The “SCOOLS” initiative started an early open source library automation community. Six New York State School Library Systems created an open source, web-based catalog to manage interlibrary loans for about 399 schools. The database now holds over 800,000 titles (more than 3 million holdings) and uses the Internet to manage the interlibrary loan process. Currently, 29 School Library Systems in New York State use OPALS’ catalog to support resource sharing and cataloging for over 2500 libraries. This initiative has also been adopted by consortia in other US states and internationally in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and East Asia.

The union catalog facilitates interlibrary loans within and between the six participating regions. Member libraries include resources for PK-12 students and professional resources for teachers and administrators, making it a valuable reference for collection development. Additionally, its z39.50 protocol supports MARC bibliographic records for cataloging new acquisitions.

Searching The SCOOLS Union Catalog
Requesting an Item From ILL Using The SCOOLS Union Catalog
Receiving an ILL Item From a Borrowing Library Using The SCOOLS Union Catalog
Filling an ILL Request Using the SCOOLS Union Catalog
Returning an ILL Item Using the SCOOLS Union Catalog

The DCMO SLS Mentoring Program aims to pair school librarians who are new to their positions with an experienced school librarian from a different component district.  This program provides a mechanism for school librarians new to the field and those who are experienced; to share, learn and communicate with other librarians about the unique challenges of this exciting profession.
Mentor teams meet and communicate regularly.  They share student learning experiences, management hints, lesson ideas, and favorite resources.  They also attend the SLS Administrators Breakfast and Workshop together as well as the Annual Conference of the New York Library Association, Section of School Librarians.

SLS Program Grant Application

SLS Continuing Education Grant Application

Empire State Information Fluency Continuum

NYSED School Library Program Rubric

AASL Advocacy Toolkit

DCMO BOCES SLS Become a School Librarian Libguide