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G2S Project Code: 2017-OK-79116
State: Oklahoma
Fiscal Year: 2017

Grantee
OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARIES

Project Director
Director Name: Melissa Askew
Director Phone: 405-522-3315
Director Email: melissa.askew@libraries.ok.gov

General Information
Title: Edge
State Project Code: 172111
Start Date: 10/01/2016
End Date: 09/30/2018
Abstract: Edge is a management and leadership toolkit designed to help public libraries better serve their communities through improved public technology services to support digital inclusion. Edge also provides hard data to state libraries so that they can better serve their public libraries. The Oklahoma Department of Libraries (ODL) Edge project provided public libraries with access to the Edge toolkit that contained an assessment instrument, action plan tool and resources, communication templates, and training opportunities. Edge was an asset that helped the state library track public library technology service needs and target grants to libraries to offset those needs. Using Edge as an ongoing project helped public libraries and ODL track progress and identify needs over time. The ultimate goal of Edge was to improve the quality of life in communities that Oklahoma public libraries serve.
To satisfy many Edge requirements, and hence, to provide reliable online resources and learning opportunities to community members, libraries needed to have a fully functioning website. The Oklahoma Department of Libraries found that 39% of libraries in Oklahoma serving populations under 15,000 did not have a fully functioning website. Project staff created a pilot program to develop a basic public library website for a group of small Oklahoma libraries that did not have a library website. This project was a collaboration with a grant from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine.
Oklahoma public libraries continued to use the Impact Survey that was purchased by the Oklahoma Department of Libraries in FFY2016 and continued through FFY2017. The Impact Survey is an online survey tool designed specifically for public libraries so they can better understand their communities and how people use their public technology resources and services and satisfies Edge benchmarks 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 5.1, and 6.2.
The Edge project funded a part time support staff dedicated to the project. This Edge consultant helped libraries use the Edge toolkit, created instruction that helped libraries meet Edge benchmarks, developed websites for small libraries, assisted with the use of the Impact Survey, coordinated the Edge Technology grant, and worked on various Edge administrative tasks.

State Goal: Goal 2: Institutional Capacity

Budget Information

LSTA

MATCH-State

MATCH-Other

Total

$87,012.61

$0.00

$87,012.61

Intent(s)
Improve library's physical and technology infrastructure.
Library Infrastructure & Capacity

Activities
Activity Details
Title: Edge Subscription for Oklahoma Public Libraries
Narrative: The Oklahoma Department of Libraries’ subscription to Edge includes these tools to help public libraries support digital inclusion in their communities: the online assessment to help libraries evaluate current services, resources for improving the library’s public technology services, reporting and presentation tools to help libraries communicate their value, and training to guide libraries in planning and outreach.
When surveyed about their use of the Edge subscription, 32 out of 41 libraries (39% response rate) said that they had used at least one of these Edge tools during the last year: assessment, action plan, resources, training, and/or executive tools during any library planning or evaluating activity. Of those 32, 11 strongly agreed that they were likely to act on the information from the Edge planning and evaluation tools, 17 agreed, 4 neither agreed nor disagreed, and 0 disagreed. A full 88% of Oklahoma libraries who have used Edge find it valuable.
Edge helped libraries evaluate and plan to strengthen technology services. One library director reported, “I find Edge an invaluable tool in easily identifying areas where we are not living up to our goals in providing quality service to our community. We use the assessment at staff planning meetings to determine priorities and identifying new processes that we want to address.” One library director appreciated that Edge helps libraries compare their technology assessment results to other libraries of their size, since they were a small library with limited resources, and wrote, “The assessment was a huge help in determining what we need to improve the services in our library compared to other libraries of our size.”
Intent: Improve library's physical and technology infrastructure.

