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 jen-eilers@icpl.org