What does HSLC stand for? What do they do?
Hosting Solutions & Library Consulting (formerly known as Health Sciences Libraries Consortium). HSLC is a nonprofit organization that contracts with the Office of Commonwealth Libraries (OCL) to provide a suite of resources for academic, public, school, and special libraries in Pennsylvania. Though their contracts with OCL are not all that they do, it is what we will focus on in this document.
What all falls under the umbrella of HSLC?
Access Pennsylvania Catalog & SHAREit
The Access Pennsylvania Catalog and ILL System is a coordinated resource-sharing program of the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Office of Commonwealth Libraries. This program is used by over 1,400 PA institutions for interlibrary loan sharing, providing Pennsylvanians with over 7.8 million titles in a variety of formats.
POWER Library
POWER Library refers to the collection of e-resources that cover a wide variety of topics including reference, auto repair, business, health, news, science, children’s resources, and more. POWER Library includes subsets for various audiences, like POWER Kids and POWER Teens to help the user focus on the resources applicable to their needs.
- Outreach Materials: Bookmarks, brochures, graphics, and more!
- Individual E-Resource Logos: Great for websites, social media graphics, and more!
- E-Resources Links: Do all of your library’s POWER Library links include your PL code? Generate your links so your library’s usage is accurate.
- Statistics: Speaking of statistics, you can view your library’s at this link using your PLxxxx code and the universal “powerweb” password.
- Stay Up-to-Date:
PA Photos & Documents
PA residents can explore thousands of digitized documents and photographs from unique collections in libraries across Pennsylvania. Visit PA Photos and Documents to find collections related to art, religion, newspapers, PA history, and more. Libraries are also invited to work with the program to upload their own collections. The SCANPA project is facilitated by HSLC and supports this project by digitization.
CWAL: Chat With a Librarian (Formerly Ask Here PA)
Thorough Chat With a Librarian, PA residents can ask reference questions anytime, day or night. The person on the other end is a real librarian.
Residents can use the program via various channels: online chat, email, or text.
- Chat or Email: https://powerlibrary.org/chat/
- Text 717-527-3866 (Monday – Thursday from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. or Friday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
For Librarians Page
The “For Librarians” page, linked toward the bottom, right corner of the homepage, leads librarians to statistics, marketing materials, graphics/logos, and more to utilize and promote the Office of Commonwealth Libraries-funded resources available through HSLC.
Find a Library/Library Status Form
Members of the public use this feature to search for library hours and services. Update the form as hours or services change. Library Status Form Link Password: (contact your Consultant)
Email Lists
HSLC hosts the statewide resource email lists like PAMAILALL, PAPUBLIB, PAPLDIRECTOR, and PAYOUTH. (Check out the Full list available.) To subscribe to relevant email lists, send a message to ra-lists@pa.gov with the following: Your name, position title, name of your library, and the list(s) to which you wish to subscribe.
Website Hosting
HSLC is currently hosting several websites for OCL. Most notable of these are:
- Compendium: https://compendium.ocl-pa.org/; Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Cruise into Kindergarten: https://cruiseintok.powerlibrary.org/ (public) and https://cruiselibraries.powerlibrary.org/ (for libraries)
- PA One Book: https://paonebook.powerlibrary.org/
Last updated September 2023
This information is provided to the best of our knowledge as of the date provided. Information is subject to change without notice. While authoritative, it is not guaranteed for accuracy or legalities. If there are questions, please reach out to your district consultant, who may encourage your library to ask a local solicitor/lawyer for further guidance.