How does the programming you’re doing in your Public Computer Center compare to others? What are some suggestions on how best to engage decision makers in your work? How should you think about staffing your PCC? We spent some time at Beyond BTOP sharing our experiences, but what are the best practices in the field? Sarah Washburn, from Tech Soup, led an overview of the Edge Benchmarks. These benchmarks, covering community value, engaging the community and decision makers, and organizational management, will help answer just such questions.
The benchmarks are a voluntary tool to help a library assess how well it is doing, what steps it can take to improve, and provide resources and support materials to help achieve the benchmarks. I heard after the presentation some ways that you all are already planning to leverage these industry standards. One library director is planning to rewrite job descriptions to include technology competencies, and these standards will help her have something to point to if the board or staff question why. How will you use the Edge Benchmarks?
On November 8-9 we gathered Colorado library staff involved in managing public computer centers funded by a BTOP grant and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. At the beginning, we asked them to complete three sentences about their experience. Below are some of the statements.
Because of BTOP I can teach...
Computer skills to those who are afraid of technology
with more confidence
students information literacy skills
senior citizens new stuff
my staff to instruct
Spanish language computer instruction
about ADA stations!
Because of BTOP I am skilled at...
sharing what our lab can do for the community
teaching newbies that the computer won't break!
helping patrons with technology questions/problems
setting up projector without IT guy
multi-tasking
helping folks who know nothing about computers overcome their fears and embrace these great new tools
making people feel more at ease with technology
Because of BTOP I am passionate about...
how technology helps kids adapt and learn
improving our community through technology
teaching low income populations about technology
using technology to solve real world problems for our patrons such as job hunting/applications, social security, financial assistance applications, etc.
reaching more people in our community
access for ALL!
bridging the digital divide
sharing out lab with other communities
connecting people to the world
What I am proud of accomplishing through the BTOP Grant
The BTOP team is headed to Keystone this week for the Colorado Association of Libraries annual conference, and we are excited to see all of our library friends from around the state! You will find us in preconferences, keynotes breakout sessions, and at the Colorado State Library booth in the exhibit hall. Please stop and say hello if you see one of us!
Most importantly, we are honored that the BTOP project won the Colorado Library Project of the Year award. We hope those of you who will be attending the conference will join us at the awards reception on Friday, October 19 at 5:30. This reception costs $25 and includes food and a cash bar. Please come celebrate this recognition with us! This recognition belongs to all libraries and organizations involved in making our project a success.
Our only BTOP related presentation is the "Train the Technology Trainer" preconference on Thursday from 9-12. There is still space available in this preconference, and you can register onsite that morning. There is a fee for this preconference. For more details, contact the CAL office.
One new theme in your recent narrative responses on the monthly reporting is that many of you are still trying to discover what mix of classes, tutoring, and other instructional support is the best way to meet the needs of your users. Here is what some of you had to say:
Open Lab with Instructor Support
Patrons here have so many different needs that it's hard to schedule classes that meet time and skill level. It almost seems better to offer regularly scheduled support time when they can get one-to-one or very small group instruction.
Structured classes for basic skills learners tend to fall apart quickly. They morph into one-on-one open lab sessions. Some folks don't know how to use a mouse and keyboard. Others have never used a GUI interface like Windows, etcetera. For beginners, at least, an open lab seems to be a better option.
Different Way of Offering Classes
We allowed more time in class for questions and for the students to experiment with what they learned. This seemed to be beneficial (a number of students mentioned to our instructor that they appreciated this).
Still struggling to find instructors - finally gave up and purchased Universal Class
Have you created a word cloud before? Click on this image to take a look at what computer class participants were saying about their classes last quarter. It highlights the most commonly used words in all the comments. It has a bit of Spanglish flair to it! Muy interesante, no? Go to www.wordle.net to create your own!
Is everyone asking participants to fill out the survey for your classes? What are they saying about your classes? How have you used their comments - to change or improve? To provide end-user perspective in your advocacy materials? To give well-deserved kudos to your instructors?
How does the programming you’re doing in your Public Computer Center compare to others? What are some suggestions on how best to engage decision makers in your work? How should you think about staffing your PCC? We spent some time at Beyond BTOP sharing our experiences, but what are the best practices in the field? Sarah Washburn, from 
The BTOP team is headed to Keystone this week for the 
One new theme in your recent narrative responses on the monthly reporting is that many of you are still trying to discover what mix of classes, tutoring, and other instructional support is the best way to meet the needs of your users. Here is what some of you had to say:
