The Providence Public Library serves as Rhode Island's Statewide Reference Resource Center with state funding provided via the Office of Library and Information Services. The goal of the program is to provide quality reference services to all LORI member libraries and to all residents of Rhode Island.

Program | Activities | Reporting | Budget | Contract [pdf]

Program of Service

Throughout the year, the Providence Public Library (PPL) will:

1. Work with staff from the Office of Library and Information Services to plan, develop and fund the Statewide Reference Resource Center.
2. Provide direct access for all Rhode Island residents to collections and services at the Providence Public Library’s central facility a minimum of 48 hours per week including two evenings, Saturdays and Sunday afternoons October through May. (The Providence Public Library system will continue to comply with the Minimum Standards for Rhode Island Public Libraries.)
3. Answer reference questions received from all Rhode Island residents by telephone, in person, by e-mail and through real-time online services; in person access will be available a minimum of 48 hours per week; telephone and electronic access will be available a minimum of 56 hours per week.
4. Answer reference questions received through the state government portal, RI.gov, via email and through real-time online services.
5. Answer reference questions, including ILL subject requests, received from all LORI member libraries directly by telephone, e-mail, and fax or through interlibrary delivery.
6. Make all PPL professional staff available to LORI librarians for consultation, upon request, including development and public relations staff, reference librarians, children’s services librarians, the interlibrary loan librarian, the Special Collections Librarian, and the Electronic Information Services Coordinator.
7. Publicize activities of the Statewide Reference Resource Center in conjunction with the Office of Library and Information Services at expositions and through the library’s web site.
8. Develop in-house capacity to support and maintain web accessible digitized content beginning with the digitized RI Photograph Collection.
9. Provide external access to the Worldbook Reference and Heritage Quest databases for all OSL cardholders through the World Wide Web.
10. Work with the Office of Library and Information Services to review and revise contractual arrangements between the Office of Library and Information Services and the Providence Public Library at least annually, or more frequently as needed.

Activities

The following specific activities will take place during FY 2007:

• A minimum of 10 continuing education classes, including computer applications, will be presented for staff of LORI libraries at various public libraries in Rhode Island. Library staff will work with OLIS staff to determine the subjects and dates of these programs.
• A minimum of three reference programs for professional staff at LORI libraries will be sponsored, at least one of which will be in the area of youth services.
• A minimum of two workshops on development and / or library marketing will be developed for LORI libraries for the Office of Library and Information Services Continuing Education Program.
• Professional staff from the Providence Public Library will attend appropriate professional development programs and training sessions.
• Lists of new reference materials at the Providence Public Library will be posted on the Providence Public Library Website, with links on the OLIS web site.
• Periodic surveys of users will be conducted to establish geographic usage patterns.

Reporting

• Statistical reports will be submitted monthly to the Office of Library and Information Services. These reports will include the number of reference questions received from the public, including in-person, phone, and email reference transactions, and patent requests. These monthly reports will include statistics on LORI Reference and ILL Subject Requests from other libraries, and quarterly reports of usage of databases. (The Library will also provide O LIS with passwords to database reports to enable them to review report details.)
• Financial reports will be submitted quarterly. Expenditures will be listed according to categories presented in the proposed SRRC FY 2008 Budget.
• Quarterly reports will include summaries of the activities completed in the Program of Service.

Budget

October 9 , 2007