[collaborative-vr] Contingency Planning for Services funded through LSTA
Missy Williams
Missy.Williams at lib.de.us
Fri Oct 3 09:46:06 PDT 2025
Thank you so much, Gesse! Appreciate you sharing your notes. I wouldn't have had anything to contribute to the conversation but wanted to listen and learn of what was going on in other library systems.
Have a wonderful rest of your day and weekend ahead!
Kind Regards,
~Missy
Missy Williams
Head of Virtual Reference Services
Delaware Division of Libraries
Ask a Librarian Delaware
missy.williams at lib.de.us<mailto:missy.williams at lib.de.us>
https://answers.delawarelibraries.org<https://answers.delawarelibraries.org/>
[cid:78197d81-b301-4b27-9d88-d9c0d15a9e69]<https://lib.de.us//>
________________________________
From: STARKSMITH Gesse * SLO <Gesse.STARK-SMITH at slo.oregon.gov>
Sent: Thursday, October 2, 2025 6:21 PM
To: Missy Williams <Missy.Williams at lib.de.us>; Carla Steinberg Pfahl <pfahl001 at umn.edu>
Cc: Collaborative Virtual Reference <collaborative-vr at omls.oregon.gov>
Subject: RE: [collaborative-vr] Contingency Planning for Services funded through LSTA
Hi Missy,
Thanks for checking in. We didn’t record the meeting and we kept it pretty informal. It was really useful to hear about the different situations in different states in terms of funding structures and potential strategies for meeting funding gaps.
Here are a high level notes few notes that I took in case they are of interest to the wider group:
Strategies to make up gaps in funding:
* Charging participating libraries a fee for the service/raising the fee to participate
* This could be based on FTE, service population/enrolled students or usage
* Moving a consortium to some other group. For example, a group of Community and Technical collages who use the service the most working as a group to pay for virtual reference services.
* Gathering input from participating libraries and community members about their priorities if you have to make difficult funding decisions.
* Various ways to show the impact of your services, including calculating the amount of money that the services save participating libraries or the hours of staff time they save.
* Attempting to move federally funded services to state funding streams (but there are cuts at the state level in lots of places, too). Highlighting clearly impactful programs when seeking funding and then using other sources for more background/hidden but important work.
We ended with some conversation about what kinds of advocacy work well within our roles/personalities and how we are thinking about weathering the storm.
For others who attended, feel free to share anything else you’d like to add! We also discussed the possibility of meeting again and/or just being in more regular touch via this list-serv. I’m certainly interested in finding ways to continue to connect and to learn from colleagues!
Thanks,
Gesse Stark-Smith, MIS (she/her)
Virtual Reference Coordinator
State Library of Oregon
gesse.stark-smith at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:gesse.stark-smith at slo.oregon.gov> | 971-600-4992
www.oregon.gov/library/libraries<https://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries>
Work Schedule: Mon 8-2, Weds & Thurs 8:30-4
[Logo for the Library Support & Development Services division at the State Library of Oregon]<http://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries>
From: Missy Williams <Missy.Williams at lib.de.us>
Sent: Thursday, October 2, 2025 2:05 PM
To: STARKSMITH Gesse * SLO <Gesse.STARK-SMITH at slo.oregon.gov>; Carla Steinberg Pfahl <pfahl001 at umn.edu>
Cc: Collaborative Virtual Reference <collaborative-vr at omls.oregon.gov>
Subject: Re: [collaborative-vr] Contingency Planning for Services funded through LSTA
You don't often get email from missy.williams at lib.de.us<mailto:missy.williams at lib.de.us>. Learn why this is important<https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification>
Hi Everyone,
I was hoping to attend but was stuck in another meeting. Was this meeting recorded?
Kind Regards,
~Missy
Missy Williams
Head of Virtual Reference Services
Delaware Division of Libraries
Ask a Librarian Delaware
missy.williams at lib.de.us<mailto:missy.williams at lib.de.us>
https://answers.delawarelibraries.org<https://answers.delawarelibraries.org/>
[cid:image002.png at 01DC33AC.FA5F66E0]<https://lib.de.us//>
________________________________
From: collaborative-vr <collaborative-vr-bounces at omls.oregon.gov<mailto:collaborative-vr-bounces at omls.oregon.gov>> on behalf of Carla Steinberg Pfahl via collaborative-vr <collaborative-vr at omls.oregon.gov<mailto:collaborative-vr at omls.oregon.gov>>
Sent: Wednesday, October 1, 2025 1:39 PM
To: STARKSMITH Gesse * SLO <Gesse.STARK-SMITH at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:Gesse.STARK-SMITH at slo.oregon.gov>>
Cc: Collaborative Virtual Reference <collaborative-vr at omls.oregon.gov<mailto:collaborative-vr at omls.oregon.gov>>
Subject: Re: [collaborative-vr] Contingency Planning for Services funded through LSTA
Thank you Gesse for coordinating this conversation! See you then.
