As always, summer is a busy time here at FLVC. In last month’s issue of the FLVC Update, I provided information on some of FLVC’s accomplishments throughout the previous year. As we look forward to the upcoming academic year, here are just a few of the projects that are currently underway at FLVC:
Integrated Library Systems (ILS)
- FLVC and ILS vendor ExLibris have begun meeting with an initial group of college libraries to set up electronic article sharing capabilities using RapidILL software. This is a phased implementation. It is anticipated that RapidILL will be implemented for all participating college libraries by early 2025.
- FLVC ILS staff are preparing for the IPEDS and ACRL reporting season. The first activity has been to review the reporting requirements for IPEDS for 2024-2025.
- Enhancing our online LibGuide documentation to provide libraries with additional, detailed information about library statistical reports available to them from FLVC.
Digital Library Services
- Continuing to collaborate with libraries at each institution to test, review, and document an upgraded version of Florida Islandora, a digital library platform that enables institutions to create digital collections and make them accessible to the public free of charge.
- Working with digital repository vendor DiscoveryGarden to release migration tools to the open-source community and working with student interns to support this project and provide a unique learning experience.
- Collaborating with the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI) and North Carolina’s statewide library cooperative, NC LIVE, to host a six-part webinar series, “Funding to Preservation: A Digital Content Lifecycle,” beginning in June 2024.
Library Support and Training
- OpenAthens E-Resources Authentication and Statistics Platform: Migration of the last two institutions, the University of Florida and the University of West Florida. Last academic year, there were 8,288,020 eResource platform authentications mediated by OpenAthens for the 38 participating institutions.
Open Education Resources (OER)
- Reviewing and developing statewide OER faculty training.
- Finalizing contracts and procurement for statewide OER publishing services that will enable faculty at Florida’s public postsecondary institutions to create open educational resources to meet their unique course needs. This service has the potential to save Florida college and university students millions of dollars in textbook costs each year.
- Planning for a seventh-annual OER Summit in May 2025 for educators, librarians, administrators, instructional designers, and others interested in creating or expanding OER programs at their home institutions. The two-day virtual event will examine innovations and trends in OER, including Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) degrees/pathways;
gamification and adaptive learning; library digital content and archives; student engagement; and development and collaboration.
E-Resources
- The E-Resources Group Licensing process for 2025 is under way! Information has been shared with all libraries by email. Additional information was provided in the July 23rd webinar, and a recording is available.
- During 2024, FLVC Group Licensing achieved a cost avoidance of $5,285,152.82, which is a savings directly to SUS and FCS institutions.
- The FLVC Statewide E-Resources Collection for 2025 will have the first new subscription in over a decade for all 40 member institutions: CINAHL Ultimate (EBSCO).
- Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) Ultimate is the most comprehensive version of the CINAHL database, providing indexing for nursing and allied health literature, along with full text for 1,943 journal titles.
Again, these are just some of the many projects under way at FLVC, as we pursue our goal of providing the best-possible library resources and services for all of Florida’s state colleges and state universities. You’ll find more details about these projects, along with other activities, throughout this issue of the FLVC Update. If you need additional information, please feel free to contact FLVC staff directly or reach out through the FLVC Help Desk at help@flvc.org.
Elijah