Activity: Content
Mode: Acquisition
Format: Digital

Quantity
Number of hardware acquired: 0
Number of software acquired: 0
Number of licensed databases acquired: 0
Number of print materials (books & government documents) acquired: 0
Number of electronic materials acquired: 1
Number of audio/visual units (audio discs, talking books, other recordings) acquired: 0

Partner Information

Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: No
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: Yes
For a targeted group or for the general population: General

Locale
Is the activity state-wide: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types

Public Libraries: 218
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0

Question 1: I am satisfied that the resource is meeting library needs.
Strongly Agree: 10
Agree: 17
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 4
Disagree: 1
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0
Question 2: Applying the resource will help improve library services to the public.
Strongly Agree: 11
Agree: 17
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 4
Disagree: 0
Strongly Disagree: 0
Non-Response: 0

Activity Details
Title: Websites for Small Libraries
Narrative:

To satisfy many Edge requirements, and hence, to provide reliable online resources and learning opportunities to community members, libraries need to have a fully functioning website. A full website is more than one or two web pages on a city/town website or a online catalog website. These do give libraries a web presence, but libraries need to be able to add reliable resources and content for further learning. Project staff looked at how many of Oklahoma public libraries did not have a fully functional library website and found that 39% of libraries serving populations under 15,000 did not have a fully functioning website.

Even though the Oklahoma Department of Libraries (ODL) has a successful website program for public libraries, many smaller libraries needed a website that's even easier to use.

ODL applied for a grant from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine South Central Region (NNLM SCR) to create a pilot program to develop a basic public library website for five small Oklahoma libraries that did not have a library website. The grant did not cover all of the time and resources needed to complete the project; therefore, the project was a collaboration between NNLM funding and Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Edge funding. The project began May 1, 2017 and ended April 30, 2018.

Project staff traveled to the sites to train library staff for two reasons: first, the small libraries in this project had very limited staff and were often unable to travel to ODL for training, and second, the library staff in these small communities often lacked the technical knowledge to maintain a website. Training was in website maintenance and health literacy, focusing on the health resources ODL developed for the website. Local community health partners and library patrons were invited to a follow-up training at the local library to learn how to use the health resources on the new website.

Having health resources on the library website satisfied Edge Benchmark 3.4. Other Edge resources for jobs and small business (3.1), education (3.3), and eGovernment (3.2) were included in the websites.

ODL collaborated with the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center library on this project. Their consumer health information class, Just What the Doctor Ordered, was used to instruct the pilot libraries to provide health resource information to their communities.

At the end of the grant year, all five of the library directors reported that their ability to help patrons with health information questions had improved. The resource-rich library website in this project was seen as a valuable addition to the libraries’ resources and one that they had wanted for a long time. Comments from the grant libraries include: “I am in awe of the new website. Had wanted a website for the library for years.” “The website…is a great asset to the community.” “The community now has access to resources that they might never have found on their own.” “The entire project was such a positive opportunity for us to move forward. The strengths of the project were the opportunity to highlight specific things in our library [on the website] and the large amount of resources there.” The health resources on the library website saved librarians valuable time and enabled them to get the information to their patrons faster because they didn't have to research whether a site was reliable: “The new website gives us the resources and confidence to locate what the patron needs immediately from trusted sites.”

An easy-to-maintain website was instrumental to the success of this project. Four out of the five libraries experienced increased views to the health resource page on the website after the health resources training class occurred at their libraries. Libraries expanded and deepened community health partnerships. Community health partner participation (coming to the health resources training class) was a challenge, but of the five health partners who answered a survey, all responded that they would “often” recommend (2) or “sometimes” recommend (3) the health resources on the library website to their clients.

The following websites were developed:

This grant project library website template and onsite training are now being offered to all Oklahoma public libraries.

Intent: Improve library's physical and technology infrastructure.

Activity: Content
Mode: Creation
Format: Digital

Quantity
Number of items digitized: 0
Number of items digitized and available to the public: 0
Number of physical items: 0
Number of open-source applications/software/systems: 0
Number of proprietary applications/software/systems: 5
Number of learning resources (e.g. toolkits, guides): 1
Number of plans/frameworks: 0

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: Yes
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: Targeted
Geographic community of the targeted group: Rural
For what age groups: All Ages
For what economic types: Economic Not Applicable
For what ethnicity types: Ethnicity Not Applicable
Is the activity directed at families: No
Is the activity directed at intergenerational groups: No
Is the activity directed at immigrants/refugees: No
Is the activity directed at those with disabilities: No
Limited functional literacy or informational skills: No
Is the activity category not already captured: No

Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: KELLYVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 230 E BUFFALO
City: KELLYVILLE
State: OK
Zip: 74039
Name: PAWNEE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 653 ILLINOIS
City: PAWNEE
State: OK
Zip: 74058
Name: RINGLING - GLEASON MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Address: 101 E Main ST
City: RINGLING
State: OK
Zip: 73456
Name: SEMINOLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 424 N MAIN
City: SEMINOLE
State: OK
Zip: 74868
Name: WYNNEWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 108 N. DEAN A MCGEE
City: WYNNEWOOD
State: OK
Zip: 73098

