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G2S Project Code: 2020-NY-85614
State: New York
Fiscal Year: 2020

Grantee
New York State Library

Project Director
Director Name: Lauren Moore
Director Phone: 518-474-5930
Director Email: statelibrarian@nysed.gov

General Information
Title: CARES-Digital Inclusion
State Project Code:
Start Date: 04/21/2020
End Date: 09/30/2021
Abstract: The New York State Library provided state-level leadership, planning, coordination, consultation, and support services to advance digital equity and inclusion efforts that improve broadband adoption. The State Library and others in State government are essential partners in ensuring that New Yorkers have both access to affordable, robust broadband internet service and the devices, training, and support they need to fully benefit from the opportunities the internet promises. Digital inclusion refers to the activities necessary to ensure that all individuals and communities, including the most disadvantaged, have access to and can make use of information and communications technologies. This includes five elements: •Affordable, robust broadband internet service; • Internet-enabled devices that meet the needs of the user; • Access to digital fluency training; • Quality technical support; and • Applications and online content designed to enable and encourage self-sufficiency, participation, and collaboration.

State Goal: Access to library resources

Budget Information

LSTA

MATCH-State

MATCH-Other

Total

$123,598.00

$0.00

$123,598.00

Intent(s)
Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.
Community Concerns
Digital Literacy

Activities
Activity Details
Title: Digital Equity Summits Spring 2021
Narrative: The State Library led the planning efforts for three successful statewide New York State Education Department (NYSED) sponsored Digital Equity Summits conducted in Spring 2021. The half-day Summits included expert presentations and topical breakout discussion groups. Partners in planning and implementing the Summits included the NYSED P-16 Office, Region 2 Comprehensive Center at WestEd, Regional Educational Laboratory Northeast and Islands (REL-NEI) and the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA). In addition to library and library system leaders, a wide range of stakeholders from multiple sectors participated in the Summits - local and state government, nonprofit community organizations, human service organizations, P-16 education, philanthropic organizations, private businesses - all interested in learning more about how to advance digital equity and inclusion within New York State and nationally. Participation in the three summits totaled 460. Information about the Summits, including a live stream of each summit with presentations by national experts on digital equity and inclusion, is posted on the State Library's website. Lauren Moore, State Librarian, compiled information gathered via the multiple small group topical discussions held during the first two summits in a report Achieving Digital Equity in New York: An Outline for Collaborative Change. She presented the Summit findings and this report to the NYS Board of Regents in Spring 2021. This report is also posted on the State Library website. The final report from the third and final Summit will be disseminated by the State Education Department in early 2022.
Intent: Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Other
Format: Virtual
Other: Written materials, presentations, online group discussions, streamed sessions

Quantity

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

Public Libraries: 757
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 27
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 3

Activity Details
Title: Broadband Infrastructure Needs Assessment Pilot Project
Narrative:

Taking steps to assess and improve high-speed broadband connections and technology infrastructure for the public and staff at New York’s public library outlets is a key component of statewide initiatives to advancing digital equity and inclusion for all New Yorkers. To that end, the State Library engaged the services of technology expert Carson Block Consulting Inc. to conduct a broadband infrastructure needs and technology assessment pilot project. Carson Block used proven assessment, planning, and training materials that he specifically created and tested as an independent consultant and as part of the federally funded Towards Gigabit Libraries toolkit. In addition to testing the efficacy of remote technology assessment strategies, Carson Block Consulting Inc. also identified hurdles standing in the way of NYS public libraries obtaining adequate broadband and in gathering reliable data about the library facility's technology requirements.

The pilot project was conducted in collaboration with three public library systems and five local libraries. The Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library System (Plattsburgh) and member library Schroon Lake Public Library; the Mid York Library System (Utica) and member libraries Illion Free Public Library and Sullivan Free Library; and the Mid-Hudson Library System (Poughkeepsie) and member libraries Claverack Library and Amenia Free Library. Pilot project results will assist the State Library in determining if a standard process can be developed in partnership with the 23 public library systems for assessing local public library facility IT infrastructure and broadband needs across the State for all 757 public libraries (including more than 1000 locations).

Four of the five libraries responded to the post-project assessment. All four said their knowledge about broadband connections increased and that they would recommend participation in the pilot project to other libraries.

The NYS pilot project concluded with the submission of a final report to the State Library. The State Library shared the project results, including a final project report Pilot Broadband Evaluation Process for the New York State Library with the 23 public library systems and the participating pilot libraries.

Intent: Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Other
Format: Virtual
Other: virtual meetings, online presentations, interviews, assessments, written materials

Quantity

Partner Information

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: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: AMENIA FREE LIBRARY
Address: 3309 ROUTE 343
City: AMENIA
State: NY
Zip: 12501
Name: CLAVERACK FREE LIBRARY AND READING ROOM ASSOCIATION
Address: 629 RT 23B
City: CLAVERACK
State: NY
Zip: 12513
Name: Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library System
Address: 33 Oak Street
City: Plattsburgh
State: NY
Zip: 12901-2801
Name: ILION FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 78 WEST STREET
City: ILION
State: NY
Zip: 13357
Name: Mid-Hudson Library System
Address: 103 Market Street
City: Poughkeepsie
State: NY
Zip: 12601-4028
Name: Mid-York Library System
Address: 1600 Lincoln Avenue
City: Utica
State: NY
Zip: 13502-5340
Name: SCHROON LAKE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 15 LELAND AVENUE
City: SCHROON LAKE
State: NY
Zip: 12870
Name: SULLIVAN FREE LIBRARY
Address: 101 FALLS BOULEVARD
City: CHITTENANGO
State: NY
Zip: 13037

Activity Details
Title: Digital Equity Resources
Narrative: Following up on recommendations from the 2021 NYS Digital Equity Summits, the State Library engaged outside experts to create customized research-based information resources to help New York's libraries, library systems, partner organizations and stakeholders to better assess digital equity needs at regional and local levels.

