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] | 2006 Contract Overview

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 and develop the Statewide Reference Resource Center services of the Providence Public Library.
   
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 and Saturdays. (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, by e-mail 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 and services 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. Provide access to the digitized RI Collection photographs through the World Wide Web.
   
9. Provide external access to the Worldbook database for all CLAN cardholders through the World Wide Web.
   
10. Work with the Office of Library and Information Services to review and revise SRRC 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 2006:

• 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.
  
• The Head of Reference and the Head of Shared Resources will visit a minimum of three LORI libraries to review services and solicit feedback.
  
• A minimum of three reference training programs for professional staff at LORI libraries will be sponsored, one of which may 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.
  
• Reviews 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 also include statistics on LORI Reference and ILL Subject Requests from other libraries.
  
• Financial reports will be submitted quarterly. Expenditures will be listed according to categories presented in the proposed SRRC FY 2006 Budget.
  
• Quarterly reports will include summaries of the activities completed in the Program of Service.

Budget

December 12, 2005