Activity Details
Title: Edge Technology Grants
Narrative: The Oklahoma Department of Libraries awarded five Oklahoma public libraries Edge grants to purchase technology equipment to improve their public access services. Libraries were eligible to apply for the grant if they had done an Edge assessment in the last two years and had recently updated their Edge Action Plan that demonstrated their library’s need for the specified grant technology equipment. In FFY2017 five grants were awarded, in amounts ranging from $878 to $5,000. This was a first round of Edge technology grants, and two other rounds were disbursed with Edge FFY18 funds to 24 libraries. Technology awards in this first round were children’s early learning computers and tablets and Wi-Fi-enabled printers including all-in-one printers.
The early literacy computers and tablets helped early learners. One patron commented, “The After School Edge Tablet is a wonderful addition to the library. My 5-year-old son absolutely loves playing on it. The tablet is definitely helping him with his math. He can now do simple addition.” A library director reported that her library’s early literacy tablets helped in her low income rural area where people often don’t have technology at home. She wrote, “The Edge technology grant is an ideal way to support and encourage the growth and development of early literacy skills and school readiness.” It turns out the early literacy computers and tablets were also good for adults with reading challenges. One library director reported, “There was an older gentleman who came into the library wanting us to help him as he could not read. We showed him the AWE computer; he was very interested in using it. Even though it is designed for younger patrons, it seemed to help him with his reading.”

Libraries reported that their patrons used the new printer/scanners to print/scan 1) school papers and that they like the new color printing option. One patron printed her ACT testing ticket; 2) important personal documents for legal, insurance, and government use; and 3) documents to help with home businesses. One patron wrote that he used his library’s new scanner, “to copy and email a bid for a job. I am a small contractor that cannot afford a printer.” The new printers also helped with library staff productivity. A library director described how her new printer scanner had helped: “We can scan documents directly to our desktop computers rather than having to scan to a USB then transfer to our desktop. [The printer] improved the quality of flyers, handouts, and other materials printed by library staff. Bottom line, it’s been a boon to the public and to our staff productivity.”

Intent: Improve library's physical and technology infrastructure.

Activity: Procurement
Mode:
Format:

Quantity
Number of equipment acquired: 0
Number of acquired equipment used: 0
Number of hardware items acquired: 6
Number of acquired hardware items used: 6
Number of software items acquired: 0
Number of acquired software items used: 0
Number of materials/supplies acquired: 3
Number of acquired materials/supplies used: 3

Partner Information

Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: Targeted
Geographic community of the targeted group: Rural
For what age groups: All Ages
For what economic types: Economic Not Applicable
For what ethnicity types: Ethnicity Not Applicable
Is the activity directed at families: No
Is the activity directed at intergenerational groups: No
Is the activity directed at immigrants/refugees: No
Is the activity directed at those with disabilities: No
Limited functional literacy or informational skills: No
Is the activity category not already captured: No

Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: LANGLEY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: PO BOX 655
City: LANGLEY
State: OK
Zip: 74350
Name: MADILL CITY-COUNTY LIBRARY
Address: 500 WEST OVERTON ST
City: MADILL
State: OK
Zip: 73446
Name: PIEDMONT PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 1129 STOUT STREET NW
City: PIEDMONT
State: OK
Zip: 73078
Name: RINGLING - GLEASON MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Address: 101 E Main ST
City: RINGLING
State: OK
Zip: 73456
Name: WOODWARD PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 1500 W MAIN
City: WOODWARD
State: OK
Zip: 73801

Activity Details
Title: Impact Survey
Narrative: The Oklahoma Department of Libraries purchased a statewide subscription to the Impact Survey (impactsurvey.org) in FY2016 and the subscription remained active throughout FY2017 for all of the state’s independent libraries (system libraries purchased their own subscriptions). Using the Impact Survey satisfies or contributes to Edge Benchmarks 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 5.1, and 6.2. The Impact Survey is an online survey tool designed specifically for public libraries so they can better understand their communities and how people use their public technology resources and services. Impact helps libraries communicate the value of their library services to local leaders and funders through hard data about community members’ access to online resources about employment, health, eGovernment, education, and more.
Intent: Improve library's physical and technology infrastructure.

Activity: Procurement
Mode:
Format:

Quantity
Number of software items acquired: 1
Number of acquired software items used: 1

Partner Information

Public Libraries: 118
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0

Activity Details
Title: Edge Instruction: Health technology presentation
Narrative: The national Edge team at Urban Libraries Council invited the Oklahoma Edge team to participate in the Edge Implementation Series webinar, Libraries and Healthy Communities: Edge Helps Public Libraries Promote Health Literacy through Technology. The Urban Libraries Council is a nonprofit that strengths and promotes the value of libraries as essential public assets. The Oklahoma Department of Libraries (ODL) Edge Consultant A. Brandley and Gleason Memorial Library (Ringling, OK) director R. Yocum created and delivered presentations about how ODL and Oklahoma libraries have been able to use Edge to improve health and wellness in communities throughout the state and how libraries are key players in a healthy environment and contribute to positive individual and community health outcomes. The recorded webinar is available on the ODL Edge Resources web page.
Intent: Improve library's physical and technology infrastructure.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Presentation/performance
Format: Virtual

Quantity
Presentation/performance length (minutes): 30
Number of presentations/performances administered: 1
Average number in attendance per session: 23

Partner Information

Public Libraries: 218
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0

Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
Comments from the end of year survey revealed that libraries embraced their role in providing and keeping up with technology and appreciated the assistance that the Edge toolkit provided. Many Oklahoma rural libraries struggle to keep up with technology, and Edge has been a valuable tool to help them understand the importance of expanding technology in their libraries. One library reported, “We are committed to helping our community access the information and technology tools that they need to improve quality of life. The assessments and grants help us to provide these resources and make it possible for us to stay current with quickly changing technology.” Another wrote, “[Edge is] a good tool to remind staff to consider technology and access.” Often new library directors are hired and don’t know where to start in technology planning (especially in smaller libraries). So many of our smaller libraries do not have reliable IT support if they have support at all. That means that in addition to all other duties, library directors often find themselves in charge of IT with little to no experience about how to do it. Edge helped them. One director reported, “As a new library director, Edge has provided me with a strong baseline of what my library has, should have, and possible future plans.” Another director wrote, “Edge was an invaluable tool helping me to take a library with technology assembled from cast offs and turn us into a well-functioning business to meet our community's needs. Until I took the first Edge survey, I had no clear picture of where we were going or what we needed to be doing.”
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
Approximately 90% of Oklahoma public libraries have engaged with the Edge Toolkit. Our survey results (47 out of 119 libraries/library systems, 39% response rate) showed that the overwhelming majority of libraries—87%--strongly agreed/agreed that Edge tools are addressing their libraries’ needs in helping them manage their technology access services. Furthermore, according to the US Census, Oklahoma falls in the lowest quartile of households in the nation with broadband internet subscription (70.9 to 61%). Oklahomans need libraries with technology access when they don’t have it at home. And libraries need help planning for that technology. Edge helped libraries do that and should continue to provide the much needed help in the future.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Technology grants helped libraries obtain equipment that they could not have purchased on their own. Technology grants were also a powerful incentive to use the Edge tools (it was a requirement to have done a recent Edge assessment and action plan to apply for the grant). Librarians are exceptionally busy people and even the most amazing project will be put on the back burner unless there is some compelling reason to do it. Libraries often need encouragement and nudging to use Edge, but once they do, they gain knowledge and planning support that is truly valuable.
Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
Yes
Do you anticipate any change in level of effort in managing this project:
No
Explain:

Do you anticipate changing the types of activities and objectives addressed by the project:
No
Explain:

Was an evaluation conducted for this project:
Yes
Was a final written evaluation report produced:
No
Can the final written evaluation report be shared publicly on the IMLS website:
Yes
Was the evaluation conducted by project staff (either SLAA or local library) or by a third-party evaluator:
Project Staff
What data collection tools were used for any report outcomes and outputs:
Administrative Records
Review Surveys
Did you collect any media for the data:
What types of methods were used to analyze collected data:
Statistical Methods
Other:
How were participants (or items) selected:
Targeted Sample – We selected based on a desired characteristic, e.g. age.
What type of research design did you use to compare the value for any reported output or outcome:
No comparison for any reported output or outcome:

Exemplary: No
Exemplary Narrative

Project Tags: Edge Assessment, Edge Action Plan