MSL Home > For Librarians > Pilot Projects > Pilot Projects

Pilot Projects

Introduction

The Montana State Library continually seeks opportunities for potential statewide library pilot projects. Improving Montana library services is the focus, from better delivery of materials to direct consortial borrowing to improved technology and bandwidth capabilities; just to name a few. As the State Librarian says: "the best statewide project may be the project we don't even know about yet".
Click to get information on this library
Swan Valley Community Library
Condon, MT


Need help? Contact:
Sarah McHugh
Current Pilot Projects

I. MyMontanaLibrary2Go

This pilot project utilizes the OverDrive product to offer library patrons a collection of downloadable e-content. Overdrive contains more than 13,000 audio book titles, 5,000 music titles and a growing selection of over 4,000 movie titles. Titles are available for download on MP3 players. Participating libraries plan on a variety of options for their patrons. Some will provide in-library downloading and offer patrons players for checkout. Others are planning on patrons downloading the titles at home or work, onto their own MP3 players (pdf). OverDrive is currently adding iPod and Mac compatibility to the Overdrive features.

An opening collection of content was purchased using LSTA funding from MSL. Phase One participants shared the initial platform and hosting costs. The group has created a local cost formula based on their number of active patrons. Ongoing costs are based on this formula. Startup costs (doc) for interested libraries include a pro-rated amount based on the phase the library joins the consortium, an OverDrive one time new library participation fee and the cost of an OverDrive Download Station (doc) if in-library downloading is required. Ongoing costs (doc) include a local formula share and subsequent years OverDrive Download Station maintenance cost, if purchased.

The following libraries are part of Phase One:

  • Missoula Public Library
  • Parmly Billings Library
  • Polson City Library
  • Miles Community College Library
  • Hearst Free Library Library
  • Lewistown Public Library
  • Big Horn County Library
  • Flathead County Library
  • Miles City Public Library
  • William K. Kohrs Memorial Library
  • Roosevelt County Library
  • Glendive Public Library
  • Sidney-Richland County Library
  • Choteau Teton Public Library
  • Dillon City Library

Phase Two:

  • Confirmation deadline: September 25
  • Implementation starts: October 1
  • Go live: November

Phase Three:

  • Confirmation deadline: December 20
  • Implementation starts: January 2
  • Go live: February

Phase Four:

  • Confirmation deadline: March 25
  • Implementation starts: April 1
  • Go live: May

Phase Five: (Year 2 of project)

  • Confirmation deadline: June 25
  • Implementation starts: July 1
  • Go live: August

II. Montana Memory Project

The Montana Memory Project is an online source for digital collections relating to Montana's cultural heritage. In part, these collections document the Montana experience. Access is free and open through the Internet. Many of these items are digitized copies of historic material, some items are contemporary. All serve as a resource for education, business, pleasure, and lifelong learning.

Many Montana libraries, museums, archives, and cultural institutions add materials to this collection. Over time, contents may include digital newspapers, maps, copies of photographs, rare books, historic documents, diaries, oral histories, audio and video clips, paintings, illustrations and art.

Digitization Planning (ppt) is a pre-requisite for joining the Montana Memory Project.