RI Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS)

What RI Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS) does

OLIS is the state library agency of Rhode Island, operating within the Rhode Island Department of Administration. It serves as the central coordinating body for 152 certified libraries across the state's 39 municipalities, administering state aid, federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grants from IMLS, certification, and statewide library programs. With a team of 7 employees based in Providence, OLIS runs the Library of Rhode Island (LORI) network, the OSL Consortium, the Talking Books Library (BARD), and the digital D-LORI platform (a Digital Public Library of America hub). Operational outputs in FY25 included 1,715,728 items moved through delivery and 1,332 continuing education registrations.

The agency does not sell to markets; its operating revenue is structurally composed of state appropriations and federal pass-through grants (IMLS LSTA), with FY25 state aid distributed to libraries totaling $14,088,248 and FY23-FY24 IMLS grants at $1,417,691 and $1,413,623 respectively. Its core service lines are LORI certification, resource sharing and delivery, continuing education, statewide reading programs, statistics and reporting, the Talking Books Library for visually impaired patrons, and grant administration. Underlying technology is standard library infrastructure: KOHA integrated library system, Aspen Discovery, and the D-LORI digital lending platform. Services are provided to government and nonprofit public library entities at no direct charge, consistent with a public-sector agency model.

OLIS's strategic posture centers on maintaining certification standards, distributing federal and state funds, and incrementally expanding digital and community-based programming (e.g., Welcoming Library, Building Community-Based Summers, Programming Kits). The FY27 state aid funded at only 25% of the requested level is the principal fiscal risk and the most significant forward signal regarding the agency's operating trajectory.

Name

RI Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS)

Legal name

Office of Library and Information Services

Website

https://olis.ri.gov

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

OLIS is the Rhode Island state library agency, a 7-employee unit within the Department of Administration that coordinates 152 certified libraries, administers state and federal (IMLS LSTA) funding, and operates shared services including resource sharing, digital lending (D-LORI), and continuing education for the state's public library system.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

State Library Agency Services

NAICS

Administration of Education Programs (923110), Public Administration (92), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL)

Keywords

• State library agency
• Library resource sharing
• LSTA grant administration
• Continuing education training
• Youth reading programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Providence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. State Funding: Primary funding from the State of Rhode Island General Assembly, including State Aid to Libraries at 25% funding level and support for construction reimbursement programs.
2. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Grants: Federal LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) funding through IMLS Grants to States program. Total of $9,809,904 awarded to OLIS from 2020-2024, with annual grants ranging from $1,198,673 (2020) to $1,413,623 (2024). Additional ARPA and CARES Act funding received.
3. Library of Rhode Island (LORI) Sub-Grants: OLIS provides sub-grants to libraries utilizing federal LSTA funds, including LORI Mini-Grants, LORI Project Grants, Summer Reading Program Mini-Grants, and Professional Field Experience Grants for MLIS students.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

OLIS is the Rhode Island state library agency that administers state aid, federal LSTA grants, and certification standards for 152+ certified libraries statewide. It coordinates resource sharing through LORI delivery and interlibrary loan systems, provides continuing education for library staff, and runs statewide reading programs including Summer Reading, Kids Reading Across RI, and the Rhode Island Children's Book Award. The agency also operates the Digital Library of Rhode Island (D-LORI) as the state hub for the Digital Public Library of America and provides Talking Books services for blind and print-disabled residents.

Product overview

The Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS) operates as a state library agency coordinating services across 153 certified public, academic, school, and special libraries. OLIS provides a portfolio of interconnected programs including: LORI certification and resource sharing delivery services enabling interlibrary loan across the state; youth programming services (Summer Reading Program, Kids Reading Across RI, Rhode Island Children's Book Award, Mock Newbery, Programming Kits, StoryWalk Sets); adult services supporting workforce development and digital literacy; continuing education for library staff; grant management (LSTA sub-grants, State Aid); library statistics collection; the Digital Library of Rhode Island (D-LORI) as the state hub for the Digital Public Library of America; the Talking Books Library for print-disabled individuals; and the OLIS Library Presenter Directory connecting libraries with program presenters. Services are delivered through partnerships including the Ocean State Libraries (OSL) consortium, AskRI databases, and the Library of Rhode Island network, with partial funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Talking Books Library
• LORI Certification Program
• Resource Sharing and Delivery Services
• Continuing Education and Training
• Grants and Funding Administration
• Youth Services and Reading Programs
• Adult Services Program
• Library Statistics and Data Collection
• Digital Library of Rhode Island (D-LORI)
• OLIS Library Presenter Directory
• Statewide Reference Resource Center (AskRI)
• Welcoming Library Collections
• Programming Kits and StoryWalk Sets

