September 2008 NJIT Update

The VALE member libraries are pleased that the New Jersey State Library’s (NJSL) commitment to the New Jersey Knowledge Initiative (NJKI) remains strong and continues to include an active role for New Jersey’s academic libraries. For FY2009, NJKI will continue to serve a broad array of small businesses, and New Jersey’s academic libraries. For VALE, this support comes in the form fully subsidized access to Academic Search Premier, a vital resource which will help VALE members continue services to the small business community.

Additional electronic resources to which all New Jersey library card holders will have access via JerseyClicks are listed at http://www.jerseyclicks.org. Please note that VALE member libraries wishing to provide direct access to Academic Search Premier and/or RefUSA databases, bypassing the JerseyClicks portal, may do so. However, attribution to the NJSL and the NJKI is required.

VALE will be represented on this year’s NJKI Task Force by Diane Campbell from Rider University. Other organizations represented include the New Jersey Library Association, the New Jersey Association of School Librarians, the Regional Library Cooperatives, WellGen (a business partner), the New Jersey Biotech Council, and the New Jersey Office of Economic Growth.

July 2008 NJIT Update

From Norma Blake, NJ State Librarian, and Kathleen Moeller-Peiffer, Associate State Librarian for Library Development

In the final state budget for FY2009 signed by Governor Corzine, the New Jersey Knowledge Initiative was kept at the FY2008 $2 million level. While this amount will not allow the State Library to replicate the original NJKI project, we will be able to continue our most used and valued databases (as indicated by usage statistics and customer testimonials). Effective July 15, 2008, the following databases will be resumed:

• Frost and Sullivan market research reports: This database will be available via the NJKI web site (www.njki.org) for our NJKI businesses only.
• RefUSA: This resource will be available statewide via the Jersey Clicks site (www.jerseyclicks.org) and will be expanded to include their New Business database, which offers information on companies that have just recently opened or are planning on opening, as well as the New Home Owner and New Mover database, providing information on people that have recently acquired a new home, and people or businesses that have recently moved. Promotional materials and training will be coordinated with RefUSA by Scherelene Schatz, Jersey Clicks program manager-details will be available later this summer. NOTE: N.J.A.C. 15:21-6 (b) 3 states libraries shall “provide a library webpage with links to databases offered by the State and regional library cooperative”. Those libraries that wish to breakout individual databases and not use the Jersey Click icon may do so; however, they are still required to acknowledge that the database(s) are provided through the State Library and, in this case, the New Jersey Knowledge Initiative.
• Academic Search Premier: This set of databases is set to be funded through NJKI for VALE libraries only. However, due to the need for further conversations with this user group, access will be delayed past the planned July 15 go-live date.

In order to address the interests of our funders, the priorities for NJKI ’09 will be remote accessibility to databases most needed by small businesses. The State Library will be forming a new NJKI Task Force in the near future to assist the State Librarian and Library Development Bureau staff in determining databases that best meet these parameters.

March 2008 NJKI Update

The New Jersey State Library regrets to report that despite numerous visits to legislators, the Governor's office and other state agencies, no bridge funding has been forthcoming to support the database costs through the remainder of this fiscal year. However, the Governor's budget for FY2009 does currently call for a $2 million allotment for NJKI to start July 1, 2008. Your advocacy will continue to be critical throughout the upcoming budget process. The NJKI task force will reconvene in the near future to determine the specifics of the next NJKI program. Other funding sources continue to be explored to enhance the initiative. Use the NJKI section on your Subscribed Databases list to see how this affects your library's resources!

Help Save NJIT Program (Oct 2007)

• Contact Governor Corzine at his Office's website or call 609/292-6000. You can send a message through the site. Select the topic: "Commerce" and title the email "Support NJKI". Tell your faculty, students and staff to emphasis the important and value of the NJKI program to higher education and libraries and that the $1 million cut in funding must be reinstated.
• Contact your New Jersey State Legislators - Find your legislators at the NJ State Legislature website. You can send a message through the site. Tell them you are calling to support of reinstating $1 million to the NJKI program.
• Send a copy or brief email to the NJ State Library (Norma Blake, NJ State Librarian) or Kathleen Peiffer (Head of the Library Development Bureau) when you take action steps to advocate for NJKI as it is important to track all advocacy activities.
• Advocacy toolkit: Sample letters -- "Hard Ask" sample letter (word file), "Soft Ask" sample letter (word file)