The introduction of the Kansas EZ Library service has raised a number of questions that about participation by NEKLS libraries in developing that service. Below are answers to common questions asked about participation in Kansas EZ Library from Jim Minges, NEKLS Director.

Should our library participate in Kansas EZ Library?

Yes, since all Kansas residents will be able to use the Kansas EZ Library collection, all libraries should participate in developing that collection in order to provide a strong collection that will meet reader demand. It is not fair or effective for a few libraries to contribute to a collection that everyone uses.

Does participation in Kansas EZ Library meet NEKLS accreditation standards?

Yes, either participation in Kansas EZ Library or an individual library e-content account will meet the standard that “The library purchases access to downloadable electronic content such as ebooks as part of its collection.”

How much should we spend on Kansas EZ Library content?

That is a frequently asked question. The short answer is that NEKLS recommends that libraries invest at a minimum an amount between 1% and 5% of your total collection budget in e-content. (For NEKLS public libraries, download this spreadsheet that provides the dollar amounts of these recommendations).

However, each library will need to decide the amount that is appropriate for it. There is no mandatory minimum amount, but an e-content funding table is provided indicating what 1% of the library’s 2010 collection budget would be. 1% of the library collection budget is inadequate for this expanding service but provides a minimum amount. A recent Library Journal research study found that 15% of frequent library users preferred books in e-books format, but that will vary widely among communities.

How can you purchase content for Kansas EZ Library?

Your library may contribute through a NEKLS group account or open an individual library account. If you wish to have an individual account for OneClickDigital audiobooks, contact Lianne Flax at the State Library of Kansas by phone at 785-296-8152 or email at lianne.flax@library.ks.gov.

How will the NEKLS Kansas EZ Library regional account work?

Any library may choose to contribute to Kansas EZ Library through a NEKLS regional account, and we recommend that any library spending less than $1,000 per year on Kansas EZ Library content use the NEKLS system account. Libraries spending more than $1,000 may also choose to use the NEKLS regional account of course. NEKLS will also be contributing approximately $15,000 in system funds to that regional account. The intent of this regional account is for NEKLS libraries to work together in building a strong and coordinated collection, and to simplify ordering procedures.

How will e-content be selected?

A collection committee has developed collection goals to guide selection, and in addition all libraries may make purchase recommendations for specific titles at any time. Heather Braum will be coordinating selection of content for NEKLS.  Selection criteria and priorities recommended by the NEKLS Kansas EZ Library collection development committee are:

• Best-sellers, with multiple copies as needed to satisfy holds
• Specific purchase requests – push patron suggestions (form)
• eBook only releases
• Children’s and YA titles
• Best-seller non-fiction (Self-help, biographies, etc.)
• Additional series titles (when one title in the series is in high demand)
• When possible, audiobook versions will also be purchased for the most popular   e-book titles.
• NEKLS funds will be targeted for purchase of extra copies of e-book titles that are in high demand

What is the actual procedure to contribute to the NEKLS Kansas EZ Library account?

An e-content contribution form has been provided that libraries may use to indicate intended contributions and preferences. If requested, an invoice in the indicated amount will be provided to the library. Payment should be sent to Carolyn Little at NEKLS and we will place those funds in the Kansas EZ Library account. Please indicate that the check is for purchase of Kansas EZ Library content, and indicate the proportion you would like spent on audiobooks (OneClickDigital) and ebooks (3M), or that you would like to leave it to NEKLS discretion to allocate the funds.

Please let Jim Minges know about any further questions you might have about this topic.