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Strategies for Public Library PAT and Broadband Enhancement. John Carlo Bertot Center for Library & Information Innovation University of Maryland jbertot@umd.edu. The Public Access Context. Workstations Wi-fi Databases/e-resources Peripherals Training Support Staffing
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Strategies for Public Library PAT and Broadband Enhancement John Carlo Bertot Center for Library & Information Innovation University of Maryland jbertot@umd.edu
The Public Access Context • Workstations • Wi-fi • Databases/e-resources • Peripherals • Training • Support • Staffing • Interrelated, complex • Local, regional, and state roles, services, resources
The Public Access Context • Libraries continue to try and expand public access • When possible, procure additional broadband • Adding wi-fi • But • Space • Buildings • Capacity • Availability (workstation time limits) • Staff • Expertise • Bandwidth not available/affordable • Bandwidth procured different that what is available • LAN • End user experience
Public Library Service Roles • Shifting to a community of service • 5 core Internet-enabled service roles emerging in public libraries • Employment • Education • E-government • Health Information • Emergency Management/Response • Some are clearly extensions of traditional library roles, but are increasingly linked to public access technologies and broadband
Key Public Access Questions • How do we “sell” the library’s Public Access Technology/Broadband needs? • How do libraries get more broadband? • Aggregation • Collaboration • Partnerships • Policy influence • NTIA BTOP • E-rate
Public Libraries…. • ….build communities, don’t just connect them • Anchor institutions • PAT is a community benefit, not just a library responsibility
Community PAT • Service roles increasingly rely on public library for success of others • Schools • K-12, community college, university, professional/vocational • Employers • Government agencies • Health providers • First responders • Need to look across community and demonstrate shared responsibility
Library PAT • Need to look across PAT environment • Not treat workstations, wi-fi, broadband, e-resources separately • Each has a cost, support, staff requirement and the sum is greater than the parts
Aggregation • Procurement • Broadband • Training • Support • All more efficient and effective if conducted through aggregation • Consider aggregated models for broadband, tech support, e-resources, service role support (e-government, for example)
NTIA BTOP/E-rate • NTIA BTOP • NOFA just released • Opportunities for libraries, but…. • Public Computer Center (LAN) • Sustainable broadband (training/education) • Extent to which libraries qualify for broadband build out is an issue • Unserved/underserved defined as consumers (residential) • Cannot succeed without partnerships and collaborations • E-rate • Still a viable model and available to libraries
Policy Wars • Need to be involved in the policy making process • BTOP is an excellent example • Anchor institutions, but not really • Follows the tried and true telco, business, consumer model of telecommunications policy • Libraries are none of the above
Concluding Comments • PAT is a community resource • PAT increasingly support employers, government agencies, educational institutions, health services, and emergency services • Aggregation and community-wide approaches are critical • http://www.liicenter.org/plinternet/PAT_ALAPresentation11July09.pdf