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G2S Project Code: 2014-PA-73033
State: Pennsylvania
Fiscal Year: 2014
Grantee
LEBANON COMMUNITY LIBRARY

Project Director
Director Name: Michelle Hawk
Director Phone: 717-273-7624
Director Email: hawk@lclibs.org
General Information
Title: Meeting The Technology Needs of the Library Community
State Project Code: 4100069317
Start Date: 01/15/2015
End Date: 08/31/2015
Abstract:

This project is complete. We worked with a local technology services firm to plan the project, order, receive, and install the equipment. It is currently in use and is working very well.

Before this equipment was upgraded, we often experienced slowness in internet connections, unhappy customers, and a sense of overall inadequacy in keeping up with the technology needs of our community. Even while providing classes to meet the technology education needs of our customers, we experienced slow and spotty internet connections, which undermined our efforts.

This project replaced our two internet switches of unknown age with two new internet switches, which has facilitated increased internet speeds.

We also added three wifi routers, for a total of four, to fully serve all customers bringing their own devices to the library to obtain internet access.

We replaced our aging public access computers with fifteen new computers to provide a more consistent experience for our customers. In the past, our public access computers were a hodge-podge of hardware of different ages and capabilities, plus software that was inconsistently installed across the computer center. This project has made our computers easier for staff to maintain and much easier for patrons to use and complete the tasks they come to do.

We have seen our average session length on the public access computers increase from 31 to 36 minutes. We believe that patrons are enjoying a better experience using these new computers and are less frustrated with the hardware, software, and speed. We are experiencing far fewer complaints about our wifi, since now there is enough bandwidth and coverage for all.


State Goal: Create opportunities for libraries to enhance their capacity to provide 21st Century resources, services and programs to their communities.
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$15,554.29
$0.00
$6,037.50
$21,591.79
Intent(s)
Improve library's physical and technology infrastructure.
Systems & Technologies
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Upgrade of network and hardware for increased connectivity and access.
Narrative: Purchase and installation of new public access computers as well as upgrades to the physical network including switches and routers.
Intent: Improve library's physical and technology infrastructure.

Activity: Procurement
Mode:
Format:


Quantity
Number of equipment acquired: 23
Number of hardware items acquired: 23


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: Yes
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: LEBANON COMMUNITY LIBRARY
Address: 125 N SEVENTH ST
City: LEBANON
State: PA
Zip: 17046
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important findings or outcomes from your project:
73% of users believe that public access technology is important or very important for themselves personally. 91% of users are satisfied or very satisfied with the public access technology resources and services. The most common uses of public access technology are employment, social inclusion, ecommerce, health & wellness, and education. The computer center is busier than normal. The average session length has increased from 31 to 35 minutes. (The average session length continues to increase and is now 36 minutes.) The new wireless routers enable us to more accurately measure wireless usage. We learned that we have been underestimating the usage for the annual report at approximately 59 uses per day. The actual current usage is approximately 87 uses per day.
Please briefly describe importance of findings:
There is still a clear need for public access technology even though more people are purchasing their own. This survey was done after installation of the new equipment, so we believe this accurately reflects the present. Users rely on public access technology for a variety of reasons. This could be due to several reasons, such as less frustration with the computers resulting in longer use, word of the new computers has spread and brought in new users, etc. Annual report
What methods did you use to determine your findings? Check all that apply:
Survey
Review of Administrative Data
Participant Observation
Based on outputs, outcomes and/or other results, explain any significant lessons learned from these findings for either the SLAA or others in the LIS field:
Make scheduled down time more flexible - computer techs don't always adhere to their own schedule.
Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
Yes
Do you anticipate any change in level of effort:
No
Do you anticipate any change in the project's scope:
No
Do you anticipate any other changes in the project:
No
Exemplary: No
Exemplary Narrative
Project Tags: technology, access, connectivity