-
GETTING THE EDGE!
October 29, 2015
Lourdes AcevesSenior Program Manager, Edge InitiativeUrban
Libraries Council
Where People Connect,
Communities Achieve
-
Seattle Public Library. Photo credit: Flickr user Jeff
Maurone
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffmaurone/2505572445/
-
Free and open access to digital information
Job center at the Richland County Public Library, SC
-
Free and open access to technology
Learning and discovering at Sacramento Public Library, CA.
-
Edge Coalition
Where People Connect,
Communities Achieve
-
What is Edge?
An assessment and planning tool for public libraries to evaluate
public access technology and identify how it can be used to help
communities.
Where People Connect,
Communities Achieve
Entrance hall at the New York Public Library. Photo by Sam
Saunders. Used under CC license.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/samsaunders/sets/72157649000244476https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/
-
• Assess current public access technology and how it’s used
• Identify ways to strengthen or enhance public access
technology
• Engage with key leaders about the role for the public library
in improving communities
Why is Edge Important to Public Libraries?
Where People Connect,
Communities Achieve
-
Where People Connect,
Communities Achieve
The Edge Toolkit
BENCHMARKS ASSESSMENT
TOOL
RECOMMENDATIONS &
RESOURCES
TRAINING PLANNING TOOLS COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT
-
3 Strategic Areas: 11 Benchmarks
11 benchmarks to assess public access technology services across
three main areas
Engaging the Community
and Decision Makers
Organizational
Management
Community
Value
Where People Connect,
Communities Achieve
-
Community Value
Teen Brandon Ashlock helps children with a math game during a
Learning on Laptops class at Pearl Bailey Library, Newport News,
VA.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/57865989@N00/7223397362
-
Community Value
Libraries provide programs and services that enable people to
get value from their use of technology.
Digital Literacy
Digital Tools and Resources
Meeting Key Community Needs
Where People Connect,
Communities Achieve
-
Engaging the Community
10th anniversary celebration at Tully Branch Library. Photo by
San José Library. Used under CC license.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/sanjoselibrary/16281630985/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/
-
Engaging the Community
Libraries are a valuable community resource and a strategic
partner in helping people and communities improve their quality of
life.
Strategy and Evaluation
Strategic Partnerships
Sharing Best Practices
Where People Connect,
Communities Achieve
-
OrganizationalManagement
Staff training at Sacramento Public Library, CA.
-
Organizational Management
Libraries manage resources so that members of the community who
need or want access can get it, regardless of ability, skill,
personal technology or available time.
Planning and Policies
Staff Expertise
Devices and Bandwidth
Technology Management
Technology Inclusiveness
Where People Connect,
Communities Achieve
-
Assessment Tool
Chess instruction at Santa Cruz Public Library.Used by CC
license.
Computer training at Towanda Township Library, PA. Used by CC
license.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/santacruzpl/16808924166/in/photolist-i3f4p-i3f4r-6bXF19-rDwX3A-qGD1io-qGCZfm-rDxeqp-rBm8xm-owfna3-owxw2t-owaLQT-of18Ue-occJ6P-5jpGpW-qodmF2-q6PXKj-qodmoD-pQpw2n-oeYRas-ou1itE-exWbhD-oeYFef-9kP4xE-9kL1nv-9kL1mn-oeL4nB-oeKmzL-tDaeXt-u6qiQt-tAP7Hb-rptnve-qsNZZa-9kP4uA-9kP4sJ-9kL1jM-ouk9sU-uvszA-oeQQXs-ouzRKU-7n4w7K-od3qKQ-7n8pS7-ougiiK-od3yTm-57CV9K-9nfLA6-rpvcf1-9njy9Ghttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/https://www.flickr.com/photos/ravik694/2671551975/in/album-72157606186224704/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/
-
Where People Connect,
Communities Achieve
Community of Watertown• Mid-size suburban community, 115,000
population
• Larger library service area encompassing a large county
• High Latino population
• 19% poverty
• Lower test scores in some neighborhoods
• Large industry downsize in town
• Education level – mixed
• Library Budget $2.1 million ($19 per capita)
• Two library buildings
-
Recommendations & Resources
Detroit Public Library, grand re-opening of Parkman Branch with
Knight Digital Access computer system. Photo by the Knight
Foundation. Used by CC license.
Juniors Helping Seniors, Darien Library (CT). Photo by Darien
Library. Used by CC license.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/9133668@N08/8122514082https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/https://www.flickr.com/photos/darienlibrary/4905112331/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/
-
Librarians fundraising at Missoula Public Library. Photo by
Missoula Public Library. Used under CC license.
Planning Tools
https://www.flickr.com/photos/missoulapubliclibrary/5635041811/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
-
• Helps libraries contextualize their scores
• Provides peer comparison data to help libraries determine
priorities and make strategic decisions
• Based on completions of the assessment from a representative
national sample of public libraries
Peer Comparison Report
Where People Connect,
Communities Achieve
-
Time to look at your peers
-
Peer comparison report: more help setting goals
Where People Connect,
Communities Achieve
Were the points achieved above/below the peer group average in
certain strategic areas?
As a library, where do you want to be in relation to the
national average?
-
Peer comparison report: more help setting goals
Where People Connect,
Communities Achieve
Were the points achieved above/below the peer group average for
certain benchmarks?
-
Peer comparison report page 2-indicators
Where People Connect,
Communities Achieve
Look at the average scores for your peer group for the
indicators
Where did your library fall above/below the average?
Which indicators have the greatest potential increase in
points?
