Executive Director’s Report to Council March 2007 John F. Helmer

This report covers highlights of Orbis Cascade Alliance activities that are not already included in other reports or Council’s agenda for the March 2007 meeting. Please let me know if you would like to hear more on any of these topics.

Summit

1 millionth loan! This is familiar news by now but still fun to contemplate. Commemorative key rings were distributed and balloons are late but should arrive soon. Summit Borrowing Committee will soon form a working group to plan Summit Borrowing Day in July 2007 and we expect to include a further celebration at that time.

Lending more types of materials: In late 2005 Council members decided to "make a commitment to talk with their staff about expanding the materials available for lending via Summit Borrowing." Since then, several members have taken steps to broaden their lending policies. Recent decisions include

• UO: videodisks, videotapes, bound journals, Aug.-Sept. 2006
• UW: computer files, film and video, audio, microform, Sept. 2006
• WSU: filmstrips, slides, sound recordings, audio cassettes, CDs, DVDs, Sept. 2006
• WWU: periodicals, microfilm, kits, videocassettes, Sept. 2006
• Clark: Renaissance Kids; Reavis pamphlet collection. Nov. 2006
• UO: bound journals. Dec. 2006
• UW: videos and DVDs. Dec. 2006
• EWU: sound recordings (CDs, tapes, LPs) and microforms Jan. 2007
• OIT: bound journals March 2007

Please join me in thanking these members for expanding the range of materials available via Summit!

More information: Loaning More Materials | List of Circulating Materials

Summit Borrowing Committee is working on a variety of topics, including a new auto-redirect feature, revisions to the patron verification screen, and further discussion of media lending.

Electronic Resource Program

Update supplied by Greg Doyle, ER Program Manager

29 subscriptions renewed (one migrated to different vendor).
3 new subscriptions started (Annual Reviews subscription migrated from GWLA to direct to Annual Reviews; saves participants $500 GWLA surcharge).
Changes were made to 14 of the 29 renewals with a net gain of 14 libraries added.

Electronic Journal agreements finalized and consortial licenses initiated:

Wiley InterScience:

• 17 Alliance libraries participating.
• Each participant gains access to all titles subscribed to by the participating libraries; and have access to titles subscribed to by the four Alliance GWLA members that participate in the GWLA/Wiley agreement.
• Access to all titles from 1997-; archival rights to subscribed titles.
• Estimated value of available journals: $643,000.

Sage Premier Online:

• 23 Alliance libraries participating.
• Participants pay a surcharge on 2006 Sage subscriptions.
• Participants have access to 420+ Sage titles, 1999- ; archival rights to the years paid for all titles.
• Estimated value of available journals: $286,000.

Cambridge Online:

• 13 Alliance libraries participating
• Participants pay a surcharge (most paid $2500) on their 2006 Cambridge subscriptions and have access to all (200+) Cambridge journals; 1996- with archival rights
• Estimated value of available journals: $55,000.

Non-Member ER Purchasing Program:

• Added 4 new participants: Chemeketa Community College (part of OCCLA group); City University; Heritage College; Northwest Nazarene University.
• Program enrollment now totals 28 libraries.
• Participants subscribe to a total of 113 subscriptions totaling $300,000+
• Most active participants: Pacific Lutheran (17); Multnomah County (16); Concordia (10).

Courier Program

Update supplied by Debi Baker, Projects Manager

Dropsites: We are currently working on adding four (4) new dropsites. Douglas County Library System, Eugene Public Library, Jefferson County Library and St. Helens Public Library all are receiving Oregon LSTA grant funds to begin service as of March 1. This will bring the number of dropsites to 71; 67 with 5-day a week service and four (4) with 2-day a week service.

Service: During calendar year 2006, we had a total of 113 problem reports. Several of these were reported in error. Of the remaining, it seems we need to work with the vendor regarding schedule, sorting and delivery to the proper destination.

Cost: In the first quarter of 2006, we moved 90,482 packages. This brought the average price per package to approximately $0.70 each.

Delivery area: Senvoy is looking at expanding its service and we benefit by being able to offer service to nearly all Washington LMDC members if they are actually to participate in the program.

In all, the Courier Service Program continues to work well for participants in a very cost-effective manner.

Membership Inquiry

Since the October 2006 ED report, Oregon State Library, Peninsula College, Tacoma Community College, and Washington State Library have inquired about membership in the Alliance.