So, there's a lot going on right now...

It's such a cool time right now...

I've pretty much finished purchasing items from our BTOP PCC grant. (Just a few final things like nook covers and a new switch for the network.) NOW, I get to do all the fun stuff like creating in-house procedures and training. I am definitely looking forward to the training - the staff is literally chomping at the bit to get their hands on our new Nooks, iPad and Kindle....

I'm getting more into screencasting and video making... We'll soon be able to offer instructions on many of our services right from our website, making the library accessible 24/7.

And then, fundraising. There is a big push at MPL to focus on our debt shortfall in this next year - and here I am, trying to raise extra funds for Overdrive. Looking heavily into the new Amazon Prime and Kindle deal to see if this can be of benefit to our library...

Many other things going on - but must go now and bring coffee home. It is Saturday morning, after all!

eRate Success Stories

DeLilah Collins, Co Dept Ed
Mary Vernon, Marmot Library Network
Sheila Henry, Rocky Ford Public Library
Mindy Kittay, Anythink - Rangeview Library District
Sandy Messick, La Junta Woodruff Memorial Library

Every dollar counts... it's money in your pocket!

Mindy has been doing this for awhile, and her hardest part is coordinating with IT for new purchases, kind of looking into a crystal ball!

Sandy doesn't have that problem, as they are a smaller library, and she is the entire department!

anythink is integrating their tech plan into their strategic plan...

What is the hardest part of eRate?

Sandy says that is is ALWAYS hard at the beginning. she is continually confused with allowable cost, and how to work it in to her future budget. the forms can definitely be intimidating, but the forms are simpler than they were even a few years ago.

Mary says that it is hard to predict the future, and that a real tech plan is necessary.

Mindy has multiple years going on at once, and it's hard to keep track of.

Any advice for new eRaters?

Sheila says that getting your schools info asap has made everything so much easier.

Mary says to get your things turned in early if possible.

Mindy says to document, document, document. She keeps all emails together in one place. All forms in another binder - there CAN be an audit process.

Sandy has folders for everything for each year, and a list of important numbers. She keeps good relations with the finance department, because they will have to get her their billing statements, etc.

Funds for eRate Manager, used by the State - it keeps track of everything for her and can generate the BEAR form for her. there are different tools available to help you manage your information.

Mary collects the bills throughout the year, and applies for everything all at once.

Christine Kreger noted that the eRate year is different from normal library years (Jan-Dec) - eRate is July through June, and your tech plan MUST be for a whole eRate year, or they can deny your funding.

DeLilah mentioned that if you have RFPs, just do them at the same time that you do your Form 470.

Training this fall - dates not scheduled yet, she will be working with the BTOP trainers to train her to train!! she will come to our area, but it would be appreciated if there were multiple libraries in attendance... Durango doesn't do it, Dolores hires a consultant. Bayfield does it - call Joannie and ask if Cortez does it.

BEST Conference, August 25 & 26, 2011

I'm here in Breckenridge, CO and raring to go! Several friends and esteemed colleagues are here, and I'm about to head down to check-in/registration.

I'll be live blogging the event, so you can get my [quick] notes here!

MPL has Received a BTOP Grant!!

Finally, a project that will get me blogging!!

The Mancos Public Library has received notice that we have been awarded grant monies to total $23,571 for new technology in the Library!

Earlier this year, February to be exact, we were notified by the Colorado State Library (CSL) that they were organizing a state-wide opportunity to apply for a federal BTOP grant for Public Computing Centers in Colorado. The Mancos Library District was identified as a district that has a low income population, as well as low Broadband/Internet opportunities, and would qualify to apply for BTOP funds through the CSL grant.

While at the Annual Colorado Association of Libraries Conference (#CALCON10), I spoke with Sharon Morris, CSL, and she informed me that the State BTOP grant came through! As a result of their efforts, 76 libraries in the state will receive a total of $3.3 Million for technology!

We will find out more information in the weeks ahead, and I look forward to sharing this information, and the process, with you!

