This document discusses building digital communities through public libraries. It provides an overview of several initiatives focused on digital inclusion, such as the Building Digital Communities framework and the Edge Initiative. The framework aims to help communities achieve digital inclusion in areas like education, health care, and civic engagement. The Edge Initiative establishes aspirational benchmarks for high-quality public access technology services in libraries. The document discusses strategies libraries can use to implement these initiatives, including forming partnerships, leaving their buildings, and understanding community needs through assessments. It emphasizes that achieving digital inclusion takes time and may require resources like those provided through TechSoup.

1. Building Digital
Communities
(With a little help from your friends)
State College, PA October 26, 2012

2. Small print
These programs
will take time.
Maybe money.
But time.
This will take time. Maybe money. Definitely time.

3. TechSoupforLibraries.org
FREE content
DONATED
FREE events + Products
FREE resources (save 80-90%)

4. Why do we do this?
• Stories are
powerful.
• We think you
should know
what is
happening in
International
Falls, MN.
• Reinventing the wheel isn’t fun.

5. Framing the Conversation: OITP
1. 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?

6. Digital Inclusion Projects
Building Digital Communities
(IMLS-funded)
The Edge Initiative
(Gates Foundation-funded)

7. 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

8. 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

9. Testing the Framework
2-day workshop
•9 communities
•libraries,
community-based
organizations, and
local government
•Educators, health,
influencers

10. Libraries head the table

11. 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.”

12. 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

13. Activity: consider, record, share

14. 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

15. What we’re learning from the triads
Core team Partner and get
increases outside the building
brainpower,
broadens
stakeholders
& surfaces
new
opportunities Gather
stakeholders
early
Digital Inclusion
is “on the brain”
Community assessment is a priority

16. Fitting the pieces together Community
Community
level
level
Building Digital
Communities
State competencies Connect2Compete.org
PA Forward
Digital
Digital Teaser: this
Teaser: this
literacy
literacy
initiatives
initiatives Edge Initiative may help
may help

17. Edge Initiative: LibraryEdge.org
• Aspirational benchmarks:
for high quality public
access technology services
• Resources for reinvestment:
demonstrate the value and
need to decision makers

18. 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)

19. What will it look like?
• No teasers,
unfortunately…
– Voluntary online
assessment
– Scores, based on your
peers, size
– Help resources
– Reports, talking points
– Other needs?

20. Benchmark categories
Community Value
External 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 Management
Internal management & infrastructure

21. Benchmark One
• Training
– Structured
– One-on-one
Benchmark Two
• Access to digital content
– Software
– Monitor service

22. Benchmark Three
• Job-seeking
– Software
– Content, training
– Survey community
Benchmark Four
• Government and legal information
– Links, content, training
– Survey community

23. Benchmark Five
• Education support
– Software
– Exam prep, proctor
– Survey community
Benchmark Six
• Health and wellness
– Links, content, training
– Survey community

24. Benchmark Seven
• Community planning
– Board membership
– Meetings
– Survey community
Benchmark Eight
• Partnerships
– Sharing, collaborating
– Outreach activities

25. Benchmark Nine
• Share best practices
– With other orgs
– Conference
presentations
– On TechSoup,
WebJunction…
Benchmark Ten
• Plan for technology
– Hardware/software replacement
– Policies, plans

26. Benchmark Eleven
• Staff competency
– Support learning
– Accountability
Benchmark Twelve
• Bandwidth
– Sufficient capacity
– Time management
– Peripherals

27. Benchmark Thirteen
• Tech management
– Monitors traffic
– Tracks usage
Benchmark Fourteen
• Focus on accessibility
– Software/hardware
– W3C compliance
– Training

28. 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.

29. TechSoup’s role: content

30. 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.

31. Successful libraries…
Aren’t afraid to fail
“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
“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

32. 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

33. 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

34. 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

35. Let’s get back to that fine print…
Daniel Pink video: “
Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us”

36. 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.

37. What captured your imagination?
Please share:

38. What are your ideas?
• 23 Things (Mastery and Autonomy)
• Sister libraries (Relationships)
• Yours?

39. Homework!
• Share. (Benchmark 9) And tell me
And tell me
about it!
about it!
• Dream.
• Don’t be afraid to fail.
Remember Faye?

40. Sarah Washburn Sarah@TechSoupGlobal.org
TechSoupforLibraries.org

41. 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 archetype?
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

42. 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)

43. 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