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Ohio Public Library Information Network

OPLIN Mission, Goals and Objectives

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.

Abstract

OPLIN's Mission, Goals, and Objectives will serve as a public document describing OPLIN. The complete document with Activities will serve as the OPLIN strategic plan through June 30, 2007. Subsequent versions of the strategic plan will be discussed at the annual Board retreat each spring and will take effect each year on July 1.

This document also supports two of the "Targets" in the State Library of Ohio FY2007-2009 Business Plan, namely:

Target 2) "The State Library will serve as a resource to the library community by providing training, consultation and statewide projects which will enhance library service to Ohio residents"; and

Target 3) "The State Library will be a statewide resource in partnership with local libraries to provide library service to Ohio residents. Our emphasis will be on 'virtual' information to meet the anytime, anywhere needs of Ohio residents."

Goal 1: 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 1.1: Provide an Internet connection to every 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 95% of the time.

Objective 1.2: 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 at least .01 million bits per second (Mbps) bandwidth and circuit capacity is available for every public workstation and an additional .015 Mbps bandwidth and circuit capacity is available for every staff workstation in a public library system, 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, but if a circuit is replaced for other reasons the capacity of the new circuit should not exceed this benchmark by more than 20%, if feasible. If a library chooses to purchase a larger circuit, OPLIN will endeavor to provide financial assistance up to the amount of the cost of a circuit meeting this benchmark.

Objective 1.3: Assist Ohio public library systems with their branch connections

OPLIN will:

  • assist Ohio public library systems with connecting their branches; and

  • assist libraries with obtaining networking equipment as cost-effectively as possible.

OPLIN provides no direct financial assistance with connecting branch libraries to the Internet.

This objective is achieved if 95% of Ohio public library branches have an Internet connection with at least 128Kbps download capacity.

Objective 1.4: 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 2: 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 2.1: 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 and library-paid contracts.

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; Ohio government information; a general encyclopedia; biographies; health information; business information; and readers' advisory information.

Objective 2.2: 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.

Objective 2.3: Increase marketing and promotion of OPLIN 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 the public and to public library staff; and

  • assist Ohio public libraries with the promotion of OPLIN resources to their users.

This objective is achieved if at least two marketing activities are initiated each year.

Goal 3: Assist public libraries with the implementation of World Wide Web technologies

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

Background:

This is a relatively new role for OPLIN, but one which is becoming increasing important as libraries struggle to remain relevant in the rapidly changing environment of the World Wide Web. This goal is of particular benefit to the smaller public libraries.

Objective 3.1: Inform public libraries of new developments in web technologies

OPLIN will:

  • use a variety of methods to actively disseminate information about new web technologies to Ohio public libraries.

This objective is achieved if at least three messages about new technologies are distributed to public libraries each month.

Objective 3.2: Implement and test new web technologies

OPLIN will:

  • maintain a testing environment for implementing and experimenting with new web technologies; and

  • publish reports on the results of these tests to the Ohio public library community.

This objective is achieved if at least two new technology reports are published every year.

Objective 3.3: Provide web hosting services for public libraries

OPLIN will:

  • host a web site for public libraries that request it, at no cost to the library; and

  • provide a generic public library home page template incorporating advanced web technologies.

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

Note

These goals and objectives are subject to change by the OPLIN Board without notice.