Carla
On Wed, Oct 1, 2025 at 12:14 PM STARKSMITH Gesse * SLO via collaborative-vr <collaborative-vr at omls.oregon.gov<mailto:collaborative-vr at omls.oregon.gov>> wrote:
Hi All,
Just a reminder that I am hosting a zoom meeting tomorrow at 1pm Pacific Time for anyone who wants to discuss contingency planning for LSTA-funded virtual reference services.
Here is the zoom meeting information:
Gesse Stark-Smith is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Contingency Planning for LSTA-funded Virtual Reference Services
Time: Oct 2, 2025 01:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81825741094?pwd=rnbuHadgB33gcBUmZVm7Y9eKtGYJG9.1
Meeting ID: 818 2574 1094
Passcode: 247701
---
One tap mobile
+12532158782,,81825741094# US (Tacoma)
+13462487799,,81825741094# US (Houston)
Join instructions
https://us02web.zoom.us/meetings/81825741094/invitations?signature=m3IctOeY2rUS0QP8ci31-hPrbEWf5odrGCsKujiZMB4
Gesse Stark-Smith, MIS (she/her)
Virtual Reference Coordinator
State Library of Oregon
gesse.stark-smith at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:gesse.stark-smith at slo.oregon.gov> | 971-600-4992
www.oregon.gov/library/libraries<https://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries>
Work Schedule: Mon 8-2, Weds & Thurs 8:30-4
[Logo for the Library Support & Development Services division at the State Library of Oregon]<http://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries>
From: collaborative-vr <collaborative-vr-bounces at omls.oregon.gov<mailto:collaborative-vr-bounces at omls.oregon.gov>> On Behalf Of STARKSMITH Gesse * SLO via collaborative-vr
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2025 9:54 AM
To: Collaborative Virtual Reference <collaborative-vr at omls.oregon.gov<mailto:collaborative-vr at omls.oregon.gov>>
Subject: Re: [collaborative-vr] Contingency Planning for Services funded through LSTA
Hi All,
I’ve heard back from a couple others who are interested in discussing this topic and we will be holding a zoom meeting on Thurs. 10/2 at 1pm Pacific time. You are all welcome to join if you are interested!
Zoom info:
Gesse Stark-Smith is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: My Meeting
Time: Oct 2, 2025 02:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81825741094?pwd=rnbuHadgB33gcBUmZVm7Y9eKtGYJG9.1
Meeting ID: 818 2574 1094
Passcode: 247701
---
One tap mobile
+12532158782,,81825741094# US (Tacoma)
+13462487799,,81825741094# US (Houston)
Join instructions
https://us02web.zoom.us/meetings/81825741094/invitations?signature=m3IctOeY2rUS0QP8ci31-hPrbEWf5odrGCsKujiZMB4
Gesse Stark-Smith, MIS (she/her)
Virtual Reference Coordinator
State Library of Oregon
gesse.stark-smith at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:gesse.stark-smith at slo.oregon.gov> | 971-600-4992
www.oregon.gov/library/libraries<https://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries>
Work Schedule: Mon 8-2, Weds & Thurs 8:30-4
[Logo for the Library Support & Development Services division at the State Library of Oregon]<http://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries>
From: collaborative-vr <collaborative-vr-bounces at omls.oregon.gov<mailto:collaborative-vr-bounces at omls.oregon.gov>> On Behalf Of STARKSMITH Gesse * SLO via collaborative-vr
Sent: Wednesday, September 3, 2025 10:09 AM
To: Collaborative Virtual Reference <collaborative-vr at omls.oregon.gov<mailto:collaborative-vr at omls.oregon.gov>>
Subject: [collaborative-vr] Contingency Planning for Services funded through LSTA
Hi All,
Hope September is treating you well so far!
I’m writing because I’d love to connect with others who might be working on contingency plans for virtual reference services that are currently funded through LSTA given the uncertainty of this funding after our current fiscal year. Please reach out to me if this is something you would like to discuss over email or in a virtual meeting.
Thanks!
Gesse Stark-Smith, MIS (she/her)
Virtual Reference Coordinator
State Library of Oregon
gesse.stark-smith at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:gesse.stark-smith at slo.oregon.gov> | 971-600-4992
www.oregon.gov/library/libraries<https://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries>
Work Schedule: Mon 8-2, Weds & Thurs 8:30-4
[Logo for the Library Support & Development Services division at the State Library of Oregon]<http://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries>
--
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Carla Steinberg Pfahl, Librarian
Outreach & Instruction / AskMN.org Coordinator
Minitex<http://www.minitex.umn.edu/> / University of Minnesota
60 Wilson Library
309 19th Ave So
Minneapolis, MN 55455
pfahl001 at umn.edu<mailto:pfahl001 at umn.edu>
<mailto:pfahl001 at umn.edu>
Office: 612-626-6845
Cell: 612-432-7025
Minitex: 1-800-462-5348
elibrarymn.org<https://elibrarymn.org/>
askmn.org<http://askmn.org/>
ebooksmn.org<http://ebooksmn.org/>
I acknowledge that the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities is located on the traditional, ancestral, and contemporary lands of the Daḳota people.
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