Quantifiable outcome

• 152 certified libraries served with state aid and resource sharing
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Rhode Island PBSminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2023RI PBS partners on Kids Reading Across RI and Summer Reading Program, featuring Student Reader Search segments and promoting statewide reading initiatives through broadcast media.
• Brown University LibrariescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Brown University Libraries is a key partner in developing the Digital Library of Rhode Island (D-LORI), serving as Rhode Island's hub for the Digital Public Library of America. Brown also received IMLS grants ($100,000 in 2021, $246,419 in 2023) and participates in the Ocean State Libraries consortium.
• Providence Public LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Providence Public Library partners with OLIS and Brown University in the Digital Library of Rhode Island (D-LORI) initiative. Received $532,380 IMLS grant in 2021. Operates as a major urban library system serving Providence residents.
• Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020IMLS provides federal LSTA funding to OLIS, with $9.8 million awarded from 2020-2024. IMLS also provides strategic vision, assistance with LORI Grants, data collection programs, and competitive grants to RI libraries including National Library Leadership Grants and Laura Bush 21st Century Librarians grants. OLIS is one of six state library agencies piloting the Building Community-Based Summers initiative.
• California Library AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020California Library Association leads the Building Community-Based Summers (BCBS) initiative funded by IMLS. OLIS is one of six pilot state library agencies (along with CT, ID, MD, OH, WA) developing shared tools and resources for community-centered summer services.
• Ocean State Libraries (OSL) ConsortiumcoreTechnology or IntegrationOSL is the consortium of Rhode Island libraries sharing a unified catalog, interlibrary loan system, and resource sharing infrastructure. OLIS is a member and coordinates with OSL for delivery, ILL, and technology services including Aspen Discovery and KOHA ILS.
• Rhode Island Center for the BookcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRI Center for the Book partners with OLIS on Kids Reading Across Rhode Island (KRARI), the statewide community read program for children in grades 4-6. The Center also helps distribute book sets and coordinates author events.
• AskRI (Statewide Reference Resource Center)coreOthersAskRI provides statewide online databases and reference resources to Rhode Island libraries and residents, funded primarily through state funds via OLIS. Some databases are paid with federal LSTA funds.
• University of Rhode IslandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Rhode Island provides MLIS program and Professional Field Experience grants enabling students to gain library experience. URI MLIS graduates form the workforce pipeline for Rhode Island libraries.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• California State Library: California's state library agency coordinating library services, administering LSTA funds, and leading the Building Community-Based Summers initiative that OLIS pilots. Highly comparable in mandate and federal partnership role.
• Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners: State library administrative agency for Massachusetts with comparable mandate to administer state aid, LSTA funding, and coordinate library services across public, academic, and school libraries. Directly comparable to OLIS as a neighboring New England state library agency.
• Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Texas state library agency administering state aid, LSTA funds, and library development programs. Comparable to OLIS in statutory role though serving a much larger geographic territory.
• Connecticut State Library: State library agency for Connecticut administering state aid, federal LSTA grants, and interlibrary loan services. Directly comparable to OLIS as a neighboring small New England state library agency with similar statutory coordination role.
• Maryland State Library Agency: Maryland's state library agency and fellow Building Community-Based Summers pilot state. Comparable in scope of statewide library coordination, state aid administration, and resource sharing services.
• New York State Library: State library agency operating within the New York State Education Department, administering statewide library development, LSTA funding, and resource sharing. Comparable to OLIS in mandate and functions, though at much larger scale.
• Florida Division of Library and Information Services: Florida's state library agency providing state aid administration, continuing education, and resource sharing coordination. Comparable to OLIS in mandate and operational functions.
• Ohio State Library: Ohio's state library agency and fellow pilot participant in the IMLS Building Community-Based Summers initiative. Comparable to OLIS in coordinating statewide library services and administering LSTA sub-grants.

Broad incumbents

• Library of Congress: National library of the United States providing services including Talking Books distribution and digital preservation that overlap with OLIS's specialized services. Functions as a broader incumbent in the national library ecosystem.
• Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS): Federal agency that administers LSTA funding to OLIS and all state library agencies nationwide. Comparable as the federal-level counterpart and primary funding source for OLIS's operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/olisri
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ri-olis

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about RI Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS)