NEW COMPUTERS FOR TIMBROOK PUBLIC LIBRARY 1
New Computers for Timbrook Public Library
Amanda Palmer
Info 520 - Alison Lewis
December 6, 2011
I certify that:
· This paper/project/exam is entirely my own work.
· I have not quoted the words of any other person from a printed source, online source, or a website without indicating what has been quoted and providing an appropriate citation.
· I have not submitted this paper / project to satisfy the requirements of any other course.
Signature: Amanda S. Palmer
Date: December 6, 2011
New Computers for Timbrook Public Library
Executive Summary
Timbrook Public Library (“Timbrook”) of Lynchburg, Virginia, is one of the four branches of the Campbell County Public Library system. Campbell County’s libraries are some of the most underfunded in the region, but Timbrook continues to serve hundreds of patrons daily. Of those who utilize Timbrook’s services and resources, a few come for the adult fiction and children’s literature, but most come to use the wireless internet and computers for various personal and professional interests (S. Oakley, personal communication, October 12, 2011).
In this sluggish economic climate, access to the internet and the information it provides can be a critical part of one’s personal and social survival. Much of the job search and application process, as well as the crafting and perfection of a resume or cover letter, requires access to both a computer and the World Wide Web, as well as the skills to use them effectively. For the citizens of Lynchburg, Timbrook library is a key provider of all three. Timbrook also fosters entertainment and personal fulfillment: a growing number of patrons are utilizing the library to fulfill their interest in pursuing their genealogy and family histories.
In order to meet the growing information demands of the community, Timbrook wants to introduce six new computers and related accessories into its pool of resources. We are requesting a grant of $3,560, in addition to $5,500 already secured, in order to make this goal a reality. These funds will provide a direct and significant benefit to the people of Lynchburg who depend on Timbrook Public Library for their informational and entertainment needs.
Background
Community
The Timberlake community of Lynchburgis home to roughly 13,000 lower- and middle-class citizens(Timberlake CDP, Virginia, 2011).Many residents of Timberlake and the surrounding communities are highly religious, due in part to the presence of Baptist-affiliated Liberty University, also located in Lynchburg. As with many communities, the economy in Lynchburg is on a slow increase after years of stagnancy (Economy at a Glance, 2011). Per the branch’s librarians, Lynchburg’s citizens have become increasingly dependent on Timbrook within the last few years; many visit to fulfill personal interests in literature or genealogy, and even more visit for assistance with career ventures (S. Oakley, personal communication, October 12, 2011).
Library
The Campbell County Public Library System has four branches: Patrick Henry Memorial Library (Brookneal, VA), Staunton River Memorial Library (Altavista, VA), Rustburg Public Library (the main branch, located in Rustburg), and Timbrook (Locations & Hours, 2011). In order to continue providing quality information services to the public in the face of decreasing budgets and staff, the four libraries recently entered into a partnership known as Region 2000 with nearby (and wealthier) Bedford County’s libraries. This partnership allows anyone with a Campbell County library card to check out books and utilize services at Bedford County libraries, and vice versa. The libraries have also implemented an inter-library loan and book delivery system (Sharing with the Neighbors! 2011).
Timbrook was founded in 1965 and incorporated into the Campbell County Public Library system in 1982. Since then, it has expanded from a bookmobile into a small unit located in a shopping center in the Timberlake area of Lynchburg (Who We Are, 2011). The system is currently looking into expanding into a larger building, but location and budget constraints have slowed the project for the time being. Timbrook’s print collection consists mainly of adult fiction and juvenile literature. The print reference section is quite small, and according to library personnel, increasingly difficult to maintain due to decreased funding, the speed with which updated volumes of reference materials are published, and the physical constraints of being located in a small space.
Recently, Timbrook’s librarians are focusing more on internet resources when it comes to building our collection. We currently have access to numerous online and electronic resources through Find It Virginia! and databases offered by Gale. Despite the fact that many of the services Timbrook provides are widely dependent on electronics and computers, we have but a few desktops and laptops. These can only be “checked out” for 30 minutes at a time due to their high demand.
