SKOKIENET ANALYSISGrowing Into the Future

KIMBERLY A. REEDLIS754 Information Environment and Project

Management DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY

MAY 1, 2011

Rationale for Project & Objectives• SkokieNet is a library portal that serves as a point of access to a community

project that collects, organizes and shares information about groups and events in Skokie, IL and surrounding areas. The system for collecting, organizing and sharing information is designed to help people participate in a diverse community, share ideas as well as factual information, and solve problems. At this time, information seekers are using new technologies to achieve information about local community events.

• Objectives of this Study? Assess how SkokieNet works in this changing environment.

• Does it function to achieve shared information and bridge the digital divide? • Is the design of the SkokieNet site functioning to achieve its goals of

community participation, or does the site tend to favor some groups more than others?

• Can SkokieNet the website compete with the rising use of new Web 2.0/Library 2.0 tools for sharing information and social networking?

Methods of Data Collection• (1) Over 1,180 submissions contained in 8+ weeks of the SkokieNet archive were

captured and placed on an Excel spreadsheet for statistical analysis of author, category and type of event.

• (2) Three monthly calendars for January – March 2011 were downloaded for qualitative analysis. These calendars report the schedule of events posted by SkokieNet

• (3) Unobtrusive analysis and observation of SkokieNet website took place during the same period.

• (4) Interview with the SkokieNet Librarian, dedicated to providing this service site and technology integrated services, who originated the SkokieNet project. The interview included a discussion of the structure, functioning and future of SkokieNet. The conversation with the SkokieNet manager helped me to assess the observations and ideas in the preliminary analysis.

• (5) Reviewed interview with Director of the Skokie Public Library to understand the structure of the library and the management philosophy of the director and staff librarians.

• (6) Reviewed organization, structure and linked paths in SkokieNet.org and Skokie Public Library online.

SkokieNet Librarian is one of 3 special librarian positions

SKOKIENET Stakeholders in Relationship

Choosing Submissions

Networking to Build Contact Information, Solicit Posts, Reports

SkokieNet Community Site

SkokieNet Network Structure

Accessible from Anywhere, Allows Storage of Massive Data & Applications - Ideal for Future Growth, Liberated from Limits of Old Server

Conclusions and Recommendations

• 1. SkokieNet has evolved to carry information to people in Skokie and beyond, linking to the new tools and resources available on the Internet. While there are more community based pages, these could be linked to library resources as well as the information commons.

• 2. SkokieNet does favor institutions and established community groups such as business and ethnic associations. This is both a strength and a weakness of voluntarism and voluntary submissions. Not clear that anything could be changed without compromising current mission – SkokieNet is not a community online newspaper or a directory of members.

Conclusions and Recommendations

• 3. SkokieNet could benefit from maximizing the usage of social networking sites and coordinating information with those sites. At the present time Facebook and SkokieNet Facebook Page appear to compete. SkokieNet articles can add value to the effort of looking through the website index for more information or community specific posts.

• 4. SkokieNet could benefit from the emerging capacities created by mobile applications and Cloud computing. At this time SkokieNet depends on the Library and municipal government system.

SkokieNet Gantt Chart - Study Timeline