You’ve got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
And latch on to the affirmative
Don’t mess with Mister In-Between

You’ve got to spread joy up to the maximum
Bring gloom down to the minimum
Have faith or pandemonium’s
Liable to walk upon the scene

To illustrate my last remark
Jonah in the whale, Noah in the ark
What did they do just when everything looked so dark?

Man, they said “We’d better accentuate the positive”
“Eliminate the negative” “And latch on to the affirmative”
Don’t mess with Mister In-Between (No!)
Don’t mess with Mister In-Between

This viewpoint, along with “accentuate the innovative,” was the advisory committee’s recommendation as the platform for the new ALA issues brief: U.S. Public Libraries Weather the Storm. After the deluge of the Perfect Storm, many library advocates recognized that with thousands of other entities pursuing funding in this Era of Austerity, a positive and data-driven strategy was going to help drive libraries to the front of the pack.

Need more than a song to energize your advocacy? Join us on October 18 for “Driving Advocacy with Data,” a free webinar sponsored by the ALA Committee on Library Advocacy and the Office for Research & Statistics. Webinar attendees will learn how to interpret the latest data and emerging trends from the 2012 Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study (PLFTAS); access new advocacy and marketing tools including state profiles, issue briefs, and PR templates; and use the data to make the case for your library with elected officials and community stakeholders.

Dr. John Carlo Bertot, co-director of the Information Policy & Access Center at the University of Maryland will lead the tour of the PLFTAS study results. Charlie Parker, executive director of the Tampa Bay Library Consortium, will share examples of Florida library advocacy and how they keep it positive and on target.

Since that first national survey, sponsorship changed a number of times to different units of the American Library Association, NCLIS, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.  The national survey evolved into a much larger effort and became the Public Library Funding and Technology Access Study (PLFTAS) of which the most recent is the 2011-2012 Public Library Funding and Technology Access Study.

The purpose of this blog is NOT to make statistical comparisons related to public library use and access to the Internet between then and now.  But rather, it is to offer a couple of perspectives on public libraries and the Internet in terms of past and future themes.

Some perspectives from many years of being involved in the survey and the earlier development of Internet use and access by public librarians include:

• Public libraries may have been slow initially to connect to and use the Internet, but adopt they did.  And as they increased their use of the Internet and applications related to it, many innovative services and uses – shared catalogs and resources, interactive video, social media, etc. – have  been discovered and implemented which have revolutionized public library “services” and “access” to information. 

• This revolution, however, is a continuous tsunami that will require ongoing innovations as broadband, networking, digital services/resources, cloud computing, etc. continues to explode.  To some extent these developments appear to be much more challenging and possibly more expensive to implement than those in the early 1990s, when the objective as to simply “get connected” to the Internet.

• The extent to which public librarians have received adequate education in the broad areas of information technology deployment, management, and assessment continues to be problematic.  And the extent to which library staff regularly update their knowledge to stay abreast of information technology developments will only become more challenging. Better use of online education, webinars, etc. may help deal with this challenge.

• The degree to which public libraries can continue a balancing act between providing “traditional” library services and digital services is unclear.  As a result of the economic stress that began in 2008, the “new normal” of public library funding may require considerably different models in the provision of services and access to resources that are likely to be network-based.

• Public library apps (see August 8 blog post) and the use of social media to support public library services and access to digital information are only in their infancy.  As the population grows more familiar with apps and social media (and the demography is in the favor of much more user adoption and use in these areas), public libraries will need to exploit these applications and social media to support library services.  Such may be the next BIG challenge for public librarians… but there always will be the next challenge.

Many of the current public library service and information access/delivery issues are quite similar to those in the early 1990s and are likely to continue to be important in the future: literacy, funding, advocacy, etc.  But exploiting broadband and the digital environment for the benefit of public library users will be a critical success factor that simply cannot be ignored by any public library. 

