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WebJunction: An Online Center for Learning and Training. WebJunction Background. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s 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
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WebJunction: An Online Center for Learning and Training
WebJunction Background • The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s 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 and partners a three-year grant • Purpose: • Carry forward the Foundation’s work • Build a Web-based, public access computing community for learning and training and supporting each other
Our Philosophy Read Learn Join In!
Community Partner Program Pilot Program: Began in June, 2004 for the State Libraries of Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, New Mexico, and Washington. Customized Content and Services • Co-Branded Service: Users will be able to navigate between Community Partner web sites and the global WebJunction • Localized Content: Community Partners will be able to customize content for the libraries they serve. • Community Specific Forums: Members will continue to be able to access the global forums as well as partner specific forums • Community Specific Learning Center: Members will continue to be able to access the global course catalog as well as partner specific courses.
WebJunction Quick Stats • 115,000+ Unique Visitors • 11,287 Registered Members • Top 10 States: • Texas – 477 • Ohio – 459 • Michigan – 419 • Washington – 493 • Illinois – 359 • Florida – 399 • Iowa – 373 • California – 373 • New York – 328 • Colorado - 403 • Pennsylvania – 328
WebJunction Learning Center Online courses, downloadable lessons, training tips and other tools
Learning Center Statistics Self-paced Online Courses are popular: • 9577 total enrollments in Learning Center by 3520 unique learners • WebJunction’s… • Certificate of Completion at end of course • Troubleshooting: 460 enrollments • Searching the Web: 489 • Browsing the WWW: 316 • Evaluating Web Sites: 251 • Media Relations: 124 • Designing a Library Web Site: 153 • Popular Third-party Courses: • HTML: 284 • Intro to PCs: 287 • Windows Office 2000: 293
New: E-Train Clearinghouse • Creation funded through IMLS • Searchable database of digital courses and programs offered through schools of Information Science, state libraries, regional associations • Information on grants and scholarships • Working on user requirements now • Beta release in June 2005 • Final release in September, 2005 • Content development with partners begins in October
New: Community Partner ProgramDistributed Learning Management • Course registration and management • Course authoring • Course catalogs • User registration and management • Reporting and evaluation
New: “Workshop Central”Building Communities of Interest at WJ • Spanish Language Outreach • WebJunction.org/Spanish • Possibilities in future: • Rural Library Sustainability
Future Plans for the Learning Center • More self-paced online courses • New Tools for training delivery • Synchronous Learning Tools • Ability to offer cohort-based, pre-set programs • Managing Public Access Computers Program (MPAC) • Learning/training content and skills assessments in 5 areas: Technology, Resource Development, Planning, Advocacy, Training • Ability for libraries to get a snapshot of staff skills needed to sustain public access computing
Presenter • Elizabeth Kellison, Program Manager, WebJunction • Kellisoe@oclc.org