CALCON09 Session Notes I: Keynote - Lee Raine of the Pew Institute

Lee Raine - New Information Ecology

Friday, 20 Nov 09 - Opening Keynote

Talked about Twitter

"Tweckle" - to abuse a speaker only to twitter followers

2000

46% adults use internet

5% get broadband @ home

50% use cell

0% connect wirelessly

<10%>

= slow stationary connections built around my computer

2009

77-79% adults use Internet

63% get broadband @ home

85% use cell

54-56% connect wirelessly

2/3 of all use cloud

=fast mobile connections built around outside servers and storage

47% adults own laptops - up from 30% in '06

How digital tech has changed things for your patrons and their networking behaviour

• Variety of information and sources of information grow
• Velocity of information increases and smart mobs emerge (Howard Rheingold, Clay Shirky)
• Venues of intersecting with information and people multiply and the availability of information expands to all hours of the day and all places we are (nielsen company)
• People's Vigilance for information changes in two directions 1. attention is truncated (Linda Stone) 2. attention is elongated (Andrew Keen; Terry Fisher) (Andrew Keen: The Cult of the Amateur - book)
• The Vibrance and immersive qualitites of media environments makes them more compelling places to hang out and interact - metaverse roadmap project 1. virtual worlds, 2. mirror worlds. 3. augmented reality (most vitality right now)
• Valence (relevance) of information improves - search and customization
• The Voice of information democratizes and the visibility of new creators is enhanced. Identitiy and privacy change

31% of adult internet users have rated a person product or service online

social networks become more vivid and meaningful. Media-making is part of social networking. 'Networked Individualism' takes hold. Barry Wellman

Tech Tuesdays - Personalization and Connections

For about six months or so, I've been spending one hour a week with patrons and their technology questions. Technology Office Hour, a one-on-one session, was developed in an effort to customize, streamline, and personalize the learning process. In the past, I had struggled with some computer classes, and how to 'deliver' information that was well-paced, personal, and relevant to each individual. Classes were small, and attended by such a variety of ages and ability; it seemed that no matter how I described the session content, the attendees were so disparate that I wondered if I was really helping them as much as I was able.

The Power of Personalization

One thing that all my students have in common is the desire to learn through doing. Many times classes evolved into purely question and answer sessions, and I realized the value of a question that is answered specifically - seeing someone's eyes light up with understanding and excitement always won out over any doubts I may have had over class format.

The Beginning

During a normal workweek, part of what I do is answer 'short' questions from patrons. While I was able to help most of the time, there were many times that I wished I could just drop what I was doing, and devote more time to what they needed.

I discussed this feeling with my Director, Patsy Smith, and she gave me the go-ahead to 'set up shop' at our special use computer, and start giving weekly, personalized, one-on-one sessions. Patrons were then able to come in and ask any computer or Internet question, and I would do my best to help.

Not knowing what to expect, I did no publicizing, except for a notice in our weekly paper and word of mouth. I expected patrons to come in on a first-come-first-served basis, but it quickly evolved into people calling ahead for reservations.

Recently, I have expanded the program to two 45 minute sessions per week, and am booked on average about two weeks in advance.

It Works Both Ways

The benefit really is in the personal attention I give and receive from my students. I've found that they are less intimidated by the computer when I sit next to them and interact as we go. I've had a huge range of questions and abilities walk through the door; some are hardly familiar with the mouse, and most of the session consists of gently reminding them how many times they are to click on something and general navigation. Others that have questions about specific websites or software have been the most fun for me, as oftentimes I am hearing about a product that I was unaware of in the past.

But both types are teaching me as well. I am beginning to sense what types of learning styles people have, as well as how hard or lightly I need to push students to learn more.

Connections

I know that I will continue to learn and to be challenged by my students. It is truly enjoyable to see someone 'get it'; but this has evolved into something deeper. While I am still able show my passion for technology and helping people, my students have opened up to me, and can reveal their passions as well. Learning, sharing experiences, connecting with each other's excitement - it doesn't get any better.


Photo: Thank you, Perfecto Insecto.