JULY 2001

Volume 3 Number 3

---

The State Librarian's Column

Kendall F. Wiggin
Connecticut State Librarian

Librarianship is collaborative by nature, and collections and services evolve through that collaboration. This core value of librarianship is clearly reflected in the work of the State Library. Just a brief sample of current collaborative efforts demonstrates the growing interdependence among information professionals and other agencies.

The Commission on Educational Technology is an example of a collaboration that will have a great impact on collections and services. In its first year, the Commission has brought together educators, business leaders, other government agencies and the library community in an effort to build a new learning environment. Increased access to advanced telecommunications will foster even greater collaboration between libraries, schools, and academic institutions. iCONN.org, the Connecticut Digital Library, itself a collaborative effort of the Department of Higher Education and the State Library, is already benefiting libraries and schools statewide and the communities they serve.

The State Library was one of the founding libraries for the OCLC Online Computer Library Center's Cooperative Online Resource Catalog (CORC) project. This project developed into a leading edge, web-based service that helps librarians provide enhanced access to web resources using new, automated tools and library cooperation. The State Library is also one of twelve institutions that have agreed to collaborate with OCLC in a pilot project to test electronic archiving technology. The goal of the Web Document Digital Archive project is to create a sustainable service to provide long-term access to web documents. The working prototype will track and preserve web-based documents that exist solely in electronic format. Through the Digital Archive the State Library intends to capture, preserve, provide access to, and manage the usage rights of electronic Connecticut state documents.

Services to children and parents are another area where great opportunities exist for library and community collaborations. I have been participating on the Early Childhood Task Force and their Family Support and Education Subcommittee exploring ways in which local libraries and other community organizations can collaborate to provide information that supports parents. This collaboration builds on the work that the State Library has done to create the greatKidsCT.org website for parents.

Of course the most important partnership is that between the State Library and the library community. The State Library will continue to work in close collaboration with all segments of the library community because it is only through these partnerships that we can improve the collections and services to meet the evolving information needs of the people of Connecticut.

Previous Page | Index | Next Page
CONNector

---

  Home Page    Hours   Directions     About CSL    Using The Library
  Search the State Library Catalog   Search the State Library Website    CSL Research Resources    iCONN (CT Digital Library)
  Government Information Services   History & Genealogy    Law & Legislative Reference    Library For The Blind & Physically Handicapped  
  Museum of Connecticut History    Public Records   Services To Libraries    State Archives   Connecticut Heritage Foundation (supporting the Connecticut State Library & Museum of Connecticut History)

---

Connecticut State Library
231 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106
860-757-6500 * Toll-free 866-886-4478