WebJunction

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Continuing the work of the Bill Melinda Gates
Foundation Presented by Jeff
Stauffer WebJunction Service Manager Date 3
February 2005
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Agenda

• Background
• Site Overview
• Status
• Collaboration Opportunities
• How to Get Involved

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Background

• The Bill Melinda Gates Foundations U.S.
  Library Program
• 46,000 computers
• 11,000 libraries in the United States and Canada
• Five-year initiative
• Targeting public libraries serving less-affluent
  communities
• May 2002 Bill Melinda Gates Foundation awarded
  OCLC a three-year grant
• Purpose
• Carry forward the Foundations work
• Build a Web-based, public access computing
  community

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The Mission

• Build an online community for public access
  computing
• Support front-line staff at libraries, CTCs, and
  other organizations
• Create a forum for collaborative knowledge and
  experience sharing
• Focus on information technology policy and
  practice

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The Partners
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The First Step Research

• Conducted Needs Assessment in US and Canada
• Focus groups
• Electronic surveys
• 2,200 respondents in 43 States, all Canadian
  Provinces, and Various tribal communities
• Extensive Bill Melinda Gates Foundation input
  (via training and support staff)
• Library site visits
• Literature review

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A Cry for Help

• we dont have the funding to attract,
  compensate or retain staff who are experts in
  computing and training issues
• our biggest problem is keeping the computers
  running
• we cannot keep up with technology, its moving
  too fast!!!

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Research Conclusions

• The public access community needs help with
• Staff training !!!
• Technical education and support (software,
  hardware, internet, networking, etc., etc.)
• Building public access capacity
• Management and planning
• Funding and sustainability

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Toward Equality of Access Report
Toward Equality of Access The Role of Public
Libraries in Addressing the Digital Divide
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Toward Equality of Access Report
Toward Equality of Access The Role of Public
Libraries in Addressing the Digital Divide
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Toward Equality of Access Report

• The current challenge for libraries is to
  sustain their ability to provide public access.
  This requires ongoing investment and support in
  five key areas
• Hardware and software upgrades
• Internet connectivity
• Keeping systems running
• Staff training
• Keeping libraries open

Toward Equality of Access The Role of Public
Libraries in Addressing the Digital Divide
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The Result WebJunction
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Philosophy
READ
LEARN
SHARE
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Community Focus

• Community Contributed Content Ideas
• Community Editors Moderators
• Recent Community Focuses
• Systems Librarianship
• Computing Security
• Rural Libraries
• Open Source
• CIPA and Filtering
• Demonstrating Impact

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Site Overview

• Policies and Practices Guidance on technology
  planning, acceptable use policies, accessibility
  issues, marketing strategies, and research and
  statistics on technology in libraries
• Technology Resources Practical tips, tools and
  information to help with computer and Internet
  issues in your public access computing program
• Buying and Funding Information about buying
  discounted hardware and software for your
  library, as well as ideas and practices focused
  on funding of programs for libraries
• Services to Libraries Content organized by
  target audience rather than subject, including
  small communities, children's resources, and Web
  resources for patrons
• Learning Center online courses, downloadable
  lessons, training tips and other tools
• Community Center message boards, best practices,
  awards program, community networking, peer advice

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Learning Center

• Delivering online learning
• Fee vs. Free
• Migrating OCLC Institute course offerings over to
  WebJunction
• Expansion Plans

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Members by Library Size
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What does it mean for individual library staff?

• Participate in continuing education courses
• Participate in the forums
• Shape the future content and functionality
• Connect with members via Member Directory
• Receive Crossroads monthly eNewsletter
• Receive Member-Only communications
• Individuals will not be charged for access to the
  site, organizations will provide access

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Collaboration Opportunities
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PAComputing.org Support Site Transition
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Stats

• 11,000 members since launch
• 150,000 unique visitors
• Course catalog 40 online courses
• Course enrollment 10,000
• Highly active message board community 4,500
  posts
• Monthly eNewsletter, Crossroads 10,000
  subscribers

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The Future of WebJunction
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Community Partner Program

• Cooperative model
• Current Subscribing State Library Agencies CT,
  CO, IA, NM, WA
• Tools to customize WebJunction (Content,
  Community, Learning Center) to make content more
  localized
• Pilot Timeline July 2004 June 2005
• Expansion of Program 2005

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Future Projects

• Projects Underway
• IMLS Training Clearinghouse
• Spanish Language Outreach
• New Projects
• Managing Public Access Computing
• Technology Planning Assessment

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How to get involved

• Register today
• Take advantage of the eLearning opportunities
• Become part of our evaluation team
• Join in the forum discussions on All Aboard
• Apply for a WebJunction Award (or nominate
  someone else!)
• Receive our monthly newsletter, Crossroads
• Network with other community members
• Submit articles, newsletter, or content
  suggestions
• Volunteer to be a WebJunction editor or moderator
• Help us get the word out !!!

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For more information

• Jeff Stauffer
• OCLC
• Service Manager - WebJunction
• Phone [phone]
• Email stauffej_at_oclc.org
• WebJunctions Contact Us page
• - Canadian Needs Assessments
• - Presentation Videos
• - Press Releases
• - Marketing Materials

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Questions (hopefully) Answers