It is with deep regret that the Libraries Connect Ohio (LCO) partnership announces the cancellation of the LearningExpress Library (LEL), Job and Career Accelerator, and Workforce Skills for 21st Century Success subscriptions for Ohioans through public, higher education, and K-12 libraries, effective Aug. 10, 2015. As an important part of workforce development efforts in both secondary and post-secondary education, this cut will be an unfortunate loss.
The partnership’s decision was not arrived at lightly. Due to budgeting concerns, the partnership had to reduce the amount spent on this statewide database package by half a million dollars, and therefore the LOC was impacted. The decision was based on cost and comparative usage.
Similar content is available to Ohioans through Ohio Means Jobs (www.ohiomeansjobs.com). The partners will work closely with Ohio Means Jobs and Ohio Means Jobs, K12 sites to create awareness of their resources to help Ohio citizens find critical information in these areas. Libraries and schools that need the expanded content to continue promoting workforce development may choose to negotiate contracts with LearningExpress Library on an individual basis.
Libraries Connect Ohio is a partnership of Ohio libraries and library organizations that work together to build and provide the Ohio Web Library core collection of information resources. The principal partners are:
- INFOhio, the statewide cooperative school library and information network, supporting and enriching teaching and learning by providing equitable access to quality resources for Ohio's PreK-12 community of students, educators and parents.
- OhioLINK, a consortium of 120 Ohio college and university libraries, and the State Library of Ohio, that work together to provide Ohio students, faculty and researchers with the information they need for teaching and research.
- OPLIN, the Ohio Public Library Information Network, providing Internet connections to Ohio public libraries and the Explore Ohio web site in addition to contributing to the Ohio Web Library.