Resources developed to date are freely available and are posted on the State Library's website. They include:

The report New York's Digital Divide: Examining adoption of internet and computers for the state and its library districts prepared by John Horrigan, Phd.
The NYS Digital Equity Portal, an interactive, online data and mapping tool for New York State communities seeking to advance digital equity. The NYS Digital Equity Portal allows users to generate snapshots of connectivity, device access, population/demographics, programming, and other digital equity resources from selected geographies across the state. This is a collaborative project between the Community Tech NY (CTNY), Cornell University's New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR), and The New York State Library (NYSL). The portal was first available in September 2021, followed by an introductory webinar for the library community. The Final Project Report was published in December 2021.

Intent: Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Other
Format: Virtual
Other: Written materials; online interactive data resource; introductory webinar

Quantity

Partner Information

Public Libraries: 757
Academic Libraries: 1
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 72
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 2

Activity Details
Title: Digital Inclusion Webinar Series Fall 2020
Narrative:

The State Library continued its Fall 2020 Digital Inclusion Information Webinar Series building on the two webinars previously conducted during September 2020. In partnership with several expert digital inclusion organizations and libraries, the State Library offered eight informative webinars as a precursor to the Spring 2021 Digital Equity Summits. Some 616 attendees participated in the eight webinars conducted from October through December 2020.

Webinar topics included:

· Affordable Telephone and Internet Resources During the COVID-19 Pandemic

· Building Community Broadband Networks

· Using Digital Navigators to Bridge Social Divides

· Starting Your Own Digital Inclusion Coalition

· Capitalizing on OER for Equity in PK-12: Finding and Using Open Teaching and Learning Resources

· CanCode: Virtual Digital Literacy For All

· Broader than Broadband: Brooklyn Public Library’s Digital Equity Strategy

· Addressing the K–12 Digital Divide in the Age of Distance Learning

Partner organizations included:

· Public Utility Law Project of New York

· Community Tech NY

· National Digital Inclusion Alliance

· Central New York Digital Inclusion Coalition

· Bronx Community College, Kingsborough Community College, Lehman College

· AlbanyCanCode

· Brooklyn Public Library

· Common Sense Inc.

Intent: Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Presentation/performance
Format: Virtual

Quantity
Presentation/performance length (minutes): 60
Number of presentations/performances administered: 8
Average number in attendance per session: 77

Partner Information

Public Libraries: 757
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 72
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0

Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
The Digital Equity Summit conversations among hundreds of leaders, stakeholders and partners from multiple sectors resulted in a number of concrete short-term, mid-term and long-term strategies that can be addressed at state, regional and local levels. The State Library, library systems and local libraries have critical roles to play in implementing these strategies. One important outcome was an appropriation by the State Legislature in the 2021/2022 State Budget of $15 million in federal funds for a statewide digital literacy navigator/digital literacy training initiative led by the State Library in partnership with library systems, libraries and community organizations supporting digital inclusion efforts. The funds have not been allocated to the State Library as of November 2021, however, the inclusion of this initiative in the State Budget is a major acknowledgement of the pressing need for digital equity and the important roles that State government and libraries can play in advancing digital inclusion.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
Information resources developed during the course of this project such as the John Horrigan report, the NYS Digital Equity Portal and the Digital Inclusion Webinars have already informed and will continue to inform the statewide, regional and local planning efforts of libraries and community partner organizations as they collaborate in strategically addressing the digital divide.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
Libraries play important roles in creating, curating and disseminating reliable information about digital equity issues and the digital inclusion challenges facing local communities. Armed with reliable data and information, library staff have the capacity and the know-how to bring individuals and organizations together to collaboratively develop strategies, programs and services that will help New Yorkers of all ages obtain the devices, connections and digital literacy skills and knowledge needed for success in the 21st century.
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:
Yes
Explain:
Using ARPA funds the State Library has launched a $4.1 million statewide digital inclusion initiative for 2021/2022 in partnership with library systems and other stakeholders to collaboratively address needs identified during the NYSL/NYSED Spring 2021 Digital Equity Summits.
Do you anticipate changing the types of activities and objectives addressed by the project:
Yes
Explain:
Some activities will change as the digital inclusion initiative progresses.
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 NarrativeThe New York State Library provided state-level leadership, planning, coordination, consultation, and support services to advance digital equity and inclusion efforts that improve broadband adoption. Statewide Digital Equity Summit collaborative conversations resulted in concrete goals. New tools and information resources developed by the State Library and key partners informed efforts by libraries and partner organizations to work together at all levels - local, regional and statewide - to address the digital divide.

Project Tags: