THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

 

TO:	Cultural Education Committee
FROM:	Christine W. Ward, Acting Deputy Commissioner
SUBJECT:	Education and Information Program for the New York Online Virtual Electronic Library (NOVEL)
DATE:	January 25, 2007
STRATEGIC GOAL:	4
AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

SUMMARY

 

Issue for Discussion

 

          How can the Regents support the implementation of a statewide communications plan to educate and inform the public about NOVEL?

         

Reason(s) for Consideration

 

          Review of policy.

 

Proposed Handling

 

          The Cultural Education Committee will review recent activities to identify public perceptions about NOVEL and develop strategies to promote it more broadly to New Yorkers. The committee will also discuss strategies to pursue audiences in education and business, tools and techniques that enable libraries to promote NOVEL at the local level, and special issues and challenges.

 

Procedural History

 

          The Regents Commission on Library Services concluded in their final report, “To function successfully in today’s society, New Yorkers must have equitable access to information resources—including high-quality, reliable electronic resources. New York must help close the digital divide for all its residents by making high-quality electronic information accessible to library users, regardless of economic circumstances, geographic location, or disabilities.” To this end, the Commission recommended the implementation of NOVEL, a virtual library that would be accessible by the public.

 

          To help ensure the implementation of the Commission’s vision, the NOVEL Steering Committee, with representation from the statewide library community, recommended that the State Library engage a consultant to develop an effective statewide communications plan for NOVEL.

 

Background Information

 

Although the Internet provides much free information, NOVEL offers resources that are reliable, organized, and consistent. These are generally accepted “library materials”, such as indexes, journals, books, and reference materials, in digital format.

 

Access to high-quality electronic information is essential to success in school and the workplace. However, many New Yorkers are unaware of the information resources available to them through NOVEL.

 

          The New York State Library provides statewide access to electronic information resources through NOVEL. NOVEL is supported by temporary federal funds and provides basic information for students, teachers, public library patrons, users of academic libraries, and the general public through their home or office computers. NOVEL resources are licensed (subscribed) materials that are centrally purchased to provide economies of scale and great savings for local libraries.

 

          Such resources are fundamental to success in education, economic growth, and personal advancement. Feedback from library users and librarians, as well as scans of the behaviors of those seeking information, demonstrate that more forceful outreach and education are necessary. A statewide education and information program will promote NOVEL use and help New Yorkers to realize the beneficial educational outcomes derived from the use of high-quality resources.

 

Recommendation

 

          Staff recommend that the Regents actively support a NOVEL education and information program.

 

Timetable for Implementation

 

          The program is intended for implementation over the next three years.