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G2S Project Code: 2020-RI-86367
State: Rhode Island
Fiscal Year: 2020
Grantee
NORTH PROVIDENCE UNION FREE LIBRARY

Project Director
Director Name: Stefanie Blankenship
Director Phone: 401-353-5600
Director Email: sblankenship@nprovlib.org
General Information
Title: Any Place Office Space
State Project Code:
Start Date: 04/01/2021
End Date: 09/15/2021
Abstract: The North Providence Union Free Library reopened with limited hours in July 2020, then full hours in October 2020 and saw high demand in computer reservations and printing needs, especially with the decrease in total computers available due to social distancing requirements. To address the wait times for computer and printing sessions in the building, the library created “Any Place Office Space” kits which included a laptop, mobile hotspot, mobile printer, and related peripherals that patrons could borrow for up to three months at a time. The library provided adults and families the opportunity and ability to work freely from home without time constraints or worry about being in a public building during a pandemic. For the library, these kits were a way to offer safe access to technology to meet community needs, while empowering patrons to improve digital literacy from the comfort of their own home. 
State Goal: Engagement
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$11,270.60
$0.00
$2,055.60
$13,326.20
Intent(s)
Improve library operations.
Library Infrastructure & Capacity
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Any Place Office Space Kits
Narrative: The library assembled ten Any Place Office Space kits that included a mobile hotspot, mobile printer, wireless mouse, flash drive, and printer paper stored in a plastic tote bin. Laminated instruction sheets were included for using each of the kit components. The kits were loaned for a period of three months to adults of various ages and need. For example, one borrower needed an extra computer and printer in the house due to her child using the only household computer for schoolwork while another patron was studying for a real estate exam using the kit. The project appealed to individuals who could not afford another computer at home, a home printer and/ or internet connectivity. The kits benefited patrons who were applying for jobs and college. Their computer literacy skills seemed to improve based on their feedback. Outcomes reported included that patrons were able to check lab results from medical tests, learned how to use the camera component of a laptop, connected with international family through Zoom, applied for college and gained employment. Throughout the project, borrowers printed over 100 pages at home, logged 391 Wi-Fi sessions, applied for 7 jobs, and visited 18 library databases. 
Intent: Improve library operations.

Activity: Content
Mode: Creation
Format: Physical


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: 0
Number of learning resources (e.g. toolkits, guides): 10
Number of plans/frameworks: 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: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: NORTH PROVIDENCE UNION FREE LIBRARY
Address: 1810 MINERAL SPRING AVENUE
City: NORTH PROVIDENCE
State: RI
Zip: 02904
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
An unexpected benefit from having these kits included in-library use: the library lost internet for a few days and the remaining kits were utilized for staff and patrons to access online services through the mobile hotspots. Staff members were able to use the laptops for workshops when library laptops were unavailable. Always having a ready “mobile library” seems to have saved the day in a few unexpected instances and was beneficial for activities out in the community including library card registration and to print remotely at outreach events.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
Upon seeing the outcome of the project, the Mayor of North Providence committed to providing funding for five additional kits during a visit to the library with Senator Jack Reed, who was visiting the library to see the project. The library plans to keep the kits intact and loan out due to the response from the borrowers. Five of the kits may be divided into separate components which would enable patrons to only borrow 1 or 2 items rather than all 3
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
The laptops should have been preprogrammed with Zoom prior to loaning. After feedback from early borrowers, the technology library installed Zoom on all laptops. The library recommends considering what other apps and shortcuts would be most useful for borrowers and ensuring they are pre-installed. The library also recommends offering digital literacy training for patrons along with at lending program like this. Each borrower had a brief consultation with the technology librarian before taking the kit home to review how to use the components, but feedback indicated that the community was eager to learn more skills after borrowing the kits.
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: No
Exemplary Narrative
Project Tags: