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RISOCKS

Some background…

  • When we started BookLynx, we were able to purchase titles, but now most titles are available for a specified period of time, or a particular number of checkouts, and must be renewed regularly to keep them in the collection, limiting the number of new titles that we can purchase.
  • Collection maintenance takes a lot more time to monitor usage and decide which titles to renew.
  • BookLynx was designed to give all of our members, regardless of their funding, an opportunity to try out eBooks and digital audiobooks with their students and teachers.
  • Needs have been much greater during the pandemic and will probably continue at an increased level.
  • For more information on school libraries and eBooks, please see https://www.gale.com/binaries/content/assets/gale-us-en/ebooks/schools-ebooks/why-ebooks/k12_why-ebooks-white-paper_020320.pdf.

Please note that each library is still free to purchase other eBooks, digital audiobooks, and interactive titles from any vendor that they choose. 

Why switch from Destiny to Sora eBooks?

  • We can’t maintain our current setup with Follett as a single district for interlibrary loan purposes and allow our members to use Single Sign On (SSO) or easily include library access through services such as CLEVER.
  • To address this issue, we need to change from our Follett district library manager system with each district/independent school as its own site, which would mean that the shared eBook collection, BookLynx, could no longer be used.
  • The way we have been funding BookLynx limits its usefulness, as we are not spending enough to keep the collection at a level that can support the current number of students and teachers in our member schools.
  • Here is the current collection size of RISOCKS, with only a few schools participating:
    • 2,195 items, including some duplicate copies
    • Audiobooks -174 items, including some duplicate copies