As I’m writing this portion of the FLVC Library Services Update, the new year is only just over a month away. It’s hard to believe that 2025 is almost upon us!
2024 has been a very successful year for FLVC Library Services. As we look back over the past year, here are some highlights:
- Migration to OpenAthens of all 40 member institutions. OpenAthens dramatically improves access to library electronic resources and simplifies the user experience. It also provides robust analytics to help libraries make informed decisions and demonstrate the value of e-resources.
- Acquisition of the OpenAthens API for all member libraries, which will provide new options to analyze connections between the use of library electronic resources and student success metrics with enhanced data visualizations.
- Continued growth in the scope and number of learning opportunities provided through the Professional Development Alliance. FLVC enables access to valuable learning and training opportunities at no cost to libraries.
- For libraries that wish to have additional professional learning opportunities, FLVC has negotiated a group license with preferential pricing for Skilltype, a learning platform developed for librarians.
- New electronic resource subscriptions!
- CINAHL Ultimate is now available to all FCS and SUS libraries! This incredible resource provides full-text access to nearly 2,000 nursing and allied health journals.
- SUS Libraries now have access to McGraw Hill’s Access Engineering as well as upgraded access to EBSCO’s Applied Science and Technology Ultimate database.
- New support for publishing Open Education Resources (OER) through Pressbooks, Libretexts, and Manifold! These new services will allow faculty and librarians at all FCS and SUS institutions to publish OER texts and materials on these platforms at no cost to their institution.
- The 2024 FLVC OER Summit, which had over 700 attendees. Work is already underway to plan for the 2025 OER Summit to be held May 21-22, 2025.
- New and enhanced documentation for using Islandora via the Islandora 2.0 Guide. FLVC staff built this guide from the ground up, providing detailed and invaluable documentation for Islandora users.
- Implementation of RapidILL for all FCS libraries! FLVC has provided RapidILL for the SUS libraries for many years, and we are delighted to now offer the same service for all FCS libraries. RapidILL offers amazingly fast turnaround times for interlibrary loan requests, providing enhanced access to information for students and faculty.
- Upgrades to the Florida Open Journals System (Florida OJS) along with publication of new journals (see the complete list here). Florida OJS also offers options for obtaining ISSNs for journals, participating in CrossRef, and more!
- Creation of a robust slate of Alma Analytics Dashboards and Reports, along with thorough documentation, to aid libraries in evaluating all aspects of collections and usage.
Even though 2025 is still weeks away, we already have more new projects in the works:
- Dramatic growth in FLVC’s Group Licensing program for Electronic Resources! For 2025, we will have more than 610 subscriptions which is a record number!
- In the next few weeks, FLVC will provide all libraries with access to the MIT Press Direct to Open collections. These resources will be incredibly valuable to students and faculty at all institutions.
- Later on in spring 2025, FLVC will provide access to ACRL Benchmark for all FCS and SUS institutions, at no cost to libraries.
It’s been quite a year at FLVC! I’m incredibly proud of all of my colleagues at FLVC and the amazing work that they have accomplished in 2024. I can’t wait to see what they are able to do in 2025!
As we wind down 2024, on behalf of everyone at FLVC, we wish all the best to all of our library colleagues in the upcoming holiday season.
Elijah