12 Things SWKLS: Thing 9

Introduction

Welcome to the ninth thing in 12 Things SWKLS. This month we will be learning about Floating Collections from the Kansas State Library. Floating Collections allow your patrons to experience different media and your library to access new media for programming.

All of the resources for this lesson can be found at the State Library website under Librarians, Interlibrary Loan, Floating Collections: http://kslib.info/389/Floating-Collections.

The activities for this lesson are due by January 31, 2017 at 11:59 pm CDT and are worth 2 credit hours. Estimated work time: 1.5-2 hours.

If you would rather complete an alternate topic, please go to the alternate topic page and pick one from the list.

Content

The Floating Collections from the State Library contain materials that “float” from library to library. The items do not need to be returned and will remain in your library until another library requests the items.  The statewide floating collection consists of:

• Playaways (preloaded audiobook player)
• Playaway Views (preloaded video player for kids)
• Playaway Bookpacks (easy read-along audiobooks for kids)
• Floating StoryPacks (colorful backpacks with pre-school books and activities)
• Playaway Launchpads (preloaded learning tablets for kids, teens, or adults)

Exercises:  (Due by January 31, 2017 at 11:59 pm CDT)

Tools you will need:

• A computer or internet enabled device.
• An Internet connection.

Activity 1:  (45 min)

1. Read the Overview and What’s Available for each of the 5 Floating Collections at Kansas State Library website.
2. Search for floating collections in VERSO or ShareIt. Do an Advanced Search and use All Libraries, Kansas Main Catalog, and Interlibrary Loan/KS Cataloging.  
   
3. Search under All Headings for terms “floating Playaway”, “floating Playaway view”, “floating Playaway launchpad”, “floating Playaway bookpack”, or “storypack”. Add keywords to narrow the search.
4. Select 2 items to borrow from any of the 5 Floating Collections from the What’s Available list or by searching in VERSO or ShareIt.

Please note that the What’s Available list for Launchpads does not include teen or adult titles. These titles can be found here.

Activity 2:  (45 min)

1. Read Playaway Best Practices under the Floating Collections on the State Library website. The practices refer to Playaways but can also be used for the Playaway Views, BookPacks, StoryPacks, and Launchpads.
2. Create an ILL request for your 2 items. If you are not the person who requests ILLs at your library, ask the ILL person to create the request for you.
3. The Best Practices tell how to request and what to do with the floating collection once it arrives. Please note that the last step in ordering a floating playaway, is to go to the request when it’s in Awaiting Approval and delete all of the locations that don’t have the Floating call number (contact Patti if you need help with this).
4. Do not send the floating collections back to the sender or to another library unless you get an ILL request. Once you receive a floating collection it stays at your library until someone else requests it. Defective materials should be sent to the State Library after filling out a Defective or Lost Playaway form. Defective items, items lost in transit, or launchpads will be replaced by the State Library.
5. If you no longer want to have a floating collection in your library, have your ILL person send a message to the KANILL list or KANLIB-L list with generic info about what you have. When libraries respond, send details including your library code and FPC# of the item you have. Let the list know when your items are taken.
6. Show at least one patron one of the floating collections that you borrowed.
7. Post a comment below with the following:
   1. Your name
   2. What you borrowed (title and media type)
   3. How you used the items you borrowed
   4. How you could use a floating collection in your library in the future
   5. Reply to someone else’s comment
8. Fill out this form for verification.