Ohio Public Library Information Network

Strategic Plan, FY 2009-2011

Mission

Statement:

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.

OPLIN will accomplish this mission by purchasing Internet connections for Ohio public library systems, by subscribing to information databases for all the residents of Ohio who are served by public libraries, and by helping Ohio public libraries deliver information to their users.

Purpose

The Ohio Public Library Information Network is defined in the Ohio Revised Code as "... an independent agency within the state library of Ohio, for the purpose of ensuring equity of access to electronic information for all residents of this state." (ORC Sec. 3375.65)

This equity of access is achieved by providing services to the public library systems of Ohio, which then provide direct services to Ohio residents. OPLIN connects the public library systems to the Internet so they can provide information and services to the public by way of the Internet. OPLIN partners with Libraries Connect Ohio to purchase a basic collection of information databases, known as the Ohio Web Library, which is available to Ohio residents either through the web sites of the public libraries or directly through the ohioweblibrary.org website, which is maintained by OPLIN. Finally, OPLIN provides assistance with some Internet technologies to public libraries that request it.

Collaboration

In order to provide services as efficiently as possible, OPLIN actively seeks strategic and purposeful collaborations with other institutions providing direct or indirect services to public libraries. These collaborations may take the form of partnering among the institutions, sharing common basic functions, and/or development of coordinated approaches to providing services, while maintaining the separate identities of the institutions.

Goal: Internet

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.

Objective: Provide an adequate Internet connection to every public 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 99% of the time.

Objective: Provide Internet bandwidth to every Ohio public library system

OPLIN will:

• provide Internet access bandwidth and circuit capacity to each OPLIN participant, as defined by O.R.C. 3375.64, proportional to the participant's needs.

This objective is achieved if every OPLIN participant has an Internet connection that is large enough to insure that the participant's average circuit utilization does not exceed 70% during peak hours. No current circuits will be replaced with smaller circuits simply to meet this benchmark. If a library chooses to purchase a larger circuit than the one provided by OPLIN, OPLIN will endeavor to provide financial assistance up to the amount of the cost of a circuit meeting this benchmark.

Objective: 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 intrusion-protection software is up to date.

Goal: Databases

Provide selected electronic information

OPLIN will provide access to high-quality databases of electronic information for Ohio's public libraries and for all Ohioans.

Objective: 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 in collaboration with our Libraries Connect Ohio partners.

This objective is achieved if 99% of Ohio public libraries are able to provide Ohioans with free access to at least one high-quality subscription database (each) of: full-text magazines and journals; full-text Ohio newspapers; and a general encyclopedia.

Goal: Technology Leadership

Lead public libraries in the implementation of Internet technologies

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

Objective: Communicate information about Internet technologies

OPLIN will:

• use a variety of means to actively disseminate information about network technologies, data security, and World Wide Web technologies to Ohio public libraries.

This objective is achieved if at least three communications about Internet technologies are available to public libraries each month.

Objective: Provide public libraries with a forum for discussion of Internet technologies

OPLIN will:

• maintain at least one online environment where public library technical staff can share their experiences of implementing and experimenting with new web technologies.

This objective is achieved if at least ten discussions of new technologies take place each year among public library technical staff within OPLIN-provided online environments.

Objective: Provide web site hosting services for public libraries

OPLIN will:

• provide a generic public web site incorporating advanced web technologies to any Ohio public library system that requests it, at low cost to the library; and
• provide a web server for each such library to place the web site on the Internet, at low cost to the library.

This objective is achieved if a generic web site and web hosting package is available to libraries. The extent of web services provided through web site hosting will be controlled by the resources available to OPLIN, as determined by the Director.

Goal: Marketing

Market and promote all OPLIN services and products

OPLIN will develop and refine services and products based on the needs of Ohio's public libraries and will then promote those services and products to the libraries.

Objective: Determine the information technology needs of Ohio public libraries

OPLIN will:

• solicit information from public librarians about their Internet technology and information resources needs; and
• observe the ways in which public librarians use Internet technology and information resources.

This objective is achieved at least two new Internet technology and information resource needs are identified each year.

Objective: Increase marketing and promotion of OPLIN information 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 public library staff; and
• assist Ohio public libraries with the promotion of OPLIN information resources to their users.

This objective is achieved if at least four information resources marketing activities are initiated each year.

Objective: Increase awareness of telecommunications services

OPLIN will:

• share information with Ohio public libraries about the various telecommunication services provided by OPLIN; and
• call attention to the costs incurred by OPLIN to provide these services to libraries.

This objective is achieved if at least two publications each year convey information about OPLIN telecommunications services and costs to public libraries.