SRRC Contract Awarded To Providence Public Library [September 2, 2016] - The Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services is pleased to announce that the agreement for funding the Statewide Reference Resource Center has been awarded to the Providence Public Library for Fiscal Years 2017-2018. The Providence Public Library was selected from responses to an RFI issued by the Office of Library and Information Services in June 2016. The agreements include technical support for online databases and the AskRI portal, and online virtual reference services. The Office of Library and Information Services manages database licensing and payments. The 2017-18 Contract continues support for subscriptions to online services that are available via AskRI.org, the online portal for the Statewide Reference Resource Center. Because of budget constraints, Tutor.com (HomeworkHelpRI) and HeritageQuest have been discontinued. The current online electronic resources include: AtoZdatabases provide access to 30 million US businesses and 220 million residents, along with access to 2 million new businesses and 200,000 new movers. It also includes Job Search through indeed.com. AtoZdatabases are both a reference and marketing tool. EBSCO databases are provided through a cooperative purchase with Ocean State Libraries (OSL). In 2014, this co-purchase adds statewide access for Biography Collection Complete, Consumer Health Complete, Literary Reference Center, Novelist and Points of View. In addition, HELIN will continue to enjoy access to databases they have received through the cooperative license agreement developed with EBSCO, SRRC, OLIS, and OSL. Learning Express test preparation and online tutorials. Mango Languages online language learning. World Book includes specialized encyclopedias for elementary, middle and high school/advanced students as well as two Spanish Language Encylopedias: Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos for elementary school students and Hispanica Saber, a complete Spanish language encyclopedia. The Digital Libraries include Living Green, Early Peoples, and Inventions and Discoveries. eBooks in a variety of subjects are also available. Dramatic Learning provides modularized units of readers theatre for classrooms and libraries. World Book continues to serve differentiated learners with Discover and includes translation and read-aloud features to all English language World Book encyclopedias. Funding for these databases is provided by the State of Rhode Island and the Institute for Museum and Library Services. Ocean State Libraries also contributes funding for EBSCO databases. Under the 2017-18 contract, the Statewide Reference Resource Center will continue to provide online (email and chat) reference services for all Rhode Island residents via AskRI. The AskRI website also includes information about promotional materials, links to vendor tutorials and specific information for linking to statewide resources from library websites. Explore the Librarians & Educators Resources tab on the AskRI website for more information. Providence Public Library serves as the 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. State funding for the SRRC in FY2017 is $701,052 with additional funding for databases provided by the Institute for Museum and Library Services and Ocean State Libraries (EBSCO databases).