TSLA REPORT
SEPTEMBER 2014
I. Resource Sharing
Auto-Graphics is upgrading their platform from Agent to ShareIt. Tennessee’s transition date is
scheduled for November 1. Training materials are being developed now.
II. Grants
The 2015 Technology grant applications have been processed. There were 138 applications that
requested $384,000. With $350,000 to distribute, a whopping 70% of applicants will receive their
entire requested amount. Funds will be available for grantees that have completed their paperwork
starting October 1, 2014.
III. State Data Collection
This year’s data collection form went live on Tuesday, September 2. The data collection program TSLA
uses, LibPas, allows individual public libraries to create reports that compares their statistics to other
libraries, either by size or location. An instructional video and several webinars have been conducted
on this process.
IV. Library Automation
There are now 93 libraries using the AGENT Verso ILS system. The transition to VERSO 4 was
September 8, 2014. The top 3 OPAC searches in VERSO are:
1
2
3
Fiction
divergent
The Fault In Our Stars
2248
1085
871
V. Continuing Education
The second year of the Public Library Management Institute was held in August. This week-long
program is only part of the requirements for graduation as a Certified Public Library Manager. The
current class of 26 participants represents the broad variety of public library directors working in
Tennessee.
The TSLA Continuing Education Committee continues their work towards a second state-wide CE
Summit for March 2015.
2014 Summer Reading program statistics are being reported by libraries across the state. The CSLP
theme for 2015 is Heroes, and for 2016 is Exercise.
VI. TEL Promotion
From April –June 2014, the TEL promotional video was watched 7,333 times. An April Facebook post on
the TSLA account showcasing the video had 1,423 total impressions during this same time period.
The movie theater ads that used the video have ended, and
an estimated 1,796,806 people saw the advertisement for
TEL. The average cost per showing was $6.30.
The TEL billboards have an estimated 1,431,271 impressions
so far. An April Facebook post alerting commuters to be on
the lookout for them had 2,978 impressions.
TEL website usage for this 12 week period, compared to the same time last year, holds steady. The
impressive gains come for the month of June, when school is out of session and no one is thinking
about the resources in TEL: there’s a 22% increase in the traffic to the TEL website.
VII. TEL Usage Statistics
As expected, TEL usage from January thru June (2013 vs 2014), is lower (-14%) based in large part to
changes in the way that Gale counts searches. The new method, which is COUNTER 4 compliant, more
accurately reflects the number of items clicked on by a patron, not the number of items brought back
for a search.
The federated search on the TEL website has a total of 25 connectors, and right now 15 of those slots
are utilized by Tennessee Primary History Collection links. This allows the Volunteer Voices website
search to function properly. This also lowers the searches reported by TEL vendors.
VIII. TEL Databases
Learning Express Library 3.0
The new version is up and running smoothly. The new bookmarks and posters have begun being
distributed, and usable MARC records are expected by the end of the year.
Gale Resources
The updated version of Kids Info Bits has received many positive reviews. Other InfoTrac interfaces will
be updated in the coming months, and TEL will be testing an update that combines our literature
resources (Artemis) on to one platform.
TutorTN
The Knox County pilot program was a resounding success, with over 3,000 one-to-one tutoring sessions
provided. This year, the pilot program is continuing in three new locations: Henry, Putnam and Unicoi
counties. TutorTN services are available to library card holders in these counties 5 days a week thru the
end of the school year.
The goal continues to be to provide this service on a state-wide level.
IX. Library Construction
Secretary of State Tre Hargett has approved two library construction grants in the last quarter. The
grants will provide $100,000 each for new library buildings in Giles County (Pulaski) and Jefferson City
(Jefferson County).
X. History and Genealogy
McGavock Diary
News media focused on TSLA in August after a California teacher brought back to Tennessee the longmissing diary of Randal McGavock, a Confederate officer and former mayor of Nashville. The diary had
been captured by the woman’s ancestor, a Union soldier from Illinois.
Ancestry Events
TSLA and Ancestry.com are teaming up for a week of Genealogy education Sept. 15-20th. A workshop
for librarians who work with genealogical collections and patrons will be held on Friday the 19 th at the
Nashville Public Library.
Video Project
TSLA staff has been working to prepare a documentary video chronicling the career of state Senator
Doug Henry, who is retiring from a career in the legislature that began in 1954. A celebratory premier
will be held in October.
Respectfully submitted,
Charles A. Sherrill
State Librarian & Archivist
Tennessee State Library & Archives