Connect at the Library

The Oil City Connect at the Library Contest starts tomorrow.*

The Library and the Internet are Partners!

General Situation: Rural and small town libraries, those serving fewer than 25,000 people, make up four-fifths of all public library systems in the United States.

Question: What is the impact of public access computing in rural/small town libraries?

In general the challenges faced in a small town library are: lack of computer-savvy staff, geographic isolation, absence of an adequate tax base, and a generally depressed economic environment. The availability of goods and services in rural communities and small towns is more limited. With less dense populations, and longer distances for delivery of goods, commodities can be less available and more costly. As a result of these limited resources, expectations of available services are often lower, be it the choices available in the grocery store or the opportunity found in the library.

Answer: Libraries have prospered with public access (PA) computing (TEXT: The Impact of Public Access Computing on Rural and Small Town Libraries, Linda Heuertz, M.L.S. et al Public Access Computing Project, Evans School of Public Affairs, University of Washington Seattle, Washington, January 2003). They are more visible in their communities, they have more patrons, and they appreciate being able to provide greater access to a “world of information.” Rural librarians, perhaps partially because of familiarity with their patrons, are more content with their roles than their urban counterparts. Overall, rural and small town library staffs are extremely pleased with public access computing and feel it is a positive addition to their library. The staff of small town/rural libraries is significantly more likely than urban/suburban staff to:

1. Feel that the library's reputation has been enhanced in the community;
2. Enjoy the way their job has changed with PA computing; and
3. Say they have better access to information with the Internet.

We think small town/rural libraries can help lead their communities to improvement!

Small town/rural libraries provide an array of services similar to their larger urban/suburban counterparts, but they do so with fewer staff and often with modest budgets. In most cases, small libraries develop and maintain collections that include books, serials, and audio/video materials. They answer reference questions and/or help patrons find their own information. And they provide programming for their patrons—especially for children. PA computing libraries are able to offer faster and more comprehensive information access and reference services as well as improved education and communication opportunities for their patrons. In addition, libraries that offer PA computers are bringing in new patrons and current patrons are spending more time at the library.

What did we find in Oil City?

A community able to provide a decent working budget for services and activities, while other rural/small town libraries are struggling. The Oil City Library (OCL) is included as a line item in the city budget and while the Library directly competes with other basic services such as maintaining the streets, police and fire protection, it is funded.

Oil City has: deep historical community support, extensive unique resources (microfilm collection of all newspapers published in Oil City since the 1870’s), recognized competence (the OCL is the District Library for 14 other libraries in Western Pennsylvania) and on-going fundraising efforts that range from grant writing to the support found in the exclusively local, civic-minded organization Belle Lettres.

The Librarians in Oil City are doing exceptional work, providing an outstanding example of service -- including a collection finely tuned to communities’ interests, rich and appropriate programming for all ages, and a well-developed PA computing service.

What we would like to foster with *THE CONTEST* is 1) a creative partnership between local businesses, clubs, organizations, and community agencies to enhance the City’s image to its citizens through the foundation of community service that the Library already exemplifies, and (ultimately building on the notions of the Contest) 2) introduce the virtual expansion of the Library with city-wide unregulated wireless support and the availability of a low-cost open source based computing platform. Genesi would like to pilot a power2people project in Oil City.

What is THE CONTEST?

The principle objective of the Contest is to drive appreciation of the OLC through community participation, both as a consumer and a participant in the Library’s function as an service provider to the Community. The OLC is a Library that has achieved a stature far beyond by any common standard applied to a community the size and condition of Oil City. The OLC can be a rallying point for Community pride and a useful common denominator to all the Community’s citizens. The Contest is driven by a list of questions targeted at various patron categories. The themes of the Contest is ‘Discovery’ and ‘lifelong self-learning.’

The Contest questions will be characterized by the following features: inspire a Library visit with an emphasis on the use/discovery of Library resources and features (this includes the individual Staff members!) and be targeted to the category. While the subject matter is not limited, special consideration will be given to questions highlighting the history of Oil City and it citizens.

The initial prizes were collected simply in an area geographically defined by the square city block in front of the Library, which contains: four places to eat, four Banks, one confectionary and one DVD/video rental store. Future contests can involve a broader area and the involvement/contribution of the providers in exchange for sponsorship. In the first instance, $500 of prizes have been purchased and are being donated by Genesi. At the Banks we obtained a $25 Visa Gift Cards and matched it to a $50 Savings Bond application. These prizes are for the kids (and while we cannot mandate a Savings Bond be purchased this is our intent). The prize for the family category were thought to be best tied to a “family event” and in this case are a shared meal. There are four $50 and four $25 certificates. There are also various smaller prizes to be awarded to contestants that participate, but do not win a category, such as, a hot chocolate, a desert, a single breakfast or a movie rental. Prizes are thought best to highlight and benefit local businesses, stimulate association to the use of the Library (that may be a stretch) and create a spirit of community.

The Scheme of the Event is initially thought to proceed in this manner: Phase 1, announcement and promotion (22 August - 5 September), Phase 2, Connect at the Library (5-9 September), Contest Results and fanfare (10 September), Phase 4 (the rest of September and so on) Next. A successful Event would be defined as one that would be perpetuated. Genesi would be willing to continue to act as a Sponsor for the Contest if the Community steps forward to continue the effort.

So, we are off to the Library to finish the questions!

R&B

* Connect at the Library, Page 2