The ACS Palladian Alliance Library Project

(Project completed in 1999)

An Andrew W. Mellon Foundation funded initiative, this project was a 3 year effort to establish a cooperative "electronic library" for ACS institutions, featuring joint access to electronic indexes and periodicals. The project was completed in 1999.

Description of Palladian Alliance

The Associated Colleges of the South received a grant of $1,200,000 from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for a cooperative electronic library project. The grant underwrote a three year effort featuring joint electronic access to indexes and periodicals. The program also involved cooperative efforts to train library personnel in the use of various kinds of technology.

The plan leading to the grant was made possible by a planning grant given by the Mellon Foundation in April, 1995. Mellon Foundation funds enabled library directors from thirteen ACS institutions to identify problems to be resolved, and develop joint strategies for strengthening their libraries. The ACS librarians were also able to draw on consulting assistance from experienced library directors, attorneys conversant with copyright law, experts on the latest technology, and economists, who assisted in developing an econometric model for the project.

Librarians The objective throughout this project was threefold: first, to expand access that students and faculty will have to electronic materials; second, to develop a model to analyze journal pricing; and third, to effect a substantial degree of cost containment through collaboration. The project was led by a library steering group, consisting of Richard Meyer, director of the library at Trinity University, Douglas Anderson, automated systems librarian, Furman University, Thomas Watson, university librarian, University of the South, Lynne Brody, director of the library, Southwestern University, and James Parks, director of the library, Millsaps College.

The Associated Colleges of the South was incorporated in 1991 to strengthen academic programs through cooperation among its member institutions. Cooperative programs have included faculty development opportunities, such as joint efforts in the use of technology, international programs for students, a tuition exchange program and many other activities.

Members of the ACS are as follows: Birmingham-Southern College (Birmingham, AL), Centenary College of Lousiana (Shreveport, LA), Centre College (Danville, KY), Davidson College (Davidson, NC), Furman University (Greenville, SC), Hendrix College (Conway, AR), Millsaps College (Jackson, MS), Morehouse College (Atlanta, GA), Rhodes College (Memphis, TN), Rollins College (Winter Park, FL), Southwestern University (Georgetown, TX), Spelman College (Atlanta, GA), Trinity University (San Antonio, TX), University of Richmond (Richmond, VA), and University of the South (Sewanee, TN), Washington and Lee University (Lexington, VA).

The consortium placed a heavy emphasis on the dissemination of results throughout this three year endeavor. Consequently, several reports were issued and presentations were made to various library and technology organizations.

ACS Library Directors Meeting September 9 & 10, 1996

The ACS Library Directors Meeting was held at Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, Alabama on September 9 and 10.

The results of the Needs Assessment Survey were presented by a SOLINET representative. In May of 1996, the staff at each of the ACS libraries had responded to a questionnaire developed by SOLINET and commissioned by the ACS library directors as part of the Palladian Alliance Project funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. 79% of the staff returned their questionnaires. SOLINET used the data to create matrices comparing the level of proficiency staff felt they needed for a particular job function against the staff's perception of the proficiencey level they were at. The top level training needs as determined by SOLINET's compilation of the data is as follows:

1. Troubleshooting PC's
2. Windows
3. CD-ROM Networking
4. Netscape
5. Information sources on the Internet and Troubleshooting other hardware (tie)

The SOLINET representative provided a list of potential approaches to answer training needs to the library directors. The directors will review the data and options and report their suggestions to the Director of Library Services by October 1.

The progress of the Palladian Alliance Videoconference was reported by an AMIGOS representative. The Videoconference will be held on September 19 and each ACS library has a designated site to receive the transmission. Each of the library directors was asked to ensure participation by their site through planned questions as well as providing time for discussion at the local sites after the Videoconference.

After the presentations, the library directors shared information about the status of the Palladian Alliance databases on their campuses including any problems with hardware or software as well as publicity and instruction initiatives. The majority of the libraries have had access to the databases since mid August and staff were preparing orientation sessions for new students and faculty. A major concern of all the directors was the slowness of the Internet access to the databases.

Fundraising initiatives to complement the original grant were also discussed. Of importance is improving the Internet access to the current databases. Also discussed were ways of increasing the number of electronic databases available to the ACS libraries. Preservation initiatives and training issues were also seen as elements that would benefit from fundraising efforts.

The directors agreed to meet at the ALA Midwinter meeting in February 1997 to assess the progress of the project after one semester of use.

ACS Palladian Alliance Videoconference Notes [ 9-19-96]

Welcome and Introduction

Ronald K. Calgaard
President of Trinity University and Chair of the Associated Colleges of the South

Case Studies

GALILEO (GeorgiA LIbrary LEarning Online)
Ralph Russell, Director of Libraries
Georgia State University Library

LEIAN (Llano Estacado Information Access Network)
Virginia Andrews, Project Coordinator
Texas Tech University Library

Question and Answer Session

Overview of the Palladian Alliance

Richard Meyer, Director of Maddux Library
Trinity University

Doug Anderson, Head of Automation Services
Furman University Library

Vendor Presentations

John Sullivan, Director of Online Reference Services
OCLC

Scott Grove
UMI

Links of interests

Miley Graphics Server Project at Washington and Lee University

ACS InterLibrary Loan Agreement

Vendors selected for Palladian Alliance
[Links to pages for OCLC, UMI, SOLINET, AMIGOS and RLG]

Library Resources on the Internet
[Selected Internet Resources on Library Topics related to the Palladian Alliance]

Associated Colleges of the South > Library
	Library Project

		The ACS Palladian Alliance Library Project (Project completed in 1999) An Andrew W. Mellon Foundation funded initiative, this project was a 3 year effort to establish a cooperative "electronic library" for ACS institutions, featuring joint access to electronic indexes and periodicals. The project was completed in 1999. Description of Palladian Alliance The Associated Colleges of the South received a grant of $1,200,000 from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for a cooperative electronic library project. The grant underwrote a three year effort featuring joint electronic access to indexes and periodicals. The program also involved cooperative efforts to train library personnel in the use of various kinds of technology. The plan leading to the grant was made possible by a planning grant given by the Mellon Foundation in April, 1995. Mellon Foundation funds enabled library directors from thirteen ACS institutions to identify problems to be resolved, and develop joint strategies for strengthening their libraries. The ACS librarians were also able to draw on consulting assistance from experienced library directors, attorneys conversant with copyright law, experts on the latest technology, and economists, who assisted in developing an econometric model for the project. The objective throughout this project was threefold: first, to expand access that students and faculty will have to electronic materials; second, to develop a model to analyze journal pricing; and third, to effect a substantial degree of cost containment through collaboration. The project was led by a library steering group, consisting of Richard Meyer, director of the library at Trinity University, Douglas Anderson, automated systems librarian, Furman University, Thomas Watson, university librarian, University of the South, Lynne Brody, director of the library, Southwestern University, and James Parks, director of the library, Millsaps College. The Associated Colleges of the South was incorporated in 1991 to strengthen academic programs through cooperation among its member institutions. Cooperative programs have included faculty development opportunities, such as joint efforts in the use of technology, international programs for students, a tuition exchange program and many other activities. Members of the ACS are as follows: Birmingham-Southern College (Birmingham, AL), Centenary College of Lousiana (Shreveport, LA), Centre College (Danville, KY), Davidson College (Davidson, NC), Furman University (Greenville, SC), Hendrix College (Conway, AR), Millsaps College (Jackson, MS), Morehouse College (Atlanta, GA), Rhodes College (Memphis, TN), Rollins College (Winter Park, FL), Southwestern University (Georgetown, TX), Spelman College (Atlanta, GA), Trinity University (San Antonio, TX), University of Richmond (Richmond, VA), and University of the South (Sewanee, TN), Washington and Lee University (Lexington, VA). The consortium placed a heavy emphasis on the dissemination of results throughout this three year endeavor. Consequently, several reports were issued and presentations were made to various library and technology organizations. ACS Library Directors Meeting September 9 & 10, 1996 The ACS Library Directors Meeting was held at Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, Alabama on September 9 and 10. The results of the Needs Assessment Survey were presented by a SOLINET representative. In May of 1996, the staff at each of the ACS libraries had responded to a questionnaire developed by SOLINET and commissioned by the ACS library directors as part of the Palladian Alliance Project funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. 79% of the staff returned their questionnaires. SOLINET used the data to create matrices comparing the level of proficiency staff felt they needed for a particular job function against the staff's perception of the proficiencey level they were at. The top level training needs as determined by SOLINET's compilation of the data is as follows: 1. Troubleshooting PC's 2. Windows 3. CD-ROM Networking 4. Netscape 5. Information sources on the Internet and Troubleshooting other hardware (tie) The SOLINET representative provided a list of potential approaches to answer training needs to the library directors. The directors will review the data and options and report their suggestions to the Director of Library Services by October 1. The progress of the Palladian Alliance Videoconference was reported by an AMIGOS representative. The Videoconference will be held on September 19 and each ACS library has a designated site to receive the transmission. Each of the library directors was asked to ensure participation by their site through planned questions as well as providing time for discussion at the local sites after the Videoconference. After the presentations, the library directors shared information about the status of the Palladian Alliance databases on their campuses including any problems with hardware or software as well as publicity and instruction initiatives. The majority of the libraries have had access to the databases since mid August and staff were preparing orientation sessions for new students and faculty. A major concern of all the directors was the slowness of the Internet access to the databases. Fundraising initiatives to complement the original grant were also discussed. Of importance is improving the Internet access to the current databases. Also discussed were ways of increasing the number of electronic databases available to the ACS libraries. Preservation initiatives and training issues were also seen as elements that would benefit from fundraising efforts. The directors agreed to meet at the ALA Midwinter meeting in February 1997 to assess the progress of the project after one semester of use. ACS Palladian Alliance Videoconference Notes [ 9-19-96] Welcome and Introduction Ronald K. Calgaard President of Trinity University and Chair of the Associated Colleges of the South Case Studies GALILEO (GeorgiA LIbrary LEarning Online) Ralph Russell, Director of Libraries Georgia State University Library LEIAN (Llano Estacado Information Access Network) Virginia Andrews, Project Coordinator Texas Tech University Library Question and Answer Session Overview of the Palladian Alliance Richard Meyer, Director of Maddux Library Trinity University Doug Anderson, Head of Automation Services Furman University Library Vendor Presentations John Sullivan, Director of Online Reference Services OCLC Scott Grove UMI Links of interests Miley Graphics Server Project at Washington and Lee University ACS InterLibrary Loan Agreement Vendors selected for Palladian Alliance [Links to pages for OCLC, UMI, SOLINET, AMIGOS and RLG] Library Resources on the Internet [Selected Internet Resources on Library Topics related to the Palladian Alliance]
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