In this issue:

Survey Surprises

Libraries on Grantwriting Winning Streak

Thumbs-Up for Hands-On Training

Portrait of a Power User

Archives:

Issue 1
HTML - PDF

Issue 2
HTML - PDF

According to the results of Project Videonet's recent survey of nearly 200 videoconferencing-equipped public libraries across the country, libraries that participate in a videoconferencing consortium are more frequent users of the technology than those not involved in an ongoing collaborative arrangement. Forty-four percent of consortium members videoconference more than 20 times a year, vs. just nine percent of unaligned equipment users.

A videoconferencing consortium is a group of institutions that share a vision, strategy, action plan, and an administrative infrastructure (such as an online membership directory and uniform scheduling protocol) for using videoconferencing. Consortia are much more common outside California. More than 60 percent of out-of-state respondents belong to a videoconferencing consortium, versus only about 10 percent of in-state respondents.

Other major findings include:

• ISDN remains the major telecommunications technology for public library videoconferencing - almost exclusively so in California. However, another type of platform known as IP (for "Internet protocol") is coming on strong in other states, due to flat-rate pricing and/or improved reliability. Outside California, nearly half of equipped libraries are using an IP platform, either the Internet or a proprietary network. (See issue 2 of Videonet Vibrations! for more information on IP-based videoconferencing.)
  
  
• Across all states, the two most common public library videoconferencing applications are staff training and administrative meetings. However, frequency of use is much higher among libraries outside California, with 41 percent using it more than 20 times a year, vs. only eight percent in California.
  
  
• California libraries cited the top three barriers to use as (1) lack of time/interest on the part of library staff, (2) telecommunications expenses and/or or technical difficulties, and (3) room scheduling conflicts.
  
  
• Although about two-thirds of U.S. public libraries make their equipment available to community groups and businesses, only 14 percent do any marketing. Consequently, frequency of use by outside groups is generally low.
  
  
• Among California libraries, the top three videoconferencing needs are (1) more programming, (2) lower telecommunications costs, and (3) availability of more technical assistance (including troubleshooting for chronic problems, mini-guides, and training).

The recent Project Videonet survey (see related article) revealed that public libraries are remarkably resourceful in obtaining grants and other funding help to purchase videoconferencing equipment. Relatively few have paid for it out of their general operating funds.

In California, the Rural Initiative and other LSTA grants have been a major funding source. Other sources mentioned were Air Quality funding (due to travel and air pollution reduction), Institute for Museum and Library Services, and corporate donations. Three libraries have standing agreements to use equipment purchased by and/or located at other government agencies.

For a list of equipment funding sources cited by survey respondents, please visit:

• California Libraries
• Libraries Outside California

Project Videonet's class in videoconferencing fundamentals has gotten its own report card from workshop participants, and it's A's almost all the way. A total of twenty-five staffers from seven public libraries participated in one of the first two workshops sessions (held via multipoint videoconference), and almost all gave the workshop top ratings in terms of technical aspects, content, and interactivity.

Eight more libraries are scheduled to participate in the remaining two workshop sessions; in some cases, sites also are hosting staffs from other libraries in the same region. The number of participating locations is being limited in order to ensure that all attendees get plenty of hands-on time with the equipment.

Additional sessions of the class will be available for rural libraries through next year's Rural Initiative, an LSTA-funded project of the California State Library.

To many public libraries, saving time and money while improving service might sound like contradictory objectives. But mid-way up the western slope of the Sierras, the Nevada County Library has been achieving both since 1998, with the help of videoconferencing.

By reducing the need to travel, videoconferencing has helped make it less expensive and more convenient to participate in meetings and trainings, both for library staff and for members of other agencies and community groups that use the library's equipment. And the technology has helped bring new services to the community which would have been impossible or prohibitively expensive to provide otherwise, including public programs with authors David Macaulay and John Jakes, and virtual field trips to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the San Diego Zoo.

Project Videonet's recent survey (see related article) found that most videoconferencing-equipped public libraries in California used their equipment fewer than a dozen times last year. Nevada County Library reported using it nearly 30 times.

Why so popular in Nevada County? One major success factor appears to be across-the-board acceptance by the staff. In the course of producing a wide variety of videoconferencing programming over the past five years, this writer has communicated with nearly ten different staff members at the Nevada County Public Library, in contrast to most other libraries, where one person is usually "in charge" of videoconferencing matters.

Across-the-board adoption of a technology is usually associated with tops-down support. Nevada County Library's successful track record with videoconferencing began under director Francisco Pinneli, who left recently to head the Santa Maria Public Library. Pinneli explains that the technology seemed tailor-made to the challenges he and his staff were facing: "The mountains were tough to travel in bad weather, and we couldn't afford the expense to send staff members to large cities for training or find workers to replace them while they were gone.

"But with videoconferencing, we could participate from right in the library, and involve more staff members than we ever could with off-site training."

Pinneli emphasizes the word "participate." Although videoconferencing incorporates the use of a television set, it isn't for couch potatoes. It's an interactive medium that allows for questions from learners and the lively exchange of ideas with trainers and other participants.

Public libraries are always looking for ways to cooperate with local K-12 schools, and the Nevada County Library has found that sharing its videoconferencing technology with non-equipped schools is a wonderful way to strengthen a relationship. From video author visits to virtual field trips, videoconferencing can open a window on the world - and to other library resources -- for rural students.

"Teachers are always excited when I can find a videoconferencing opportunity to tie in with a lesson plan," says Lucinda deLorimier, who handles children's programming for the library. She notes that programs related to the area's rich Gold Rush history are a big draw.

"Many people living in nearby Grass Valley are descended from Cornish miners, who came to California from England during the Gold Rush," deLorimier says. "In fact, Grass Valley has a sister city -- Bodmin -- in Cornwall. Last year, fourth- and fifth-graders from Grass Valley came to the library to videoconference with children the same age in Bodmin. This exchange turned into a great learning experience about time zones, as the Cornish students had just finished their school day, while the Grass Valley kids had just started theirs."

The library also has promoted videoconferencing as part of its public meeting room service. "We supported the local historical museum, which organized a virtual tea party for county residents interested in exploring their Cornish past," says deLorimier. During the videoconference, senior citizens from Grass Valley talked with counterparts in Bodmin to trace their family histories.

Other county agencies also are mastering virtual travel by renting the libraries' videoconferencing equipment instead of hitting the road.

"The Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District uses our videoconferencing equipment to hold virtual meetings with members at the Plumas County Board of Supervisors in Quincy," says deLorimier. "They were thrilled that members didn't have to take all day to drive to meetings, especially in winter. And fewer cars on the highway mean less pollution in the air. Videoconferencing helps our Air Quality folks 'walk the talk' as far as curbing unnecessary travel."