Informing, Engaging and Connecting Citizens and Communities

What Communities Need:Access to Information on the

Local Level• Maximize the availability of relevant and

credible information to Americans and their communities.

• Strengthen the capacity of individuals to engage with information.

• Promote the individual engagement with information and the public life of the community.

What We Can Do For Our Community

Black Hills Knowledge NetworkWhat does it do?

BHKN Core Content Areas• Initially, core content will focus on:

– Digital Citizenship – increasing access and comprehension of information generated by cities, counties and school districts in the Black Hills.

– Work Smart – strengthening the local economy with access to training resources and economic data.

– Community Memory – building community pride and supporting policymaking by providing access to the intellectual capital of the past.

Black Hills Knowledge Net-

work

EbscoHost InfoTrac ProQuest0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

Black Hills Knowledge Network vs. Other Databases

Usage Comparison

Current top five topics

•Citycountyschool blog•Blogs home•Community indicators•City history•Legislation

A Regional Collaboration

Sturgis Public LibrarySpearfish Public Library

Whitewood Public Library Custer County Library

Black Hills Knowledge Networkfirst half of 2011

• Launch version 3– New software, new look, new ease of

contribution, train partner libraries• Confirm, renew and strengthen

partnerships and develop new– Business and government groups

EVERYTHING LOCAL