[CASL-L] Connecticut State Library Press Release

[Sullivan, William F]

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 13, 2015

NEWS
Contact:  Robert Kinney
(860) 757-6668
robert.kinney at ct.gov<mailto:robert.kinney at ct.gov>



Funding for Statewide eBook Platform Approved by State Bond Commission



(Hartford, CT) The State Bond Commission today approved $2.2 million for the Connecticut State Library to develop and implement a statewide eBook platform, thus making Connecticut one of the first states to develop a statewide library eBook service bringing equity of access to eBooks to all residents of Connecticut.

"This marks a milestone in statewide resource sharing," said State Librarian Kendall F. Wiggin following the Bond Commission's action.  Wiggin noted that despite a long history of Connecticut libraries lending their materials to anyone with a library card from any Connecticut Library, the cost of eBooks to libraries and their license terms has greatly restricted a library's ability to share its eBooks with other libraries and library users.  According to Wiggin, this new eBook platform is intended to overcome these limitations.

State Library Board Chair, John N. Barry, said he is very appreciative of Governor Malloy's leadership and support for this new eBook  statewide library service as well as that of the Legislature.  "The Governor and the Legislature recognize the important role that libraries play in the lives of all of our citizens.  With their leadership we are ensuring  that Connecticut's libraries will be well positioned to meet the needs of library users no matter what format information takes.

When Governor Malloy signed the legislation authorizing the State Library to create and maintain a state eBook platform, he said "As the role of libraries change, it's critical that we continue to provide invaluable resources that support the educational advancement of Connecticut citizens in a digital age.  We are leading the nation with the passage of common sense legislation that will increase educational opportunities for library patrons." In 2014 the legislature authorized $2.2 million in general obligation state bonds for the State Library for the eBook platform.  The Statewide eBook Service will be administered by the State Library's Division of Library Development  with oversight by the State Library Board's eBook Committee and input from the library community.

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About the State Library: The Connecticut State Library is an Executive Branch agency of the State of Connecticut. The State Library provides a variety of library, information, archival, public records, museum, and administrative services to citizens of Connecticut, as well as the employees and officials of all three branches of State government. In addition, the State Library directs a program of statewide library development and administers the federal Library Services and Technology Act state grant. The State Library, in conjunction with the Board of Regents, administers iCONN.org, the Connecticut Digital Library.. Visit the State Library at www.ctstatelibrary.org<http://www.ctstatelibrary.org> | http://www.museumofcthistory.org/  |   http://twitter.com/LibraryofCT | http://www.facebook.com/CTStateLibrary | http://www.flickr.com/photos/ctarchives/ | www.iconn.org<http://www.iconn.org>






Robert W. Kinney
Outreach Services Librarian
Connecticut State Library
231 Capitol Ave.
Hartford, CT 06106

860-757-6668
FAX: 860-757-6503
Robert.Kinney at ct.gov<mailto:Robert.Kinney at ct.gov>
www.ctstatelibrary.org<http://www.cslib.org/>

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