting, Mike Poynter and Paula Roman, Regional Mgr.  Currently, Homewood, Hoover, Vestavia Hills and Irondale all have subscriptions to Zinio.  There is a platform fee and a magazine-by-magazine content fee.  For example, JCLC has an average of 4.5 million items/year circulation, equaling a $35,000/year platform fee.

The company is currently in negotiations to obtain Time, Inc., whose magazines include People, Sports Illustrated, Cooking Light and Southern Living.

·         JCLC would have the ability to sort the newsstand on the front page to show whatever magazines the libraries want –which would be useful to show seasonal magazines up front.

·         Statistics are from each checkout of a magazine on any device.  It does not have to be through the app.  Magazine checkouts from a laptop or PC are included.  Patron reports include any patron who creates an account on any device.

·         Through the app, patrons would pick their home library and statistics are driven by that selection. 

·         It boasts all access with unlimited issues and all checkouts are permanent

·         Over 2,000 popular titles that can be viewed via computer or smart device  Mobile apps are available for iphone, Android and Kindle Fire

·         No checkout limits on the quantity of magazines or time limitations for checkout.  They are always available.  No holds, no waiting.

·         Content Fee equals 2 times annual subscription fee, which also doubles the number of checkouts per issue.  Example:  National Geographic is $119/year X 2 = $238/year and 400 checkouts per issue

After attending ALA in San Francisco, information was gathered about Overdrive Periodicals.  If possible, our Overdrive representative, Fritz Schanz, might be able to attend our next ASRT meeting.  From ALA, these facts are known:

·         The Overdrive magazine business model is an annual hosting fee for our consortia ($6,000) and then the consortia would have to purchase individual subscriptions to the magazines

·         The price per magazine are fixed and average about $70/title

·         The individual magazine subscriptions provide simultaneous access, but are limited to a finite number of checkouts per issue based on the magazine.  (You want more checkouts, then you have to purchaser multiple subscriptions to the magazine title.)

·         They have 1,100 periodical titles available.  (They do not currently carry Time, Inc. magazines, i.e. People, Sports Illustrated, Time, Southern Living, etc.)

·         Circulations are counted by the patron checkout of the magazine (their p-type)

In our quest to look into eperiodicals, we have four vendors:

Zinio:  Shannon, Hoover
Flipster:  Katie, EOM
Magzter:  Samuel, FPW
OverDrive Nook Newstand:  Terri, Vestavia

Topic: Adult Summer Reading

Today we met to talk about Adult Summer Reading Programs (ASR).
  
Attendees included:
Shannon, Hoover
Krysten, Hoover
Michele, Irondale
Maura, Trussville
Dianne, Bessemer
Gina, Gardendale
Jon, Avondale
Mondretta, Leeds

We talked about several techniques to promote ASR among patrons along with ideas for executing the programs. Below are some ideas brought before the roundtable:

• Make a big deal of recognizing partners in the community who donate prizes. (The more you do this, the more businesses will come to you to participate!)
• Put your reading log online for patrons so they can participate from home  (Check out Hoover's online reading log: http://www.hooverlibrary.org/sites/default/files/shared-files/2015_asr_bw_reading_log.pdf)
• Reader’s Bingo:  Hoover encourages a different genre each summer by offering “Bingo” cards with a variety of options. See the Science Fiction/Fantasy and Romance Bingo examples:
  
• Take pictures of winners of prizes for Facebook postings.
• Encourage reading across formats (non-library material, ebooks, audiobooks, graphic novels, etc.)
• Heavily promote “grown-up” prizes (gift cards for gas & groceries are VERY popular – any amount is appreciated!)
• Promote “goodies for grown-ups” out in the community.
• Encourage patrons to submit reviews of books online through the online catalog (Encore)
• Encourage staff with incentives so they will market the program to patrons. (Everyone loves a cookie!)
• Create “New Summer Reading” bibliographies to make it easier for patrons to select a book.
• Give positive reinforcement to patrons for reading even small number of books (Gardendale gives things like candy to those adults who complete one book.  Avondale does small weekly drawings.)
• Offer adult programs throughout the summer to encourage participation.  Examples include:

• Avondale has area artists demonstrate different techniques.
• Gardendale has knitting and gardening programs planned.
• Eastwood is preparing programs on in-state vacation alternatives.
• Trussville is offering quilting, beekeeping, healthy cooking alternatives, and DIY projects.
• For more ideas for adult programs, see the link for the Google Docs spreadsheet link labeled "ASRT Programming Resource" on this page.

For other resources for investigating ASR ideas along with some good examples of online ASR, consult the list below:

• Adult Winter Reading Program at Normal Public Library, Normal, IL:            http://www.normalpl.org/activities/adults/wrp/
• ALA Library Summer Reading Programs (with themes, grants, resources & benefits):      http://www.ala.org/tools/libfactsheets/alalibraryfactsheet1
• Bozeman Public Library Adult Program:  http://www.bozemanlibrary.org/news/page.php?pageID=99
• Collaborative Summer Library Program, 2015 Adult Program:  Escape the Ordinary:  http://www.cslpreads.org
•   “Marketing Adult Reading Programs to the Public,” Marketing Library Services, April/May 1999.      http://www.infotoday.com/mls/apr99/story.htm
• OCLC WebJunction Article: Adult Reading Program at the New Milford Public  https://www.webjunction.org/documents/webjunction/Adult_Reading_Program_at_the_New_Milford_Public_Library.html
• Washington County, Hillsboro, Oregon:  http://www.wccls.org/srp/adults
•  ALA Big Read:  http://bigreadresources.pbworks.com
• Alabama Humanities Foundation:   http://www.ahf.net
•  Library Success Stories / Best Practices for Adult Programming:   http://www.libsuccess.org/index.php?title=Programs_for_Adults
•  ALA's Public Programs Office (with grant opportunities):  http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/ppo/index.cfm
• The Programming Librarian:  http://www.programminglibrarian.org
• Adult Reading Incentive Programs on a Shoestring Budget:   http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.cla-net.org/resource/resmgr/imported/ReadingIncentivePrograms.pdf
• Check out Random House's Newsletter recommending Adult Summer Reading activities:  http://www.scribd.com/doc/266141054/Summer-Book-Favorites-Programs-Onesheet#.VV9ZELlVikp

Our Next Meeting:

Thursday, July 16th at 10 am, 

Hoover Public Library, Theatre Level Meeting Rooms

Topic:  eResources in general, specifically ePeriodicals.