Planning now, strategically, for exploiting information access/delivery/services with the various information technologies available now and in the future is a given … and one that cannot be ignored by public libraries.  Luck and serendipity will have little impact on whether libraries are able to exploit information technologies successfully in the future.  Vision, leadership, innovativeness, and planning are more likely the necessary ingredients to move public libraries into the next era of digital services and information access.

Dr. McClure is the President of Information Management Consultant Services, LLC, imcscrm@attglobal.net

Figure C-17 “Public Library Systems Use of Mobile Technology” from the 2011-2012 PLFTAS shows that overall:

• 14.2% of respondents indicated that the library’s website is optimized for mobile device access;
• 7.2% of respondents said that the library has developed smartphone apps for access to library services and content;
• 11.8% of respondents said that the library uses scanned codes for access to library services and content; and
• 72.7% responded that the library does not make use of mobile technologies.

In all responses, urban libraries had more use and deployment of mobile technology than rural libraries.

The survey questions in the PLFTAS do not provide detailed data on the types of mobile apps being developed in public libraries. Nonetheless, a taste of possible mobile apps that may be of interest to the public can be found at the Mobile (AL) Public Library. A key question here, however, is the degree to which the public can replace public library resources and services with these apps or the extent to which public librarians can create apps that “add value” to public library services and resources.

WebJuction and ALA TechSource held a July 25 webinar on “Bridging the Digital Divide with Mobile Services.” Especially useful were discussions on why mobile services are important to libraries and offering real life examples of mobile services. The instructor, Andromeda Yelton, is the author of the January 2012 edition of Library Technology Reports on the same topic.

A July 23 ALA webinar on the topic “Introducing the Book as iPad App” presents how the boundaries of the book are being stretched with a hybrid mix in elements of film, videogames, and social media with the text traditional to the book. This program is another inroad to better understand the expanding world of library apps. The instructor, Nicole Henning, has a number of resources that are worth reviewing regarding uses and applications for apps. Although the site is academic library oriented, many of the topics can be translated into a public library context.

The results of a March 2012 Pew Research Center survey points to the importance of expanding use of mobile technologies. Nearly half (46%) of American adults own smartphones, and nearly every major demographic group experienced a notable uptick in smartphone market penetration over the last year. A number of folks agree with Dale Lee King, Topeka and Shawnee County (KS) Public Library, that (www.davidleeking.com, April 5, 2012):

“If you haven’t yet started building with mobile in mind, now is definitely the time to start – you are very close to alienating almost half your customers. They are interacting with their favorite sites online using their smartphone (think Facebook, Amazon, YouTube, etc.).”

San Diego Public Library also offers some interesting apps, and it is likely many other libraries also offer such apps. The move to hand held devices and use of mobile apps has been amazing and looks to continue expanding significantly. Is the public library community ready for this next challenge? What is your library developing or planning in the area of mobile apps? Let us hear from you.

Dr. McClure is the President of Information Management Consultant Services, LLC, imcscrm@attglobal.net

The new report highlights how strategic vision and careful management have helped U.S. public libraries weather the storm of the Great Recession, supporting their role as a lifeline to the technology resources and training essential to social inclusion and full participation in the nation’s economy. However, the report underscores the competing concerns that face America’s libraries: cumulative budget cuts which threaten access to libraries and services, increasing demand for technology training and the chronic presence of the digital divide.

 Key findings include:

• 62% of public libraries report that they are the only source of free public access to computers and the Internet in their communities, with an increase to 70% in rural communities.
• For FY2012, 57 percent of libraries report flat or decreased operating budgets, while at the same time, 60 percent of libraries report increased use of public Internet computers.
• 76% of libraries offer access to e-books, an increase of 9% from last year.
• 39% percent of libraries provide e-readers for check-out by patrons.
• 91% of public libraries provide free Wi-Fi, and 74% of libraries report use of Wi-Fi increased in 2011
• For the third year in a row, 40% of state libraries report decreased state funding for public libraries.
• 65% of libraries report having an insufficient number of public computers to meet demand, this increases to 87% in urban libraries.

