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G2S Project Code: 2020-NJ-84984
State: New Jersey
Fiscal Year: 2020
Grantee
New Jersey State Library, an affiliate of Thomas Edison State University

Project Director
Director Name: Kathleen Moeller-Peiffer
Director Phone: 609-278-2640 ext. 157
Director Email: kmoellerpeiffer@njstatelib.org
General Information
Title: CARES Act: Zoom videoconferencing
State Project Code:
Start Date: 09/09/2020
End Date: 09/30/2021
Abstract: Zoom videoconferencing was licensed for all NJ public libraries using CARES Act funding on September 9,2020. This Enterprise license allowed up to 500 people to attend any one meeting or webinar at a library; both meetings and webinars were supported; and there was no time limit on the meeting or webinar. This allowed libraries to hold programs for all ages as well as to conduct library business with their board of trustees.

From September 2020 through September 2021, NJ libraries-

had 234 Zoom users
361 licenses were in use
19,800 meetings were held with 32,038 participants
853 webinars were held with 3,648 participants
State Goal: Institutional Capacity
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$77,491.00
$0.00
$0.00
$77,491.00
Intent(s)
Improve library's physical and technology infrastructure.
Other
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Zoom videoconferencing
Narrative: The activities took place across the state as libraries turned very quickly to virtual programming, meetings and webinars.
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: 0
Number of acquired hardware items used: 0
Number of software items acquired: 1
Number of acquired software items used: 1
Number of materials/supplies acquired: 0
Number of acquired materials/supplies used: 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: 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: 297
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:
From library directors in New Jersey: "The State Library's Zoom license accommodated up to 500 attendees. Having a Zoom license for so many people allowed a group of libraries to do a program on Zoom and allow patrons from other libraries to participate." "I found Zoom to be valuable to my library and the community it serves because it enabled the library to hold virtual meetings, programs and clubs during the pandemic." "I found Zoom to be valuable to my library and the community it serves because we were able to continue to provide programming throughout the COVID lockdown. Our community appreciated the valuable connection it provided to neighbors and friends when the world was potentially a very lonely place." "I found the Zoom license to be valuable to my library and the community it serves because it gave them the opportunity to attend the library board meetings during the health emergency, also priceless in assisting my Board of Trustee members the ability to conduct business during this time and for my staff to be able to see and talk to each other for their mental health as well as planning out the work schedule." "Zoom during COVID=communicating with staff, the library board and the library world community. We could [see] that there were other people in our world." "As with many libraries I am sure, Zoom was such a valuable product because we were able to offer all our programs virtually. Our patrons have come to love and expect our programs, especially for the children. It helped us think outside the box for other programs as well, and we realized that we [are] a huge part of our patrons' lives whether in person or not." "Our library finds Zoom really helpful. Of course it was our life source through the COVID lockdowns-the only way we were able to stay connected with our community. Now we still utilize it to run our health and wellness courses as well as a book group who is more comfortable meeting from home. We really appreciate this service!" "I found Zoom to be valuable to my library and the community it serves because we were able to host virtual programming, both children's and adult, from home and from work, once the library was open again. Patrons, to this day, as still preferring virtual over in-person as they are still nervous about COVID. Also, Zoom is very helpful for meetings and webinars where there will be a lot of people and we wouldn't be able to social distance in person." "Who would have thought that entire libraries and all of our patrons would now be so familiar with Zoom that it is a main way we are communicating with our public? The Zoom accounts we received from the NJ State Library have become invaluable! It enabled us to run multiple programs and meetings at one time like we did when we had our full building open with all of its meeting rooms. But what has surprised us is how many MORE patrons we had attend these programs than in person in 2019. Book clubs (we added two during the pandemic by the way) now see 12, 18, and even 22 attendees when we used to be lucky to have even 8 attendees. We began popular film discussion groups that receive the same attendance, when we used to be lucky to get 15 people for film screenings. But author talks and individual information programs which drew maybe 15-20 in person were getting 30, 50, and consistently 80+ people to programs on everything from historical topics to discussions of college funding for parents and movie musicals. We were struggling to find a way to set up computer training for patrons pre-pandemic and virtual training via Zoom or other platforms just was not something patrons were interested in or knew how to do. During the pandemic, we had patrons ask to learn how to use Zoom and even take classes virtually with our staff. WIthout the help from the New Jersey State Library and IMLS we never would be connecting with our public in the same way. It was a Godsend!" "I found Zoom to be valuable to my library and the community it serves. Our patrons were already using Zoom for their personal meetups and it was an easy transition for them to join our library's virtual programs." "I found Zoom to be valuable to my library and the community it serves because it kept our book group, writers' group and short story discussion group going during the pandemic. Zoom provided a tool that we could use to provide programs to our patrons who couldn't come into the library. Thank you for helping us serve our residents by offering us Zoom to use."
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:

Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:

Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
No
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:
No
Was a final written evaluation report produced:
No
Can the final written evaluation report be shared publicly on the IMLS website:
No
Was the evaluation conducted by project staff (either SLAA or local library) or by a third-party evaluator:
Third-Party
What data collection tools were used for any report outcomes and outputs:
Did you collect any media for the data:
What types of methods were used to analyze collected data:
Other:
How were participants (or items) selected:
What type of research design did you use to compare the value for any reported output or outcome:
Exemplary: Yes
Exemplary Narrative
Project Tags: