Collaboration In Action: A Success Story

W. Van Straten, NPL Board ChairK. Dubeau, NPL Board

Partners

Shared Digital Infrastructure

• Enable transformation of the community• Strategic opportunities to share investments

in IT infrastructure, programs and services• Spark the development of a knowledge sector

SDI Executive: LeadersTown of Newmarket

Mayor CAO Director of IT Economic Development

Officer

Library Board Chair CEO Deputy CEO

Newmarket Hydro President

Southlake RHC

Vice President CIO

Chamber of Commerce Past Chair President Vice President

www.sdiproject.ca

Key ComponentsDigitization Lab

Community MessagingRFID/Library System

New LMS, web siteOutreach Programs

Video ConferencingBusiness Education

Strategic Planning

Newmarket History• Digitization Lab at Library• Hardware, software, workstations• Leading-edge processed and methodologies• 125+ Years of ERA Banner• Digitized, indexed, publicly available onlineRescue Mission: Our History Preserved for

Future GenerationsArts & Culture: Key Support

news.ourontario.ca

news.ourontario.ca

www.archive.org

Digital Art Collections

04/19/23 The Shared Digital Infrastructure Project 11

http://www.ourontario.ca

Search: Newmarket

www.ourontario.ca

Community Messaging: Information

• Content sharing between SRHC & NPL

• Ability to target content• Content library for

community• Potential to integrate

with other systems• Future: available to

Police & EMS

RFID & Self Checkout

• Streamlined Inventory Control Management• Self-service

Video Conferencing & Presentation Centres

• NPL, Chamber, SRHC– Video conferencing, webcasts/webinars– Document Imagers, Digital Panels

Business Education: Knowledge

Over 100 companies assisted

Strategic support for local businesses

www.teambki.ca

BKI Activities = Engagement

BKI Activities

Strategic Planning• Exploring: SDI as a key tactical strategy

supporting economic development• As an enabling foundation for Knowledge

Sector• Create a knowledge-rich environment &

facilities• Create a digital infrastructure for competitive

advantage

Vision

“Community, Powered by Knowledge”

Collaboration + Innovation = Opportunities

Community + Opportunities = Prosperity

SDI Project: Summary

• Project exceeded expectations: significant benefits• Harnessed collective leadership: Key Asset• Foundation for future collaboration• Post project review – Lessons Learned• Catalyst for community transformation• Many new opportunities• Aligns with Town’s Strategic Goals• Aligns with Federal and Provincial Priorities:

Canada’s “MoonShot”

Factors for Success• Shared goals and vision – macro and project-based

"The purpose of life is to collaborate for a common cause; the problem is nobody seems to know what it is." - Gerhard Gschwandtner

• Library as the Lead: “Switzerland”• Mutual benefits understood by all • Multiple levels of engagement• Clear roles and responsibilities• Dedicated Project Management Office• Transparency, collaborative online workspace

Context: Why SDIThe Context• The economic impacts• Canada’s trending behind other nations on access and affordability

The Opportunity:

• Only 6% of SME’s use e-commerce • The Council of Canadian Academies has identified new media as having

the greatest momentum and the highest growth potential for Canada, second only to the oilsands.

• The Digital Media sector globally is one of the fastest growing industries in the knowledge economy, with a projected valuation of US $2.2 trillion over the next five years.

Key: How to differentiate our community

The Future of SDI: The Challenges

• Ongoing Challenges• Communications• Leadership changes• Governance framework – expanding participation• Engagement of private sector• Long terms sustainability planning• Community awareness

SDI: The Future • DLab expansion• Medical simulation and training lab• Shared data analytics • Integrated Library systems (NPL & SRHC)• Shared GIS• Integrated e-commerce/service kiosks;

single sign-on• Shared IT Infrastructure• Coordinated planning, IT investments• Open access, high speed networks

ubiquitous access• Intelligent Community Master Plan• Defining how to build Knowledge in an

Intelligent Community

Partnership: Collaboration Portfolio

Collaboration• Learn to see the public library in a new light, and

re-define advantages and resources that it can contribute

• Board-led engagement to ensure focus on innovation, partner engagement and incorporation to strategic planning

• wvanstraten@yahoo.ca• kwdubeau@yahoo.com