Up until a couple of weeks ago, the only thing we could have told you is a) a representative library task force is looking into it; b) we’re talking with OCLC. Yes, that sounds “fuzzy.”

But the above is all true. A task force made up of the folks listed at the bottom of this message has been discussing and reviewing FirstSearch, and several of us have been holding conversations on a near-weekly basis with OCLC.

Here is a more specific summary, along with what YOU can do to become better educated!

YOUR Tasks:
1) read below, closely, and start asking questions;
2) stay tuned for announcements about informational webinars to be offered by OCLC during the next two weeks and make time to attend one of those;
3) watch for more email from us, along with information to be posted on the old AIRS web site (which is now in the process of being updated). We’ll let you know when more current info gets posted there.

Summary:
- A task force formed last fall, has met several times, and most recently participated in a webinar and Q&A session with representatives from OCLC. Representatives from CLiC and the State Library have held several phone meetings with OCLC reps.

- OCLC has presented two general ‘pricing options’ to the task force.

: One of those options offered by OCLC is a statewide contract price that would require sponsorship/endorsement by CLiC and the State Library. (Pro: libraries could save $$ by investing their funds together to pay OCLC’s statewide price | Con: libraries would be dependent on other libraries to subscribe in order to enjoy a significant discount)

: The second option offered by OCLC is essentially a table of discounted prices for each library, where each library would directly license FirstSearch from OCLC, with no intermediary involvement from CLiC or the State Library. (Pro: a library could license on its own and pay for FirstSearch at a discount from the “retail” cost, regardless of whether or not other libraries license FirstSearch. | Con: an individual library’s discounted pricing typically would still be higher than what that library would pay if it participated in option 1, the statewide contract)

- OCLC is continuing to communicate on a proactive basis with CO, discussing ways of working logistically on the statewide contract option to help libraries save $$. OCLC also has committed resources for conducting webinars, will be sharing its FirstSearch marketing materials (including more detail about the New FirstSearch interface), has reps ready to respond directly to your questions, and more.

- CLiC and the State Library have shared your contact information with OCLC so that its reps can more directly reach all of your libraries.

The Task Force:

Rhonda Gonzales, Dean of Libraries, CSU Pueblo
Jon Walker, Executive Director, Pueblo City-County Library (and member of the OCLC Global Council)
Andy White, Library Director, Durango Public Library
Linda Sturgeon, Collection Development Librarian, Douglas County Libraries (and former chair of AIRS)
Megan Kinney, Library Director, Community College of Aurora
Sara Katsh, Manager, AORN Research and Information Center
Eugene Hainer, State Librarian
Dan Lawrence, Director, Office of Networking & Resource Sharing, State Library
Lisa Priebe, Assistant Director, CLiC
Kira Zimmerman, Program Coordinator for Cooperative Purchasing, CLiC
Jim Duncan, Executive Director, CLiC (Task Force Chair)

On behalf of the Task Force, thank you for your attention.

Regards,
-Jim

Jim Duncan, Executive Director | Colorado Library Consortium (CLiC) |

http://www.clicweb.org/ | Ph: 303-422-1150 | LinkedIn: jamesmduncan