Project Videonet

Survey of Videoconferencing Use Among U.S. Public Libraries

Detailed Findings - Libraries Outside California

NOTE:  The number of responses per question is provided in each table below.  Sixty-nine libraries responded to the survey, out of 134 surveyed.  Some questions were not answered by all libraries, resulting in fewer than 69 total responses for those questions.  Some questions had multiple responses (resulting in more than 69 total responses for those questions). 

FUNDING

HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD YOUR VIDEOCONFERENCING EQUIPMENT?	% RESPONSE - (number included in %) TOTAL RESPONSES = 69
1 year or less	12% (8 out of 69)
2 years	7% (5 out of 69)
3 years	22% (15 out of 69)
4 years	12% (8 out of 69)
5 years	14% (10 out of 69)
6 years	9% (6 out of 69)
7 years	4% (3 out of 69)
8 years	4 % (3 out of 69)
No answer	13% (9 out of 69)
Not yet active	1.5% (1 out of 69)
Don't have own system	1.5% (1 out of 69)

HOW DID YOU FUND THE PURCHASE OF THE EQUIPMENT? (See Note 1)	% RESPONSE - (number included in %) TOTAL RESPONSES = 66
Grant from State or State Library	25% (16 out of 66)
Grants (not specified)	14% (9 out of 66)
Library System	12% (8 out of 66)
State Grant plus individual donations	7.5% (5 out of 66)
New building funding/capital bond issue/budget capital request/capital equipment funds	7.5% (5 out of 66)
LSTA Grant	6% (4 out of 66)
Local funding plus grant funds	4.5% (3 out of 66)
Private funds plus grants	3% (2 out of 66)
No answer or not sure	14% (9 out of 66)
Other responses*	7.5% (5 out of 66)

*Other responses (1 each):  Municipal cable franchise fees; a gift; trust fund; Federal ISCA funds (Title II); city budget

NOTE 1:  Some systems were funded by a combination of sources.  For example, local foundations, university, non-profit, or corporate grants make up one "grant" response.  Community tax dollars are also included in one library's funding dollars which was primarily funded by the State Library.  Fundraising and other donations also make up part of the funding for several libraries.

HOW DO YOU FUND ONGOING OPERATIONS?	% RESPONSE - (number included in %) TOTAL RESPONSES = 68
Library funds/general operations budget	41% (28 out of 68)
State Network	7% (5 out of 68)
Local government and other sources	7% (5 out of 68)
E-Rate plus  (See Note 2)	6% (4 out of 68)
Charge users/collect fees	4% (3 out of 68)
Library System	3% (2 out of 68)
Don't know or no answer	24% (16 out of 68)
Other*	7.5% (5 out of 68)

*Other - New, haven't used yet; cable TV and general budget; LSTA and fees; state and library budget; grant and operations budget

NOTE 2:  Funding includes E-Rate plus LSTA, non-specific grants, the State, or operations budget 

USE FOR LIBRARY PURPOSES

APPROXIMATELY HOW MANY TIMES DID YOU USE VIDEOCONFERENCING EQUIPMENT FOR THE INDICATED LIBRARY PURPOSES LAST YEAR?	% RESPONSE - (number included in %) TOTAL RESPONSES (TOTAL NUMBER OF TIMES USED) = 123
Administrative meetings	28% (35 out of 123)
Staff training	34% (42 out of 123)
Employment interviewing	4% (5 out of 123)
Patron (adult/family) programs	13% (16 out of 123)
Children's programs	9% (11 out of 123)
Other  (See Note 3)	11% (14 out of 123)

NOTE 3:  Some libraries responded with the number of times they used videoconferencing for purposes other than those listed but did not provide the actual purpose.  The specific purposes listed were (1 each):  Teleconferencing series; State sponsored programs (such as Highway Department, Health Department, Agricultural Committee); Library to library; System and remote testing; Education/training/distance learning from a University; Demos to other sites; Used room to train public on PC use (didn't use videoconferencing capability)

Administrative Meetings:

# of Times Used	Total # of Sites	# of Times Used	Total # of Sites	# of Times Used	Total # of Sites
2	2	8	2	37	1
3	3	10	2	40	2
4	2	12	2	48	2
5	6	20	1	50	1
6	4	30	1	75	1
7	2	35	1

Staff Training:

# of Times Used	Total # of Sites	# of Times Used	Total # of Sites	# of Times Used	Total # of Sites
1	3	6	4	20	2
2	7	8	1	24	1
3	3	10	5	25	3
4	3	12	1	50	1
5	4	15	3	58	1

Employment Interviews:

# of Times Used	Total # of Sites
1	2
2	1
3	1
15	1

Patron (adult/family) Programs:

# of Times Used	Total # of Sites	# of Times Used	Total # of Sites
1	3	10	1
2	1	22	1
3	5	25	1
5	1	30	1
8	1	45	1

Children's Programs:

# of Times Used	Total # of Sites
1	3
2	4
3	1
5	1
16	1
100	1

Other Program Purposes:

# of Times Used	Total # of Sites	Specific Program
5	2	N/A
24	1	N/A
25	1	N/A
49	1	N/A
155	1	N/A
1	1	Teleconferencing Series
5	1	State Sponsored Programs
Not indicated	1	Library to Library
6	1	System/Remote Testing
11	1	PC Training (no videoconferencing capability used)
205 + ongoing classes	4	Education/Training/Distance Learning classes from University (MLS and other classes)
6	1	Demos to other sites

COMMUNITY USE

DO YOU MAKE VIDEOCONFERENCING AVAILABLE FOR USE BY COMMUNITY GROUPS, BUSINESSES OR OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES?	% RESPONSE - (number included in %) TOTAL RESPONSES = 69
Yes	64% (44 out of 69)
No	17% (12 out of 69)
Don't Know	4% (3 out of 69)
No answer	15% (10 out of 69)

APPROXIMATELY HOW MANY TIMES WAS YOUR VIDEOCONFERENCING EQUIPMENT USED BY INDICATED TYPE OF OUTSIDE GROUP LAST YEAR?	% RESPONSE - (number included in %) TOTAL RESPONSES (TOTAL NUMBER OF TIMES USED) = 115
Community or non-profit organizations	17% (19 out of 115)
Businesses	8% (9 out of 115)
Local K-12 schools	15% (17 out of 115)
Government	23% (26 out of 115)
Other (See Note 4)	14% (16 out of 115)
Not applicable or No answer	24% (28 out of 115)

NOTE 4:  Other specific groups cited were (1 each unless otherwise indicated):  College classes (3 libraries); Community College (3 libraries); University extension; Other library organizations; Health Department; Medical CE; Graduate library school program; Community programs

Community or non-profit organizations:

# of Times Used	Total # of Sites	# of Times Used	Total # of Sites
1	3	12	1
2	2	20	1
3	3	24	1
5	1	30	1
6	1	32	1
8	1	50	1
10	1	125	1

Businesses:

# of Times Used	Total # of Sites	# of Times Used	Total # of Sites
1	3	9	1
4	1	10	1
5	1	12	1
8	1

Local K-12 Schools:

# of Times Used	Total # of Sites	# of Times Used	Total # of Sites
1	5	12	1
2	1	15	1
3	2	20	1
5	1	25	2
10	2	60	1

Government:

# of Times Used	Total # of Sites	# of Times Used	Total # of Sites	# of Times Used	Total # of Sites
1	2	7	1	40	1
2	8	8	1	80	1
3	4	9	1	100	1
5	1	10	1
6	1	15	1

Note:  One library indicated they had used videoconferencing for 188.75 hours.

Other:

# of Times Used	Total # of Sites	Specific Group
1	1	N/A
2	2	University Extension/other library organization
5	1	Health Department
8	1	Medical CE
10	2	Medical training/college classes/graduate school program
11	1	Community programs
41	1	N/A
49/108 (See Note 5)	3	Community College
60	1	N/A
70/175 (See Note 5)	3	College classes

NOTE 5:  Two libraries indicated the number of times they'd used their videoconferencing equipment for Community and College classes, two libraries did not provide numbers.