Patrons
The primary needs of Timbrook’s hundreds of daily patrons are internet based. Many use Timbrook every day to satisfy their personal entertainment and information needs, but the bulk of patrons require assistance with locating (and applying for) employment opportunities and crafting resumes. Librarians have seen increased traffic at Timbrookin recent years due to the struggling economy in the area; many patrons use the library’s computers to research job opportunities, apply for jobs, and create and modify resumes, cover letters, and other important documents. Still others frequent the library for their adult fiction and juvenile collections, which together make up the bulk of the library’s print resources.
Staff
Due to budget cuts, Timbrook has two full-time staff: a library director and a circulation clerk. Two additional librarians work part-time in Lynchburg and part-time in the main branch located in Rustburg, 25 minutes away. All four full-time employees share the duties of program instruction, cataloging, collection maintenance and reference assistance.
Statement of Need
Timbrook’s space is extremely limited. The library is located in a unit of a small shopping center with little room for expansion of our print collection. In addition, print materials are expensive and quickly outdated. As such, Timbrook’s librarians are concentrating on increasing the number and quality of electronic resources the library offers. Incorporating six new computers into Timbrook’s pool of resources would double the amount of machines available for patrons. This would not only allow more people the opportunity to complete tasks one can only do on a computer, but would also add value to Timbrook’s online resources, as well as their open-access wireless network, as this would allow more people to access these resources simultaneously.
Fiona Blackburn (2010) and Francine May and Fiona Black (2010) have found that an open sense of space is important to the success of a library and the satisfaction of its patrons. Libraries that are crowded with books, people and furniture will not foster learning as well as an open area. Since Timbrook runs the risk of running out of space if our print collection is increased, the emphasis on electronic sources will save precious room in the building: one need only to access a computer to reach thousands of resources. By incorporating additional desktops and laptops into the library, patrons will have the choice between a desk and any other seat in the library, allowing them to be comfortable while using the space and taking advantage of all that Timbrook has to offer.
In addition, the internet has become a reliable and efficient way to disseminate information, both through free websites and subscription-only resources such as databases and periodicals. Missing out on the information and connection the internet provides can be a detriment to one’s social standing. The gap between the internet “haves” and “have-nots,” known as the “digital divide,” is currently one of the largest inequality gaps in our society. As Lievrouw and Farb (2003) explain, equal access to information (for example, providing a computer with high-speed internet for every home) is difficult to implement and maintain. But equitable information access is possible. Libraries assist with this by providing free access to information resources, available to anyone who is a resident of the community. Likewise, Lievrouw and Farb’s research also shows that information can be considered a public good: this means that anyone can utilize it without taking away from the ability of another to do the same. Timbrook currently rations access to its computers, something that will ideally become a thing of the past with the incorporation of six additional machines.
Proposed Project
Project Goals
The goals of this project are as follows:
- To provide three desktop and three laptop computers for Timbrook’s patrons;
- To analyze the use of these computers, as well as patron satisfaction with them, through surveys and other tracking methods; and
- To report the findings of this evaluation to the Carrington Family Foundation, Campbell County elected officials, and the general public.
Project Materials and Staffing
Your grant of $3,560 will go directly to purchasing new computers and related accessories for Timbrook. Existing staff (Timbrook’s director and two part-time librarians, as well as two maintenance workers and one IT employee) will assemble and configure the new machinery to fit seamlessly within the library’s existing physical and electronic constraints.
Planning and Implementation Schedule
Implementation of this project will begin in March 2012 and conclude in June 2012 along the following schedule:
- Phase I
- March 1-14, 2012: Timbrook will select and purchase three new Dell laptop and desktop computers, as well as desks, chairs, keyboards, and other related accessories for each machine.
- Phase II
- March 15-21, 2012: Timbrook’s IT and maintenance staff will ready the building by making room for three new desktop computers and related accessories, as well as preparing network connections for these machines and three laptop computers. Timbrook’s staff will use the maintenance in and rearranging of the space as a way to advertise for the new machines; this will also be done with signage throughout the library. Marketing for the increased technology will also include Facebook posts and Tweets, as well as announcements on the Campbell County Public Library website.
