Iowa Library Technology Grant Application Application Deadline: November 1, 2013

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1 Iowa Library Technology Grant Application Application Deadline: November 1, 2013 Read through this application and instructions before you begin the application. Provide answers to all questions. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Provide as much detail as you can. 1. Name of Library or Group: Ely Public Library 2. Name of Library that will serve as fiscal agent if a group is applying: Ely Public Library 3. Contact Name: Sarah L. Sellon 4. Contact Telephone number: Contact address: ssellon@ely.lib.ia.us 6. Contact Address: 1595 Dows St.; PO Box City/Zip: Ely, IA Project title: EPL! 9. Grant amount requested: $1, Do you have local funding for this project? Yes. If so, how much? $ Describe your project. Include information about implementation, goals and objectives, project schedule and budget. The Ely Public Library strives to provide library services that introduce children to the love of reading and literature, promote life-long learning, develop capable users of information and technology, and encourage our patrons to reach their fullest potential. EPL! is an extension of this mission as the goals of this project are to provide our patrons with the opportunity to experience in an interactive setting the written and spoken word, to implement new creative programming for all ages and to provide a mobile opportunity for patrons to explore their information needs through the internet. The schedule for implementation will be fairly quick as most of the research has already been completed. The first phase for roll-out would be to have the ipads available for general use in the new year, while providing basic support. The next phase would be to use the ipads in a Toddler Time and Story Time setting to enhance what is currently being done as well as provide the children with some Discovery Time on the ipads. An opportunity for school aged children is available in January when their school does not meet due to a professional learning day. A program such as stop motion video creation would be a fun and creative way to entice the youth to stop in. Further phases would be to provide further detailed instruction and support on different ways to use ipads as well as to continue to develop programming. Outlined below is a schedule for the implementation of the project and budgetary considerations:

2 Description Expense/Budget Funding Source Completion Date Research ipads None N/A 10/31/2013 Write and adopt ipad None N/A 12/4/2013 policies for use; agreement terms; Research apps None N/A Ongoing - Initial deadline of 12/31/2013 Research Programming None N/A Ongoing Opportunities Purchase 3 ipads $1,500 Iowa Library 12/6/2013 Technology Grant Purchase 3 ipad cases $150 EPL Budget 12/6/2013 (Otterbox Defender Series) Purchase ipad VGA adapter $50 EPL Budget 12/6/2013 dongle for projector connection Initial set-up and security; None N/A 12/11/2013 Barcode, reservations, etc. Pre-load classic e-books None N/A 12/14/2013 Purchase and install apps $0-10 each app; EPL Budget 12/14/2013 Allocate $100 for beginning apps Staff Training & discovery None N/A 12/14/2013-1/4/2014 time Market ipads; uses within library; program dates; None N/A 12/20/2013 and ongoing availability, etc. Make copies of agreement None N/A 1/6/2014 of use terms & policies available for public; post to website Roll out ipads - available for None N/A Starting 1/6/2014 use within library! Easy assessment form to be None N/A Starting 1/6/2014 completed after use (question how used; patrons experience positive?; ask for suggestions for use) Enhance Toddler Time & None N/A 1/13/2014 one-on-one Discovery Time Toddler Time & Discovery Time None N/A 1/13/2014