WHAT IS YOUR USAGE POLICY AND FEES CHARGED OUTSIDE GROUPS?	% RESPONSE - (number included in %) TOTAL RESPONSES = 65
Not applicable or no answer	49% (32 out of 65)
No written policy	9% (6 out of 65)
State Network sets fees	6% (4 out of 65)
No charge for outside groups	6% (4 out of 65) - See Note 6
Policy under development	5% (3 out of 65)
Actual charges (telecom + other)	3% (2 out of 65)
Other (See Note 7)	21% (14 out of 65)

NOTE 6:  One library regards this as a service; another will provide no staff support for outside groups (outside groups are only at the discretion of the Library Director)

NOTE 7:  One library does not publish their policy and one library does not make their policy available to the public.  Two libraries (Fayette Public Library, IA and Suburban Library System, IL) have mailed their policies.  We have only received Suburban's policy.

Other libraries reported: 

• Videoconferencing equipment - $75 - $125 per hour depending on the purpose and organization [library association meetings/programs, $75/hour; other outside groups and organizations, $125/hour]
• Peripherals - $25/hour for computer with LCD; $15/hour for a VCR with monitor
• Room charges - $50 for evenings and Saturdays for library association meetings/programs; $75 - $100 per hour (depending on the room used) for other groups and organizations
• Any other telecommunications or bridging charges are extra.  There is a two-hour room and equipment minimum required, although fees may be waived at the discretion of the SLS Executive Director.   

Other policies are listed below (one library each unless otherwise indicated):

• $75 to connect plus $90/hour for non-sponsored videoconferences (not sponsored by libraries in the system) plus $50 room rental (using the fees collected to pay for videoconference upgrades)
• $100/hour site charge plus $50/hour for a technician, if needed (not mandatory)
• No charge to attend as a remote site for library system programs; State Library (ICN/IPTV) sets fees for telecom charges; individual sites may (or may not) set a site fee.  Two libraries charge $12.50/hour site fee.
• Usually free - charges $10 before or after regular library hours
• Hourly charges for ICN connection based on current video rates set by the Iowa Telecommunications and Technology Commission (http://www.icpl.org/meetingrooms/policy/php and http://www.silo.lib.ia.us/for-ia-libraries/ICN/current-charges.html)
• $50/hour per site for state agencies and non-profits only
• Free to non-profit organizations.  May charge a $25 maintenance fee.  Business and for-profit groups pay $20 for the first hour, $10 for each additional hour (to a maximum of $50).  Additional charges apply if using library technology.  http://www.wlpl.org/policy-meeting.shtml
• Originating agency charged $8/hour
• No fees if program is sponsored by the library - Recreation Department has control and shares with the library
• $100/hour plus long distance and bridging charges if outside the Illinois Video Network plus any additional costs plus $10 administrative fee (applies to government and non-profits not affiliated with the library system; also applies to member libraries use for non-educational events and /or administrative uses).  There is also a $20/hour room fee.  For-profit agencies charges:  $20/hour room fee + $150/hour plus any long distance and bridging charges if outside IVN plus any additional costs plus $10 administrative fee (http://www.ltls.org/Policies/FacilUse_Fee%20Table_062298.pdf)

DO YOU ACTIVELY MARKET TO OUTSIDE GROUPS?  DESCRIBE	% RESPONSE - (number included in %) TOTAL RESPONSES = 69
Not applicable, none or no answer	74% (51 out of 69)
Don't market/no longer actively market	12% (8 out of 69)
Various marketing efforts (Note 8)	14% (10 out of 69)

NOTE 8:  How libraries market (1 each):

• Newspaper, cable TV, radio
• Fall within State Network guidelines
• Ad in Chamber of Commerce Newsletter
• Word of mouth
• Send postcards to businesses
• Website, ads in local newspaper, school newsletter, senior citizens centers, mailings to specific target groups (such as home school families)
• Open house for business and organizations in the local area (few came)
• Listed as a service on library website (http://npl.sfasu.edu); also has a printed brochure
• Contacted area colleges regarding Masters programs and other classes offered via the state network (ICN)
• Marginal marketing done

WHAT COMMUNITY FEEDBACK HAVE YOU RECEIVED REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF VIDEOCONFERENCING?	% RESPONSE - (number included in %) TOTAL RESPONSES = 69
Not applicable, no answer or none	62% (43 out of 69)
It's great!	22% (15 out of 69)
Saves time/travel	7% (5 out of 69)
Community needs more exposure to it	3% (2 out of 69)
Other*	6% (4 out of 69)

*Other responses (1 each):  Limited availability due to library hours; limits imposed by State Library; lots of requests but no time to accommodate business; waste of money - could have offset taxes

WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN HAVING YOUR ORGANIZATION INCLUDED IN A WEB-BASED DIRECTORY?	% RESPONSE - (number included in %) TOTAL RESPONSES = 69
Yes	55% (38 out of 69)
No	35%  (24 out of 69)
No answer	10% (7 out of 69)

VIDEOCONFERENCING EQUIPMENT AND NETWORKING INFORMATION

WHAT TYPE OF NETWORK DO YOU USE FOR VIDEOCONFERENCING?	% RESPONSE - (number included in %) TOTAL RESPONSES = 87
Single-line ISDN	9% (8 out of 87)
Multi-line ISDN	18% (16 out of 87)
Proprietary Network	21% (18 out of 87) - See Note 9
Internet	25% (22 out of 87)
Satellite	15% (13 out of 87)
Internet 2	1% (1 out of 87)
Other	2% (2 out of 87) - See Note 10
No answer	8% (7 out of 87)

NOTE 9:  17 libraries that responded are part of ICN (Iowa Communications Network), a dedicated Fiber Optic network.  1 library is part of the Illinois Videoconferencing Network, also a private dedicated network.

NOTE 10:  These respondents indicated they have dedicated T1's as their videoconferencing access.

DESCRIBE YOUR LIBRARY'S FORMAL OR INFORMAL COLLABORATIVE ARRANGEMENT WITH OTHER LIBRARIES OR INSTITUTIONS	% RESPONSE - (number included in %) TOTAL RESPONSES = 69
Statewide Network (See Note 11)	41% (28 out of 69)
Consortium of School Districts/Higher Education	12% (8 out of 69)
Regional Library Systems (See Note 12)	9% (6 out of 69)
Main library plus branches	2% (1 out of 69)
No answer or not applicable	38% (26 out of 69)

NOTE 11:  Indiana, Iowa, Illinois and Ohio have Statewide Networks.

NOTE 12:  Regional library systems may include libraries, schools, and community based organizations.

DESCRIBE IF YOU HAVE PLANS TO CHANGE THE TYPE OF VIDEOCONFERENCING EQUIPMENT/NETWORK YOU USE IN THE FUTURE	% RESPONSE - (number included in %) TOTAL RESPONSES = 69
No changes planned, not applicable, no answer	86% (59 out of 69)
Looking into IP	7% (5 out of 69)
Just upgraded to IP last year	3% (2 out of 69)
Other*	4.5% (3 out of 69)

*Other responses (1 each): Changed from IP to ISDN (due to lack of available bandwidth); upgrading network (no details given); upgrading to IP this year (2003)

FREQUENCY OF USE/ NETWORK TYPE	LOW (0-10)	MEDIUM (11-20)	HIGH (20 +)	PART OF A NETWORK OR SYSTEM?
INTERNET	5	3	3	YES - 11
ISDN - See Note 13	10	3	8	YES - 10 NO - 11
PROPRIETARY NETWORK	6	1	11	YES - 18
SATELLITE	4	2		YES - 1 NO - 5
MULTIPLE NETWORKS			1	YES - 1
NO ANSWER	1		1	YES - 1 NO - 1

NOTE 13:  Of those libraries with ISDN, but not part of a videoconferencing network or system, 8 had low frequency of use, 1 had medium use, and 2 had high usage.

ADDITIONAL NOTE:  Only 59 libraries provided Frequency of Use responses.  Of the 59, 44% had low usage (26 out of 59 responses), 15% had medium usage (9 out of 59), and 41% had high usage (24 out of 59).  71% (42 out of 59) are part of a videoconferencing network or library consortium.  29% (17 out of 59) are single libraries.

This research project is a component of Project Videonet, which is working to build a framework for cooperation among the more than 40 California public libraries equipped with interactive videoconferencing.  Project Videonet is supported by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.   For more information about Project Videonet, contact project manager Dan Theobald of i2i Communications at 415-431-0329 or via email at dtheobald@i2icom.com.