[Libs-Or] Invitation to Participate in the LSTA 5-Year Plan Evaluation

[Jim Scheppke]

Date: September 5, 2006
 
To:   Oregon Library Community
 
From:  Jim Scheppke, State Librarian
 
Subject: Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Evaluation
 
The Oregon State Library cordially invites you to participate in one of a
series of eight focus groups that will be held in locations throughout the
state between October 2-6, 2006.  These sessions are part of a statewide
effort to evaluate the impact of our LSTA program on library services under
the Five-Year State Plan 2003-2008.
 
We would appreciate hearing your thoughts about the current five-year plan
(http://oregon.gov/OSL/LD/LSTA/5yrStatePlan03-08.pdf), the administration of
the program, and the way LSTA funds are used in Oregon.  We hope you will
share your observations of the impact of LSTA funds in your area and what
future directions the Five-Year Plan and LSTA program should include.
Information on competitive projects funded under Oregon's LSTA program can
be found on our website: http://oregon.gov/OSL/LD/grantmainalt.shtml.
 
In Oregon, LSTA funds support the collaborative summer reading program,
statewide database licensing subsidies, the L-Net e-reference service, the
Oregon School Library Information System, State Library consulting programs,
and around $800,000 annually in competitive grants. Grant projects have
included expanding regional resource sharing systems such the Sage Library
System, developing a content management system for small libraries
(Plinkit), extending service to underserved groups such as Spanish-speaking
populations, encouraging larger units of service through groups such as the
Linn Library League, and increasing online access to library materials such
as an historic index to the Oregonian, and Portland local government
planning documents.
 
The Oregon State Library has contracted with Himmel & Wilson, Library
Consultants, to carry out Oregon's evaluation.  They will be facilitating
the eight focus group sessions in locations below.  Whether you want to
voice support for the continuation of the LSTA program as it is, or whether
you want to suggest changes to the program, please plan to attend one of the
sessions to share your thoughts and opinions.  If you are unable to attend a
focus group session, Himmel & Wilson will also be doing a web-based survey
later in fall to solicit further comment from everyone, as well as
interviewing 25 library leaders directly.  The results of the evaluation
will factor into the development of Oregon's next five-year state plan for
LSTA, anticipated to take place from March to June, 2007.
 


Himmel & Wilson Focus Group Locations

 
 10/2    In Lincoln City  10:00-12:00 am
            DRIFTWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY
            801 SW Highway 101, Suite 201
            Lincoln City 97367-2720
            (541) 996-2277
 
10/2     In Portland  3:00-5:00 pm
            MIDLAND REGIONAL BRANCH LIBRARY OF MULTNOMAH COUNTY LIBRARY
            805 SE 122nd Ave
            Portland 97233-1107
            (503) 988-5392
            PARKING on South edge of parking lot preferred
 
10/2     In Eugene  9:00-11:00 am
            EUGENE PUBLIC LIBRARY
            100 West 10th Ave
            Eugene, OR  97401-3035
            (541) 682-5450
            PARKING meters located in basement garage
 
10/2     In Roseburg  2:30-4:30 pm
            Ford Community Room
            DOUGLAS COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM
            1409 NE Diamond Lake Blvd
            Roseburg, OR 97470
            (541) 440-4311
            PARKING is in the lot across Fowler St., east of the Library.
 
10/3     In Bend 2:00-4:00 pm
            Brooks Resources Room
            BEND PUBLIC LIBRARY
            601 NW Wall St.
            Bend, OR 97701
            (541) 388-6677
            
10/3     In The Dalles 10:00 am-12:00 pm
            THE DALLES-WASCO COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
            722 Court St
            The Dalles, OR 97058-2270
            (541) 296-2815
 
10/5     In Hermiston 10:00 am-12:00 pm
            HERMISTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
            235 E Gladys Ave
            Hermiston, OR 97838-1827
            (541) 567-2882
            PARKING in back, enter library meeting room in back
 
10/6     In Baker City   9-11 am
            (teleconference with TVCC, Burns, Lakeview)
            BAKER COUNTY LIBRARY DISTRICT
            2400 Resort St
            Baker City, OR  97814-2798
            (541) 523-6419