More key findings are outlined in the Executive Summary, the key findings handout, and this infographic:

 We hope you’ll take the time to look through the full report, which includes state-by-state analysis on public library technology resources, and an illuminating qualitative component from interviews with library directors and staff in Georgia and Idaho.

 Over the new few weeks we’ll highlight different sections of the report, as well as introduce you to the resources we’ve developed to help you use the PLFTAS data to advocate for your own library.

 Thank you to the staff at the 7,252 public libraries that completed this year’s survey. The time you took to provide the data in this report offers valuable information for national, state, and local policymakers, library advocates, researchers, practitioners, government and private funding organizations, and others to understand the impact, issues, and needs of libraries providing public access computing.

Augmenting this dataset are a number of resources, such as the broadband needs assessment studies that the Information Use Management and Policy Institute at Florida State University recently completed. Selected findings from the Florida Rural Broadband Alliance (FRBA) needs assessment and the North Florida Broadband Authority (NFBA) needs assessment offer suggestions that may assist public librarians in leveraging the forthcoming PLFTAS data.

A first finding showed that many rural public libraries are community leaders in broadband public access, use, training, and one-on-one instruction – for both the broadband technology and for accessing broadband resources. Public libraries have great visibility and credibility in their communities… and residents know that they can rely on public libraries for broadband access, training, and assistance.

A second finding was that many community residents and anchor institutions did not understand the importance, uses, and applications of high-speed broadband at their jobs, homes, or in their communities – nor did they understand how high-speed broadband could improve community members’ overall quality of life. The public library can build on its broadband community leadership to help educate and instruct community residents about the basics and importance of the Internet and high-speed broadband.

A third interesting finding was that while some public libraries had a technology plan there were few engaged in community-based broadband planning efforts. The needs assessment showed that it was possible for anchor institutions, (e.g., schools, libraries, county health departments, law enforcement, emergency management agencies, and others) to better coordinate their broadband deployment, training, and applications to leverage broadband services for their local communities.

So, to leverage the 2011-2012 PLFTAS data, public libraries may wish to review two instructional modules on “The Importance of Broadband” and “Community-Based Broadband Planning.” Both of these self-paced tutorials are freely available with supplemental information in the form of a glossary and access to additional broadband resources. These instructional modules can be used on their own and they can be used to leverage and use the forthcoming 2011-2012 PLFTAS data in working with trustees, library staff members, residents, and other anchor institutions.

Dr. McClure is the President of Information Management Consultant Services, LLC, imcscrm@attglobal.net

Some background is in order. Last week Governor Rick Scott vetoed $1.5 million that would support multi-type library cooperatives (MLC) covering different regions in the state. Due to the recession, many public libraries in Florida have had budget cuts of 30-40 percent And over recent years, State Aid to libraries has been reduced significantly to the minimum amount that allows the State to qualify for Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Grants to State Library Administrative Agencies.

While the $1.5 million veto may not sound like much money, the pain likely will be felt disproportionately in rural areas since many of the rural libraries depend on their MLC for a range of IT access, training, and support. As part of this blog, I interviewed a number of Florida public librarians for their assessment of the veto on the digital divide in Florida.

One person commented that the veto was an “insult to injury” given previous cuts and listed a range of IT services, staff, training, and support that likely would be reduced in her rural library. Another thought that the support they had been receiving from their MLC “made the difference” between mediocre and above average IT services. Yet another noted that maintaining high-speed broadband and support services may now become a “luxury.” Still another noted that probably 97% of all the training her library staff received came from her MLC. Other stories and testimonials abound.

We have all read the various strategies and heard the exhortations about how libraries can reduce the digital divide, provide public access to a range of broadband and IT services, offer a range of IT and broadband training, work/collaborate with other community organizations and residents, etc. While these strategies are great ones, at the end of the day, resources (i.e., money) are needed to make these services happen.

Data related to the 2010-2011 PLFTAS on the urban-rural digital divide will be updated in the soon-to-be-released 2011-2012 PLFTAS. These will be most interesting in terms of trends and the degree to which this digital divide between rural vs. urban/suburban is being reduced, or not. But since the data were collected in the fall of 2011, the impact of Governor’s Scott veto on funding Florida MLCs and their support for rural libraries’ IT-related services and training, for example, will not be represented.

As many states complete their annual legislative session this month, we’d all like to hear how individual states fared this year in public library funding. So take a moment to post a quick comment to this blog summarizing how the budget wars affected libraries and the digital divide in your state. Will libraries be better off in your state this time next year?

Despite the anguish and teeth-gnashing of many librarians here in Florida, they will continue to fight the good fight and try to reduce the impact of the digital divide as best they can – especially in rural settings. The veto will just make that task more difficult to accomplish.

But there are a number of very clear conclusions as to reducing the digital divide: first, there has to be political will at all jurisdictional levels that recognizes that the digital divide exists; second, cuts in resources to libraries only make the digital divide worse; and third, people without access to high-speed broadband and related services – whether from the library or not – are disenfranchised residents of this country.

Dr. McClure is the President of Information Management Consultant Services, LLC, imcscrm@attglobal.net

While not directly comparable, it is interesting to consider the Investigative Reporting Workshop reports to preliminary data from the Information Policy and Access Center for the American Library Association 2011-2012 Public Library Funding and Technology Access Study .

 But broadband “subscriber rates,” “connection speeds,” etc. can be messy metrics and the degree to which states, large metropolitan areas, and other communities (including the libraries in these areas) increase broadband capacity is complex. 

Research recently completed at Florida State University’s Information Institute identified the following factors that affect subscribership and an organization’s readiness for better high-speed broadband capacity included:

• Ability to change to a different Internet Service Provider (ISP) and the competitiveness of the broadband market in a particular area.
• Availability of trained Information Technology (IT) staff.
• Quality of the internal network and capacity to use high speed broadband – including age of network and desktop equipment.
• Budget available to support costs for high-speed broadband, deployment, and operation.
• Administrative leadership and staff knowledge about broadband and its importance/use in the organization and to meet user needs.
• Existence and quality of an IT plan.
• Demand from staff and/or clientele for “better” high-speed broadband.

These findings are preliminary but they suggest that the degree to which community organizations such as libraries make decisions regarding broadband and the degree to which states, large metropolitan areas, and local communities subscribe, upgrade, or otherwise reduce the digital divide.

 Although broadband costs are critical in “readiness” decisions, they are not the only factor to consider.  In short, states or metropolitan areas interested in minimizing the digital divide and increasing the deployment and use of high-speed broadband will need a long-term strategy or plan that considers these (and other) local organizational factors.

Readers of this blog may wish to comment on the broadband readiness factors suggested above and the degree to which these (or other) factors have affected decisions in their library about upgrading their high-speed broadband.

Dr. McClure is the President of Information Management Consultant Services, LLC, imcscrm@attglobal.net

But Figures 39-42 also describe the challenges that affect the ability of the public library outlets to help patrons meet their E-government needs.  The figures provide overall assessment of the importance of selected challenges as well as an assessment of this importance analyzed by rural, suburban, and urban public libraries.

The top two challenges assessed in overall importance in meeting public library E-government needs are:

• 56% of respondents assessed as “most important” or “important” that the library does not have enough staff to effectively help patrons with their E-government needs; and
• 51% of respondents assessed as “most important” or “important” that the library’s staff does not have the necessary expertise to meet patron E-government needs.

Thus, E-government staffing issues constitute the greatest challenges faced by public libraries in meeting patron E-government user needs.

To some extent, addressing these two challenges requires additional resources to both hire more E-government library staff and then to engage in ongoing training of the staff regarding E-government services and resources (print and web-based). One study (Section 6.3) regarding public librarians as E-government providers concluded:

Librarians expressed concern and anxiety that they are unprepared to provide the [E-government] services requested by users….  As a result, libraries that embrace the role of E-government service provider must pour significant resources into training staff, most often without assistance from local agencies.  In short, librarians that engage in the provision of E-government services and resources are self-taught and can often lack an essential programmatic perspective.

The irony, however, is that in difficult economic times, such as those we are experiencing now,  the extensive needs of users for E-government and job seeking assistance comes at a time when libraries are least able to hire E-government staff or provide training support.

A quick search on the web and asking selected colleagues found very few formal job descriptions for an E-government librarian (staff or professional). Neither did the search identify many continuing education (CE) opportunities for E-government training, nor formal E-government classes at the various Library Information Science programs outside of the innovative program launched in Fall 2010 at the University of Maryland Center for Library & Information Innovation (now the Information Policy & Access Center).

But there must be more librarian E-government CE opportunities or formal E-government classes or other instructional materials available – perhaps these are in-house and just not publicly available? It would be GREAT if anyone who might be aware of such instructional materials intended to provide basic or updated E-government instruction to librarians would post that information as a comment to this blog.

Dr. McClure is the President of Information Management Consultant Services, LLC, imcscrm@attglobal.net

 The package contains the newest data available, gathered from November 2011 survey responses:

• Press Release templates (local and state level)
• Op-Ed templates (local and state level )
• Topic Handouts (click on your state, “State Briefs” on top right) Color graphics comparing your state vs. national, using new 2011-2012 study data.
• Public Libraries & Employment
• Public Libraries & E-Government
• State Profiles: Current selected study data comparing national and state levels (e.g., Internet connectivity speed, average # of workstations) as well as other state-level resources. *Preliminary 2011-2012 profile data will be available April 1.*

 The new press release and op-ed templates have been crafted with the focus on the crucial role public libraries play as strategic technology partners for digital literacy and local economic development. The templates can easily be customized for media targets at the local, regional, and state levels.

 Download and print the color topic handouts (PDF) for visits with state legislators, as well as local officials. These handouts, along with data on the State profiles (PDF), will also be useful in your communications with your representatives in Congress.

We would appreciate knowing if you have success getting media placement utilizing the templates, or how these materials are being used in your advocacy efforts. Good luck!

Additional summary and analysis of the PLFTAS data suggests the following key points:

• 90% of public libraries help people understand and use government websites;
• 89% of public libraries report that providing access to government information and services is important to their community;
• 80% of public libraries help people apply for E-government services; and
• 68% of public libraries help people complete E-government forms.

The report summarizing the PLFTAS data goes on to state that while public libraries are heavily engaged in E-government services, the library also faces many challenges – which the report further describes. But oftentimes, the demand for such E-government services outpaces the capacity of the library to meet those demands.

A number of local, state, and federal websites have language similar to that at the US Department of Education (FAQ 7) that directs individuals who do not have a computer to the public library.  Indeed, my experience in dealing with E-government services provided by local, state, and federal agencies suggests that many of these agencies regularly refer people for both assistance and computers to their local public library.  In short, these agencies regularly promote the use of public libraries for E-government services, in some instances because the agency has inadequate staff to do so itself.

An important resource for assisting libraries with E-government services is an E-government Toolkit developed by the American Library Association (ALA). Another good example is the Pasco County Library System (FL) Online Government Services Website.  But a key issue in the provision of E-government services and resources to the public is the library’s ability to meet the demand and cost for these services – many of which are described in the ALA Toolkit or at the Pasco County website.

We’d look forward to hearing the experiences of readers in the provision of E-government services from their libraries – what are some of the critical success factors that need to be in place for successful E-government services? How can libraries best meet these E-government needs given the difficult economic times we have currently?  Please offer your comments (“reply”) below to share with others.

We’ll explore these comments, some of the issues raised, critical success factors in the provision of E-government services, and especially consider the costs, benefits, and broadband needs for successful E-government services in the next blog.