(With a little help from your friends)

State College, PA October 26, 2012

Building Digital Communities

Small print

This will take time. Maybe money. Definitely time.

These programs will

take time.Maybe money.

But time.

These programs will

take time.Maybe money.

But time.

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Why do we do this?

• Reinventing the wheel isn’t fun.

• Stories are powerful.

• We think you should know what is happening in International Falls, MN.

Framing the Conversation: OITP1. How do we motivate and support library

staff in staying current? 2. What are the perceived obstacles that

interfere with the continuing education process?

3. What resources or continuous learning models are already available to the profession, and what are their pros/cons?

4. What can we learn from other professions that are responding to the digital shift?

Digital Inclusion Projects

Building Digital Communities (IMLS-funded)

The Edge Initiative (Gates Foundation-funded)

What is digital inclusion?

The ability of individuals and groups to access and use information and communication technologies.

Digital inclusion encompasses:•access to the Internet and to hardware and software•relevant content and services•training for digital literacy skills

Building Digital Communities Framework

Help communities attain the vision of digital inclusion in:•economic and workforce development•education•health care•public safety•emergency services•civic engagement•social connections

Testing the Framework

2-day

workshop•9 communities•libraries, community-based organizations, and local government•Educators, health, influencers

Libraries head the table

How do you assemble the table?• “I know of no local technology

advisory committees in this area and I certainly don't have the knowledge or information to meet with an IT decision maker.”

• “Government agencies frankly haven't time nor the inclination to cooperate with libraries even when given a great plan.”

Take a tip from Malcolm Gladwell• Connectors: make change happen

through people• Mavens: make change happen

through ideas & information• Salesmen: make change happen

through persuasion

Activity: consider, record, share

Six months after the workshop

“It is a straightforward roadmap for how to get something that is quite

vague and sort of blue sky into a real place.”

- Dodge City, KS participant

What we’re learning from the triads

Core team increases brainpower, broadens stakeholders & surfaces new opportunities

Digital Inclusion is “on the brain”

Community assessment is a priority

Gather stakeholders early

Partner and get outside the building

Fitting the pieces together

PA Forward

Building Digital

Communities

Edge Initiative

State competencies Connect2Compete.org

Community level

Community level

Digital literacy

initiatives

Digital literacy

initiatives

Teaser: this may help

Teaser: this may help

Edge Initiative: LibraryEdge.org

• Aspirational benchmarks: for high quality public access technology services

• Resources for reinvestment: demonstrate the value and need to decision makers

Who is involved?• ALA OITP• Bill & Melinda Gates

Foundation • California, Texas, &

Oklahoma State Libraries• International City/County

Management Association • LYRASIS • OCLC/WebJunction• PLA• TechSoup Global • Universities of Maryland,

Washington• Urban Libraries Council • Hundreds of libraries (and hopefully yours)

What will it look like?

• No teasers, unfortunately…– Voluntary online

assessment– Scores, based on your

peers, size– Help resources– Reports, talking points– Other needs?

Benchmark categories

Community ValueExternal practices that connect the library to the community

Engaging the Community & Decision Makers

Specific programs, services, & support that enable people to get value from their use of technology

Organizational ManagementInternal management & infrastructure

Benchmark One• Training

– Structured– One-on-one

Benchmark Two• Access to digital content

– Software– Monitor service

Benchmark Three

• Job-seeking– Software– Content, training– Survey community

Benchmark Four• Government and legal information

– Links, content, training– Survey community

Benchmark Five

• Education support– Software– Exam prep, proctor– Survey community

Benchmark Six• Health and wellness

– Links, content, training– Survey community

Benchmark Seven

• Community planning– Board membership– Meetings – Survey community

Benchmark Eight• Partnerships

– Sharing, collaborating– Outreach activities

Benchmark Nine• Share best practices

– With other orgs– Conference

presentations – On TechSoup,

WebJunction…

Benchmark Ten• Plan for technology

– Hardware/software replacement– Policies, plans

Benchmark Eleven

• Staff competency– Support learning– Accountability

Benchmark Twelve• Bandwidth

– Sufficient capacity– Time management– Peripherals

Benchmark Thirteen

• Tech management– Monitors traffic– Tracks usage

Benchmark Fourteen• Focus on accessibility

– Software/hardware– W3C compliance – Training

Activity: a closer look

1. Write down one concern or worry you have with implementing a particular benchmark.

2. Write legibly.3. Take your time.

TechSoup’s role: content

TechSoup’s role: training

Past Archived Webinars:•Youth-led Tech @ the Library (Benchmark Seven)•From Content Consumers to Content Creators (Benchmark Two)•E-readers for Everyone: Teaching Tips from Trainers (Benchmark One)

Each month, we host free webinars on www.TechSoupforLibraries.org.

Successful libraries…

Aren’t afraid to fail

“You can't fear that you're going to screw up; you just have to get in there and say, 'Okay, I'm going to learn how to do this.'”

- Faye Hover, Smithwelch Public Library, Hearne, TX

“Just give it a try. We call everything a pilot when we begin. That means if it’s not working we will pull out of it. And that helps to ease anxiety in a lot of people. Try it out and see if it works for you, and if not, change it." - Irene Romsa, Poudre River Public Library, Fort Collins, CO

Successful libraries…

Seek partnerships•Guadalupe Community Center, Greeley, CO

“Partnerships are essential in promoting greater exposure for libraries, expanding resources, and

promoting the value of libraries.”- Librarian, Genessee District Library, Flint, MI

Successful libraries…

Leave their buildings – 10% rule– Following a passion

(Jeff Dawson, Two Rivers, WI)

“Getting out into the community helps the library know what the community wants and needs. Instead

of spinning our wheels coming up with really cool programs we're sure people will use and come to, we

can best use the resources we have to serve our community in a more 'spot on' way.”

- Librarian, Ketchikan Public Library, Ketchikan, AK

Successful libraries…

Know their community– Baby steps: survey staff on what they’re learning

from patrons– Teenager steps: modest survey of patrons– Adult steps: partner with other agencies to do a

community assessment (including folks who don’t use the library), include focus groups and other survey tactics.

“This has put a fire to my ideas and we will hold an advertised community forum on library technology

needs.“- Librarian, Naturita Community Library, Naturita, CO

Let’s get back to that fine print…

Daniel Pink video: “Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us”

What can you do to make learning & achieving more

fun?• People want to have control over their

work/lives. (Autonomy)• People want to get better at what they do.

(Mastery) • People want to make a contribution to

something larger than themselves. (Purpose)

• People need personal connections. (Relationships) Added by my colleague, Stephanie Gerding.

What captured your imagination?Please share:

What are your ideas?

• 23 Things (Mastery and Autonomy)• Sister libraries (Relationships)• Yours?

Homework!

• Share. (Benchmark 9)

• Dream.• Don’t be afraid to fail.

Remember Faye?

And tell me about it!

And tell me about it!

Sarah Washburn Sarah@TechSoupGlobal.org

TechSoupforLibraries.org

Resources• Digging into the digital inclusion framework,”

TechSoup for Libraries (TS4L) blog• Libraries Build Digital Communities, includes link to

“Building Digital Communities Worksheet,” TS4L blog• Maven, Connector, or Salesperson: what’s your archet

ype? Productive Flourishing site

• Building Digital Communities Framework, IMLS• Do you ‘do’ digital inclusion?” TS4L blog• Digital Inclusion through the lens of local government,

TS4L blog• Edge Initiative, LibraryEdge.org• Libraries Transforming Lives: the Guadalupe

Community Center, TS4L blog• 23 Things Learning 2.0• “Drive” video, Daniel Pink

Webinars

• ALA OITP: Creating a Culture of Learning: How Librarians Keep up with Digital Media and Technology (11/11/12)

• TS4L: Edge series on TechSoupforLibraries.org each month (sign up for newsletter online)

Photo credit

• Flickr user NJ Library Assoc.: West Deptford (NJ) Library's Computer Class with Instructor Carolyn Wood

• D. Pink video: And make the world a little bit better!

• Flickr user TZA: Brain