3 Enhance Story Time songs; digital flannel board; Tumblebooks Story Time No school day program Stop Motion Camera Stop Motion Camera Program Start offering ipad classes (technology petting zoo; how to use; best apps;etc.) Evolve programming based on assessment outcomes; continue research into applications for community; gather funding as needed to expand this service Monitor project & report findings None N/A 1/16/2014 None N/A 1/16/2014 None N/A 1/20/2014 None N/A 1/20/2014 None N/A Starting 2/1/2014 None N/A Ongoing None N/A Ongoing 12. What is the economic need of your library or group of libraries? The Ely Public Library currently does not have any funding to start this project, with the main concern for expense in purchasing the ipads. Limited funding is ($300) available this fiscal year for the cases, VGA dongle for our projector as well as purchasing some apps. While the City of Ely is a great supporter of the library, they do not have unlimited funds to provide to the library as they have several upcoming infrastructure needs for our community. To reduce the expenses of this project, the Director and librarians are all willing to work on and off hours to familiarize themselves with this technology. Technical support, ongoing research of apps and specific training would be provided by the Director, keeping costs for maintaining to a minimum. Additional equipment needed, such as protective cases and projector connections, and purchasing of apps would be funded through the current budget with considerations for additional funding in the next fiscal year. The EPL Librarians are excited to learn how to use ipads for the betterment of their community and library. 13. How will this project improve the lives of the citizens in your community? There are numerous opportunities that this project will provide in improving the lives of the citizens of all ages within my community. Providing access to classic ebook titles, apps to use our NEIBORS, Tumblebooks and EBSCO subscriptions, and website shortcuts will make it easy for our patrons to find the information they desire are just a few. Pre-loading the ipads with educational apps as well as a shortcut to the LearningExpress website, will provide learning experiences for all ages.

4 For our youngest patrons, this project means an interactive time in a one-on-one situation with their caregiver, where ebooks, learning apps and early literacy skills are all part of the experience. This too means an extension of the traditional story time, where in a group setting, this provides a new way to present finger plays, songs and an interactive digital flannel board. For our youth, the ipads will provide a way to extend learning from the classroom to their after school time, where they can continue to work on projects and apps that had been started during the school day or start something new. This technology also can assist with reluctant readers providing them a way to be more involved with the title they are reading, listening or watching. ipad programming can also provide a creative outlet for our youth as they make new technical projects. For our adults, they provide a mobile workstation they can utilize anywhere within the library so they can find that quiet area to work. For the teachers in our community, the ipads will provide another way to assist their students with their learning needs during their tutoring times at the library while also opening the doors for collaboration between teachers and out public librarians. For our senior patrons, the ipad provides a way for them to use a light-weight mobile internet device that does not have the extra periphery equipment that some find difficult to use, such as a mouse. For our staff, the ipads allow for new ways to be creative with our programming, provide a mobile means for references and searching and also as a way to be green by eliminating the need to print many reports. ipads would also be beneficial for the inventory and weeding process. 14. How is your project unique or how does it demonstrate an innovative use of technology? Librarians using ipads in a library setting is not a new thing. However, this would be a new technology for our community and would enhance current programming as well as provide a means for new programming that would not be possible without them. The innovative use happens as the ipads are used, allowing for collaboration and teachable moments across the spectrum of patrons, regardless of age. ipads are unique in that the possibilities seem endless, one just needs to get creative and experiment! Patron driven programming and ideas are an important consideration as well for unique uses of this technology. 15. Describe how the project will be evaluated. What are the results you are hoping for with this project? How will you know if the goals and objectives are achieved? Ultimately the hope for this project is to provide opportunities for our patrons to use this new technology in a way that promotes literacy, education, access to information and social opportunities through programming. Additionally, it is hoped that this new technology will attract new users to our community and library. Traditionally success has been determined on attendance for programs and would certainly be applicable here. However, not all successes can be statistically or numerically measured. We would need to look at outcomes such as patron involvement or users achieving a self-set goal. An evaluation process as well as logs kept on the different uses of the ipads will be also considered for determining the success of the project. For evaluation purposes, brief conversations and short surveys post-programming/use will be used to assess the patrons response to the program and/or equipment use, as well as provide a means for

5 suggestions. A sample evaluation is available below. Minor modifications would need to be made to assess the varied programming. Sample Evaluation for a children s program: 1) How old is/are the child(ren) who attended? 2) What did you like best about this program? 3) What improvements need to be made? 4) Do you have an ipad at home? 5) Would you attend another app-based program? 6) Do you think you will check out an ipad from the library in the future? 7) Thank you for your time! Please provide any other comments or suggestions. Thank you for your consideration of this Grant Proposal. Send hardcopies to: Iowa Library Technology Grants Iowa Library Services 1112 East Grand Ave. Des Moines, Iowa Send attachments to: grants@lib.state.ia.us Fax to: