Virtual Library Services Virtual Library Services for for Rural Communities: Rural Communities: a pilot projecta pilot project

High Plains Library District andHigh Plains Library District and

Eaton Public LibraryEaton Public Library

20082008

Project TeamProject Team

Tamara Meredith, Project ManagerTamara Meredith, Project Manager– Director, Eaton Public LibraryDirector, Eaton Public Library

Susan StaplesSusan Staples– IT Manager, HPLDIT Manager, HPLD

Rita KadavyRita Kadavy– Outreach Manager, HPLDOutreach Manager, HPLD

Bob ArellanoBob Arellano– Maintenance Manager, HPLDMaintenance Manager, HPLD

Eaton School District RE-2Eaton School District RE-2– Tim Unrein, CFO, and GES Principal & LibrarianTim Unrein, CFO, and GES Principal & Librarian

2006 Outlying Area 2006 Outlying Area Needs SurveyNeeds Survey

Key Findings - most wanted Key Findings - most wanted services:services:

– Local delivery, vending machines, Local delivery, vending machines, and online research help were the and online research help were the most requested servicesmost requested services

– Online access and local school Online access and local school access to materials were the most access to materials were the most requested new access methods requested new access methods among all groupsamong all groups

– Expressed strong interest in online Expressed strong interest in online access and trainingaccess and training

– Lack of convenient access was most Lack of convenient access was most cited barrier to usecited barrier to use

Our Rural CommunitiesOur Rural Communities

15,000+ Weld County 15,000+ Weld County residents live more than 5 residents live more than 5 miles from a physical miles from a physical librarylibrary

Limited high-speed Limited high-speed internet, often costlyinternet, often costly

Winter conditions Winter conditions prevent/reduce travel prevent/reduce travel opportunitiesopportunities

Often centered around Often centered around schoolsschools

Community SelectedCommunity Selected

Galeton, COGaleton, CO– 7 miles east of Eaton, CO7 miles east of Eaton, CO– Unincorporated town, no gov’t Unincorporated town, no gov’t

infrastructureinfrastructure– Pop. ~ 500Pop. ~ 500– One school: Galeton Elementary (K-5)One school: Galeton Elementary (K-5)– General store, 2 churches, volunteer General store, 2 churches, volunteer

fire dep’t, post officefire dep’t, post office– Current library services: bi-monthly Current library services: bi-monthly

visits from District’s Bookmobilevisits from District’s Bookmobile

Where?Where?

Galeton NeedsGaleton Needs

HPLD website accessHPLD website access

Eaton School District Eaton School District website accesswebsite access

All-season access to All-season access to materials AND ability materials AND ability to return items locallyto return items locally

Our GoalsOur Goals

Create a sustainable, low-overhead Create a sustainable, low-overhead model that could be replicated in model that could be replicated in other rural communities other rural communities

Provide as many services as possible Provide as many services as possible to rural residents that are available to rural residents that are available in brick-and-mortar librariesin brick-and-mortar libraries

Serve any specialized information Serve any specialized information needs of that communityneeds of that community

Achieving Goal #1: Achieving Goal #1:

Model RequirementsModel Requirements UnstaffedUnstaffed

At least one computer At least one computer terminal w/high speed terminal w/high speed internet for access to internet for access to websiteswebsites

At center of community At center of community (w/in short walk to (w/in short walk to general store, general store, elementary school)elementary school)

Secure (internet, Secure (internet, equipment, etc.)equipment, etc.)

Achieving Goal #2: Achieving Goal #2: First Step: What our HPLD patrons First Step: What our HPLD patrons get…get…

500,000+ items for CKO500,000+ items for CKO

Holds, account info, Holds, account info, databases via our databases via our website/PACswebsite/PACs

Staff assistanceStaff assistance

High-speed internet and High-speed internet and WiFiWiFi

““Place” – warm, Place” – warm, inviting, safe, etc.inviting, safe, etc.

Programs, computer Programs, computer classesclasses

What we can provide in an What we can provide in an unstaffed rural locationunstaffed rural location

• Access to collections via online requests

• Account access, renewals, online databases

• Book return

• High-speed internet connection to local info (schools, media outlets, gov’t info, etc.)

• “Place” - community managed, safe

Achieving Goal #3: Achieving Goal #3: Specialized NeedsSpecialized Needs

Community/school Community/school requests:requests:

– Access to school district Access to school district and 4-H sitesand 4-H sites

– Item delivery to schoolItem delivery to school

– Training for teachers, Training for teachers, studentsstudents

– Materials “on-site”Materials “on-site”

– Available on weekendsAvailable on weekends

SolutionSolution e-Branch “kiosk” (3M)e-Branch “kiosk” (3M)

– HPLD website accessHPLD website access– Any other requested sites (school dist, Any other requested sites (school dist,

news, gov’t info, etc.)news, gov’t info, etc.)– Remote updates, data collectionRemote updates, data collection– Secure internet, frame/caseSecure internet, frame/case

Book returnBook return– Old and FREEOld and FREE

““Take one, leave one” shelfTake one, leave one” shelf

e-Branch e-Branch

Roanoke, Roanoke, WVWV

Armed Services - Armed Services - IraqIraq

El Paso, El Paso, TXTX

Project Planning Project Planning

Where to locate Where to locate eBranch?eBranch?

How to “house” it?How to “house” it?

100% reliable internet 100% reliable internet and power?and power?

Getting requested Getting requested items to patrons?items to patrons?

Promotion of services?Promotion of services?

Opening/closing Opening/closing duties?duties?

Location, location, Location, location, location…location… General storeGeneral store

– Room for kiosk, but Room for kiosk, but afraid it would take up afraid it would take up too much retail spacetoo much retail space

Near post officeNear post office– Not enough set back Not enough set back

from roadfrom road

ParkPark– Managed by church—not Managed by church—not

comfortable with HPLD comfortable with HPLD website, rescinded offerwebsite, rescinded offer

Elementary school Elementary school groundsgrounds

How to house it?How to house it?

In an existing buildingIn an existing building– None available or willingNone available or willing

On old Bookmobile, parkedOn old Bookmobile, parked– Space, power, security Space, power, security

issues…issues…

““Guard house” type buildingGuard house” type building– Permits, prefab or stick-built?Permits, prefab or stick-built?

InternetInternet

One high-speed internet provider (via satellite) One high-speed internet provider (via satellite) reliable only when trees had no leaves…reliable only when trees had no leaves…

Contacted nearby provider looking to expand its Contacted nearby provider looking to expand its territory—worked deal w/LP Broadband and school territory—worked deal w/LP Broadband and school district to mount relay equip. on school in return district to mount relay equip. on school in return for two free internet connectionsfor two free internet connections

Getting requested items Getting requested items to patronsto patrons Deliver items to eBranch buildingDeliver items to eBranch building

– Not secureNot secure

Deliver items to schoolDeliver items to school– Security, only open during school hoursSecurity, only open during school hours

Library “locker” systemLibrary “locker” system– EXPENSIVE!!!EXPENSIVE!!!

Mail to residents’ home addressesMail to residents’ home addresses– Mailing costs, need correct updatedMailing costs, need correct updated addressaddress

Promotion of servicesPromotion of services

Direct mailingsDirect mailings

School PTA newsletterSchool PTA newsletter

SignsSigns

Grand Opening partyGrand Opening party

Ongoing contact Ongoing contact w/students and w/students and parentsparents

Opening/ClosingOpening/Closing

Community Community involvement is “key”involvement is “key”

Keys/responsibility Keys/responsibility to:to:– School librarian School librarian

(opens M-F @ (opens M-F @ 7:30am)7:30am)

– Boys/Girls Club Boys/Girls Club leader (closes M-F @ leader (closes M-F @ 7pm)7pm)

– Community member Community member (weekends, 8-5)(weekends, 8-5)

Our eBranch!Our eBranch!

Corner of 3Corner of 3rdrd Street and Grand View Street and Grand View Ave.Ave.

Galeton, CO 80622Galeton, CO 80622

Future plansFuture plans

Regular meetings/trainings for Regular meetings/trainings for school staff and studentsschool staff and students

Coordinate w/Boys and Girls club Coordinate w/Boys and Girls club for summer reading programsfor summer reading programs

Semi-annual postcard mailing to Semi-annual postcard mailing to Galeton residents w/infoGaleton residents w/info

Contact InfoContact Info

Tamara MeredithTamara Meredith– tmeredith@highplains.ustmeredith@highplains.us– 970-454-2189970-454-2189

Rita KadavyRita Kadavy– rkadavy@highplains.usrkadavy@highplains.us– 970-506-8640970-506-8640