-
Peer attribute report: what actions are common among your
peers?
Where People Connect,
Communities Achieve
Focus on % response to the attributes17% of this library’s peer
group has technology classes available in languages other than
English
-
Where People Connect,
Communities Achieve
-
• Libraries receive recommendations (“action items”) based on
their responses to the assessment
• Libraries select six to ten recommendations to work on in the
short, medium and long term
• Libraries manage recommendations and monitor their progress
online
Action Plan
Where People Connect,
Communities Achieve
-
Edge Initiative Training Curriculum
-
Tools for Community Engagement
Newport News Mayor McKinley Price and librarian Demetria Tucker.
Photo
by Newport News Libraries. Used under CC license.
Former San José Mayor Chuck Reed speaks at Willow Glen Branch
opening ceremony, August 23, 2008. Photo by San José Library. Used
under CC license.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nnpubliclibraries/13949058162/in/photostream/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/https://www.flickr.com/photos/sanjoselibrary/2840664790/in/photolist-5k29F9-dXJ2Nx-dkM1cL-6NoJ8s-dXPHtG-dXPHzf-dXJ2it-dXJ2si-dXPHhC-dXJ2W6-6tu4ix-ejkfaU-ejkfdJ-5oZPdE-5oZNVQ-dXPJeS-dXPJ6s-dXJ3cc-dXPHT5-dXJ3g4-dXPGKh-dXPHUW-9XCM5g-ejkfhw-5jXhMz-dXJ39t-6tycfb-ejkfcN-ejkffo-fwKTpb-fwvAEM-fwtWNt-fxiH2C-fx4q3z-4wZ2Uo-ejewbH-dXPJjq-bWfoyY-ejkf89-aFdKXc-ejkfb3-ejew1R-ejew3c-ejkfaA-ejkf6W-ejew4t-6sp5h7-55Bsms-fCmzXx-93ubMihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/
-
• Designed to help libraries talk about their Edge results and
tell their story
• Showcase the value of the library to local leaders
• Helps libraries “make the ask”
Executive Tool
Where People Connect,
Communities Achieve
-
WATERTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARYServing the Community through
Public Technology-Related Services
-
THE ROLE OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES
• Libraries are leading the way in providing high-quality public
technology services
• Local libraries offer a welcoming environment and a breadth of
technology resources
• The computer access and training offered at the library are
essential services to the community
-
A COMMITMENT TO IMPACT
21st Century
libraries are
more
impactful
than ever
-
MORE THAN BOOKS
We offer services that cater to our community’s digital and
technology needs and interests:
• Access to Technology: computers, internet, work stations
• eResources: eBooks, eReaders, audio/visual access
• Staff Support: knowledgeable library staff for personal
assistance
-
USE OF LIBRARY SERVICES
Americans ages 16 and
older said they would
embrace technology at libraries and
would be likely to use
the following services:
• 73%: Online research services allowing patrons to pose
questions and get answers from librarians
• 69%: Access to technology “petting zoos” to try out new
devices
• 63%: Apps-based access to library materials and programs
• 63%: “Redbox”-style lending machines or kiosks located
throughout the community where people can check out books, movies
or music
-
EDGE ADVANTAGE
As an Edge library, we’re working to create an
even greater impact on the community
• Edge helps libraries connect their services
to community priorities
• Edge encourages libraries and local
organizations to work together to ensure
they are achieving community goals
-
LET’S WORK TOGETHER
Exploring opportunities to join forces and together help the
Watertown community:
• Develop a Business Resource Information Center (BRIC)
• Procure iPads for use by preschool-aged children preloaded
with early literacy apps
• Hire a Spanish speaking staff member to better serve the
growing Latino population
-
NEXT STEPS
• Working together, we can put our ideas into
action with a few simple steps
• We hope that you will contribute to
strengthening our library's technology
services and further benefitting our
community
-
What Does Success Look Like?
+ + =
LIBRARY PUBLIC ACCESS
TECHNOLOGYPARTNERSHIPS ACHIEVING
COMMUNITY
PRIORITIES
Where People Connect,
Communities Achieve
-
What Does Success Look Like?
Where People Connect,
Communities Achieve
“Edge provides an opinion outside our own to support
recommendations for action… the assessment report gave me data to
back up my view and identify options for action.”
-- Laura Crooks, Alexander County Public Library, NC
“Edge is a way of getting to the detail about every aspect of
technology services without getting overwhelmed [and] allows you to
celebrate your successes and see how you measure up against other
libraries.”
-- Brigitte Blanton, Greensboro Public Library, NC
“[Edge] enabled us to put together our technology road map for
the future. I’m certainly not a technology expert, but I am a
futurist. I want to look three-to-five years down the road to
assess where we want to be and what we need to do today to get
there. Edge helped us take that long-term view.”
-- City Manager Sheryl Sculley, San Antonio, TX
“As a city manager, it is important for me to identify and
implement methodologies that generate valid information on how to
deliver services better to meet community needs. At the end of the
day, we want to increase the number of people using library
services and give the end user a better product. Edge is a valuable
tool for making that happen.”
-- City Manager Tommy Gonzalez, El Paso, TX
-
Where People Connect,
Communities Achieve
Lourdes AcevesSenior Program
[email protected]
Tansy MatthewsProgram
[email protected]
www.libraryedge.org
Contact The Edge Team
facebook.com/LibraryEdge
twitter.com/LibraryEdge
support.libraryedge.org?
Kristi Zappie-FerradinoProgram
[email protected]
