News from the Somerset County Board of Chosen FreeholdersP.O. Box 3000, Somerville, NJ 08876-1262Contacts: Linda Van Zandt / Joanne Vuoso / Lisa Krueger908-231-7020 / publicinfo@co.somerset.nj.us
A new shared-service initiative, launched with the support of the Somerset County Board of Freeholders, is providing online resources to students throughout the county in libraries and in schools.
The Somerset County Library System and the Somerset County Superintendent of Schools, along with most school districts and municipal libraries in the county, have joined forces to provide a set of common online databases that are accessible to all students in the county.
Following a planning meeting with school media specialists and public librarians in October 2010, a purchasing cooperative was formed for Somerset County to procure a set of common online databases to be shared and accessible to all Somerset County students.
In addition to being available in schools, the electronic reference tools will be accessible through almost every library in the county, including independent municipal libraries that are not part of the county system.
“Through economies of scale, each participant will pay significantly less than if they purchased the services individually,” said Freeholder Patrick Scaglione, liaison to the county Library Commission. “More importantly, every student in Somerset County will have access to a common suite of online resources.”
Based on a survey of school media specialists throughout the county, the consortium included resources most frequently requested and for which the most cost effective pricing was available: World Book Encyclopedia, Facts on File and Grolier. The shared-service consortium was able to lower the per-pupil cost for these key reference tools.
“Last year’s threatened state cuts to library services were the impetus to link common needs for libraries and public schools,” said Somerset County Library Director Brian Auger. “Previously, database vendors sold identical products to different organizations which collectively serve the same clientele. With budget caps in place, all public entities must scrutinize expenditures. Libraries and school districts reached out across the agencies within the county to reduce costs to Somerset County taxpayers, while expanding the level of service for all students.”
For more information, contact Somerset County Library Director Brian Auger at 908-526-4016, ext. 129, or Beverly Hetrick in the Superintendent of Schools’ Office at 908-541-5738.
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