As part of an unprecedented national coalition, ICMA will play a key role in the development of benchmarks for public access technology in public libraries. With the support of $2.8 million in funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, ICMA will support benchmark design and lead the piloting of the benchmarks in local communities.

The coalition—which represents library and local government leaders and university researchers—will develop guidelines that define quality technology services at libraries and help local leaders make sound investments in public technology access at libraries.

A recent national research report from the University of Washington Information School and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), reveals that approximately one-third of Americans use free computer and Internet access at public libraries to find work, apply for college, secure government benefits, access important health information, and connect with their communities. The demand for online access at libraries continues to grow as more people turn to their local library to get information online and obtain help in using online tools from library staff. The quality and level of access that libraries provide, however, varies significantly throughout the country.  

“As the public institution that provides computer and Internet access to people from all walks of life, libraries must ensure that their technology services continuously advance to enable users to meet 21st century opportunities available through technology,” said Susan Benton, president of the Urban Libraries Council. “We believe that benchmarks will help local leaders understand the value of public access technology and ensure that those services meet the needs of all community members.”

“Public libraries provide unique and critical support to communities, ensuring that all residents have access to essential technology,” said Ron Carlee, ICMA chief operating officer. “In this time of limited resources, libraries and their funders, especially local governments, need clear guidelines on how to deliver high-quality, online access. Local decision makers need to understand how to achieve the best standard of service for communities and ensure that taxpayers get the best return on technology investments.”

The coalition’s work will involve three phases. First, it will draft prototype benchmarks and collect feedback from the library field and local government leaders to ensure that the benchmarks are meaningful to U.S. libraries and communities. Next, the group will test an initial set of benchmarks in communities in California, Oklahoma, and Texas, beginning in fall 2011. Lastly, the prototype benchmarks will be refined with feedback from the pilot communities and the library field and will be launched for broad use by the library community in spring 2012.

ICMA’s participation in the coalition extends the organization’s earlier partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, through which the organization promoted the effective management of public libraries throughout the United States. As part of the national coalition, ICMA will

•  Participate in the creation of the public access technology benchmarks and assessment tool.
• Lead the piloting of the benchmarks in six library systems to provide essential feedback and data to the coalition about what changes to the benchmarks are required.
• Help develop a system for institutionalizing the public access technology benchmarks.
• Implement a communications strategy to create awareness around the public access technology benchmarks among local government audiences.

National policy makers recently underscored the valuable role libraries play in providing public access technology for communities in the National Broadband Plan released by the Federal Communications Commission in 2010. The plan also called for the development of guidelines that identify the critical elements needed to support digital inclusion in all communities so all people have access to technology and digital information. As a result, IMLS is currently leading the creation of a “Framework for Digitally Inclusive Communities.”

“This initiative is the next critical step in the library field’s successful effort to bring information and opportunity to communities, through public access technology,” said Jill Nishi, deputy director of U.S. Libraries and Special Initiatives for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “We are tremendously proud to support this coalition and their collective vision for the public access technology benchmarks.”

In addition to ICMA, the coalition of organizations that bring diverse perspectives and expertise to the benchmarking effort includes

• The American Library Association Office for Information Technology Policy and Public Library Association, Lyrasis, Urban Libraries Council, and Web Junction-OCLC
• The state libraries of California, Oklahoma, and Texas
• Two research groups from the University of Maryland and University of Washington
• TechSoup Global, an organization that provides technology support throughout the nonprofit sector,
• The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.