Resource Selection 2027-2029

Resource Selection
 

Goal

Support education, enhance economic development, and improve the quality of life of North Carolinians by procuring as much relevant, high-quality digital content as possible.

Selection Criteria

All selections will be based on the following key criteria:

Value across COIs
Cost per use
Accessibility
Quantity of content for $
User experience
Change cost to community
Quality of content for $
 
 

Process

 
Resource selections will be made based on community input and expert assessment. We will solicit recommendations via a survey open to every library staff person at every member institution across the state. We will also be having community forums and conversations to gather feedback. Every recommendation will be considered and assessed by the Resource Advisory Committee (RAC), which consists of three representatives from each of NC LIVE’s four Communities of Interest (COIs). Recommendations from the RAC will be reviewed and approved by the NC LIVE Executive Committee (EC), which consists of one representative from each COI and the State Librarian of NC.
 
Resource Advisory Committee's selection process will include the following components:  
 

1.   Community Input

Collect feedback from library staff at NC LIVE member institutions regarding current resources and potential additions. This will include:

  • Distributing a Resource Value Survey to all library staff
  • Hosting community forums and conversations to gather insights and recommendations

2.   Data Gathering and Evaluation

Assess available quantitative and qualitative data about current and potential new resources. Provide data-driven input to the assessment teams.

  • Searches for assessment data about potential resources compiled by other consortia or libraries and available on the web.
  • Examine reports such as: Consortial Cost-Per-Use, Cost-Per-Use by COI, Accessibility Audits, Annual Database Usage by COI

3.    Current Resources Assessment

Evaluate current resources based on above selection criteria. 

  • Recommends top-rated resources for renewal.
  • Recommends low-rated resources for discontinuation and/or replacement with similar, but superior resource.

4.    New Resources Assessment

Investigate potential new resources and nominate those that demonstrate the potential to support NC LIVE’s member libraries.

  • Gather ideas from community via the community input process, as well as RAC's own investigations.
  • Evaluate potential resources based on the above selection criteria and recommend top-rated resources for pricing.

Roles

The Resource Advisory Committee (RAC), NC LIVE staff, The University of North Carolina System Office, and the NC LIVE Executive Committee will have defined sets of responsibilities.

Resource Advisory Committee

  • Leads the resource selection process, including gathering community input, using qualitative and quantitative data for evaluation, and assessing current resources and new resources.
  • Reviews final list of proposed resources and makes recommendation to the NC LIVE Executive Committee

NC LIVE Staff

  • Liaise with and support the Resource Advisory Committee; communicate with vendors; get pricing; negotiate terms; execute contracts; liaise with the NC LIVE Executive Committee (EC); manage communications with NC LIVE community.

UNC System Office

  • Assists with review of licenses and signs contracts on behalf of NC LIVE.

Executive Committee

  • Reviews RAC’s recommendation and makes final decision on resources.

Timeline & Key Milestones

  • Milestone 1: Launch Resource Value Survey (April 2025)
  • Milestone 2:  Gather community input (April - September 2025)
  • Milestone 3: RAC agrees on selection process & roles (July 2025)
  • Milestone 4:  Data gathering, resource assessment & comparison (October 2025 - March 2026).
  • Milestone 5:  Finalize selection decisions (May 2026)
  • Milestone 6:  Finalize contracts (June - June 2026)
  • Milestone 6: Announce selection decisions to NC LIVE Community (August 2026)
  • Milestone 6:  Training on new resources (Fall 2026)
  • Milestone 7:  Official start date of new cycle (January 1, 2027)

Contact a COI representative on the RAC

  • CHAIR: Rishara Finsel, Transylvania County Library (email: rishara.finsel [at] transylvaniacounty.org (rishara[dot]finsel[at]transylvaniacounty[dot]org))
  • Jess Bellemer, Lees-McRae College (email: bellemerj [at] lmc.edu (bellemerj[at]lmc[dot]edu))
  • Jennifer Brosek, UNC-Charlotte (email: jbrosek [at] uncc.edu (jbrosek[at]uncc[dot]edu))
  • Nora Burmeister, UNC Chapel Hill (email: nkburm [at] email.unc.edu (nkburm[at]email[dot]unc[dot]edu))
  • Rich Garafolo, Cleveland Community College (email: garafolor723 [at] clevelandcc.edu (garafolor723[at]clevelandcc[dot]edu))
  • Lauren Ksa, High Point University (email: lksa [at] highpoint.edu (lksa[at]highpoint[dot]edu))
  • Melanie Morgan, Neuse Regional Library (email: mmorgan [at] neuselibrary.org (mmorgan[at]neuselibrary[dot]org))
  • Ali Norvell, Western Carolina University (email:  anorvell [at] email.wcu.edu (anorvell[at]email[dot]wcu[dot]edu))
  • Trina Rushing, Henderson County Public Library (email:   trushing [at] hendersoncountync.gov (trushing[at]hendersoncountync[dot]gov))
  • Lisa Shores, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (email: lisa.shores [at] rccc.edu (lisa[dot]shores[at]rccc[dot]edu))
  • Jenny Thomas, Randolph Community College (email: jsthomas [at] randolph.edu (jsthomas[at]randolph[dot]edu))
  • Joan Williams, Bennett College (email: jwilliams [at] bennett.edu (jwilliams[at]bennett[dot]edu))

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