TECHNOLOGY CLASSES AT YOUR LIBRARY
Presented by: Jen Eilers
ASSESSING YOUR RESOURCES
Resources
•Extra hours/flexible work schedule•Online calendar and webpage•Computer Lab•Marketing Department•Five hours away from service point•7 Staff members (librarians)
*Offer night and weekend
classes*Up-to-date
calendar and website entries
*Create a marketing
plan with the marketing
department*Encourage
staff to promote classes
SolutionsGoalProblem
ASSESSING YOUR RESOURCES
• How will I measure the outcomes of my solutions?
• Am I using the right resources to solve the problem?
• Does my goal need to be adjusted?
• Are there other solutions that might work better to solve this problem?
ASSESSMENT TOOLS AND MEASURES
• Would a paper or an online form work better for getting patron feedback?
• When do you want to have patrons assess your technology class?
• How much time do you have to record data? • How much time do you think you’ll need to analyze
the data? How frequently will you do this?• What other data would be useful to determine the
success of your classes?
Questions to Consider:
ASSESSMENT TOOLS AND MEASURES
Google Forms• Free and easy to use• Custom forms• Stores compiled data
in a spreadsheet• Data can be
analyzed and manipulated using a program of your choice
Survey Monkey• Free and easy to use• Creates surveys and
analyzes data• Surveys can only be
10 questions long and free account only captures 100 responses
Project Outcome• Pre-designed surveys• Built in analysis of
the data entered• Supported by the PLA
(Public Library Association)
• Data is shared with libraries across the United States
Library Research Service• Tips &
strategies for collecting date, creating surveys, and analyzing survey data
• Private entity specializing in library research
• Offers 3 general survey templates
CREATING SUCCESSFUL MARKETING TOOLS
Create a Marketing PlanSaturate
your Communit
y
•Press releases•Columns in local paper•Radio spots KXIC and KCJJ•Social Media Posts•The Window Newsletter
Develop Marketing
for the Library
•Half-sheet handouts for service desks•Calendar of Events•Bottom of class handout•Posters•Website
Inform your Staff
• Share class listings at meetings
• Brainstorm improvements to classes with staff
• Encourage staff to attend classes
• Send email or post info internally
Strategies to Consider
CREATING SUCCESSFUL MARKETING TOOLS
Utilize Existing
Partnerships
•Senior Center Mailer•Handouts and posters at other community centers: Recreation Centers, Town Hall, churches, etc.
Look for Potential
Partnerships
• Iowa City Tech Chicks group of women looking to improve tech skills
• Sense & Cents-ability investment group using databases
Assess your
Efforts•Make sure to add a “How you Heard” section on your survey•Scale back your efforts once you’ve found methods that work
Strategies to Consider
BUILDING BETTER CURRICULUM
GCFLearnfree.org• Free online tutorials• Technology courses
for basic computer skills to Windows 10 tutorials
• Have provided tutorials for over 10 years
Learning Express• Database the state
library provides too all libraries for free
• Great tutorials on software programs like Excel and Photoshop
DigitalLearn.org• Free videos, pdfs
of curriculum, and pdfs of handouts
• Project was done in conjunction with the Public Library Association
Other public libraries• Denver
Public Library provides instructor notes and handouts on all classes they teach
• https://www.denverlibrary.org/ctc-classes
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Contact me at [email protected]
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