- Phase III
April 1-May 31, 2012: Timbrook will evaluate the popularity of the new computers by counting their daily usage. Random users will also be asked to complete a short survey about library patronage, technology usage, and satisfaction with the new machines.
- Phase IV
- June 2012: Timbrook’s library director will present the results of the evaluation at a Campbell County Board of Supervisors Meeting and make them available on the library’s website, as well as the main Campbell County Library System website. Results of the evaluation will also be presented to the Carrington Family Foundation.
Methods of Evaluation
This project will be evaluated on the amount of usage of the new computers as well as patron satisfaction with the machines and their incorporation. Timbrook’s Librarians will count the number of times each new computer is used daily. Random patrons, selected from those who use the new computers and those who use the existing ones, will be asked to complete a brief survey to determine their satisfaction with the new machines and their incorporation into the library. Librarians will evaluate this data and present the findings to Campbell County Officials, the public at large, and the Carrington Family Foundation in June 2012.
Proposed Budget and Funding
The proposed expenses and funds for purchasing six new computers for Timbrook are as follows:
Program Costs
Dell Laptop Computers
(3 at $500/computer)$1,500
Dell Desktop Computers
(3 at $500/computer)$1,500
Computer Supplies
(3 desks at $200/desk)$600
(3 keyboards at $50/keyboard)$150
(3 mice at $20/mouse)$60
Staff
(Maintenance for restructuring)$1,250
(IT for network connection, software installation, etc.)$1,250
(Librarians for marketing, program evaluation, patron assistance)$2,500
Miscellaneous Expenses
(Signage and advertising)$250
Total$9,060
Program Funding
Timbrook Library cash reserves
(Staff salaries)$5,000
Friends of Timbrook fundraiser - used book sale$500
Grant from the Carrington Family Foundation$3,560
Total$9,060
Besides the staff salaries, the bulk of this project’s expenses come from the hardware itself. There is no additional cost associated with installing software on the computers, as the library already receives discounted software and database usage through various previous initiatives. Timbrook will be responsible for any increase in the cost of utilities or maintenance that may arise as part of incorporating the new computers; these funds will come from the yearly budget as part of the general expenses and are not specifically outlined here, as they are negligible.
Conclusion
We believe that adding six new computers will allow Timbrook Public Library to become more effective at meeting the informational needs of its population. Timbrook has proven our investment in this project by committing $5,000 of our own funds to the implementation of new machines, and has raised an additional $500 for this purpose through fundraising efforts. We ask that you consider granting $3,560 to purchasing and installing six new computers in Timbrook Public Library. Your generous one-time contribution will help us promote the well-being of the Timberlake community as a whole by allowing citizens increased access to information regardless of race, sex, background, or other personal circumstances.
Appendices
Title Appendix
Internal Revenue Service - Determination of 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Status……………...A
Timbrook Public Library Budget - Fiscal Year 2011-2012……………………………..B
Resumes of Library Director and 2 Part-time Librarians………………………………..C
Dell Laptop Computers - Overview……………………………………………………..D
Dell Desktop Computers - Overview……………………………………………………E
Survey - Use of and Satisfaction with New Library Computers………………………...F
Library Signage Announcing New Computers………………………………………….G
References
Blackburn, F (2010). Something for everyone: Learning and learning technologies in a public
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Economy at a glance.(2011). Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed November 2, 2011, from
Lievrouw, L.A. & Farb, S.E. (2003). Information and equity. In B. Cronin (Ed.), Annual Review
of Information Science and Technology: Vol. 37 (pp.499-540). Medford, NJ: Information
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Locations and hours.(2011). Campbell County Public Library System. Retrieved October 14,
2011, from
May, F and Black, F (2010). The life of the space: Evidence from Nova Scotia Public Libraries.
Evidence Based Library and Information Practice. 5 (2).
Oakley, S. (2011, October 12). Interview by A. S. Palmer.
Sharing with the neighbors! (2011). Campbell County Public Library System. Retrieved October
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Timberlake CDP, Virginia. (2011). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 1, 2011, from
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