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Minnesota LSTA FFY2012—Goal 1A-1C Competitive Grant Application. Follow the exact form, contents and
<br />pagination provided by the State Library.
<br />Applicant: Anoka County Library
<br />8. Relevance to LSTA Goal & Program Activity: (Only use space available below -READ directions)
<br />Anoka County Library on the Go fits the assigned goal by developing pilot programs to provide access to both
<br />physical and digital library materials and services outside of the four walls of Anoka County Library's (ACL) branch
<br />libraries. Library services will be provided to populations unable to conveniently access ACL libraries due to
<br />obstacles created by reduced library hours, geographic barriers, and economic hardship. Piloting services that
<br />provide access to both digital library materials (digital download stations, population -specific digital collections) and
<br />the technology required to use them (digital Readers, tablets), Anoka County Library on the Go will overcome.
<br />existing barriers to service in order that ACL may better serve those in the community most in need of its services.
<br />9. Project Purpose: READ directions first — Purpose should be a six to eight sentence statement!
<br />LSTA funds will be used to partially fund a pilot program to expand ACL's reach while closing the digital divide
<br />and building strong relationships with community partners. Identifying high traffic locations serving diverse, and/or
<br />economically disadvantaged populations, the individual pilot projects are intended to improve communities' access
<br />to technology and library services while establishing ACL as a future -oriented, technology -enhanced, and
<br />community -centered institution.
<br />In recognition of the need to overcome barriers, local funds totaling $200,000 have been raised to pilot the expansion
<br />of library services in several cities. These funds will be used to install self-service lockers, book vending machines,
<br />and book returns in community locations identified as high -traffic and underserved. A previous LSTA Grant
<br />application, Library Services to the Underserved via Kiosks', explored the benefits of expanding access to physical
<br />materials. Recognizing that the library of the future will increasingly depend on digital materials, services, and
<br />technologies, Anoka County Library seeks to complement these traditional library services with digital services.
<br />Local funding sources'also recognize the need to provide digital services remotely; however, those funds are limited
<br />and can only be used on capital purchases. A number of digital options have recently been introduced to the library •
<br />field. ACL seeks LSTA funds to pilot programs that will evaluate the results of access to new digital options
<br />including download stations, digital materials (eBooks), electronic readers, and tablets to populations otherwise
<br />unable to access them due to barriers of time, location, lack of transportation, and socio-economic status. ACL is
<br />seeking LSTA funds to ensure it is reaching those in the community most in need —namely, children in our local
<br />schools and individuals living in diverse, socio-economically depressed neighborhoods.
<br />10. Evaluation: (Federal Priority - See Directions)
<br />Evaluation of Anoka County Library on the Go will center on its ability to meet the community where it is at —
<br />while measuring its ability to move both itself and the community into the future. This will consist of measuring
<br />both rates of usage and behavior change that result from the pilot projects.
<br />Usage statistics, reporting how many materials are picked up and returned and how frequently e-readers, tablets
<br />and digital materials have been checked out, will provide concrete evidence of the pilot program's success. Easily
<br />compiled by the technology used to bring these services to the community, ACL hopes that these numbers will total
<br />9,000 items dispensed through lockers, 15,000 items returned via book returns, and 750 e-reader, 1,440 tablet, and
<br />4,200 digital material checkouts during the first year of service. Statistics regarding number of library card
<br />applications initiated, related reference questions, and attendance at service introduction/trainings will also be
<br />compiled. The intent is to reach approximately 15,000 residents in someway over the course of the project.
<br />Behavior change caused by Anoka County Library on the Go's services will also be evaluated. ACL is
<br />interested in how the new service impacts community members' perceptions and use of digital services, their ability
<br />to utilize digital services, and their perceptions of ACL itself ACL's ability to initiate, support, and sustain
<br />relationships with community entities already serving the underserved in the Anoka County region will also be
<br />evaluated —as this is at the heart of sustaining positive impacts from our services, current and future.
<br />A-2
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