Economic Development

Advocacy, Economic Development, Library Value
Libraries at the Heart of Our Communities (Planning Commissioners Journal, Summer 2009)
July 22nd, 2009 | Permalink | Comment?

Another timely and highly readable article on the importance of libraries to our communities, and one that will be of interest to local decision-makers. Thanks to Melissa Palank, MLA, for sharing this alert to ALA State Chapters:

The feature article in the Summer issue of the Planning Commissioners Journal, “Libraries at the Heart of Our Communities,” reports on the increasingly important role public libraries are playing in our communities. The article also focuses on how libraries can strengthen downtowns and main street districts. For a limited time the article is available to download at no charge (as a pdf file). The pdf can be redistributed as is. If you are interested in reprinting the article or excerpting from it for your newsletter (there will be no fee for this), please contact us first.

For information about Libraries at the Heart of Our Communities, and to download it, go to:
http://pcj.typepad.com/planning_commissioners_jo/2009/07/libraries.html

We hope you will share this information with your members, as we think the article will be a valuable resource in showing the benefits that strong libraries can bring to communities.

If you have any questions, contact:
Wayne Senville, Editor, Planning Commissioners Journal
802.864.9083 / pcjoffice@gmail.com / http://www.plannersweb.com
Economic Development, Funding, Grants, Public Access Computing, Public Training, Technology
Broadband Stimulus Funds: Workshop and Summary of NOFA
July 15th, 2009 | Permalink | Comment?

To see info on upcoming federally-sponsored broadband workshops and a summary of the nofa, see these two postings by Ann Treacy, the blogger for Blandin on Broadband.

BIP & BTOP workshops : Minnesota location: 7/21/2009, 8-4:30, Crowne Plaza Hotel, St. Paul

NTIA & RUS NOFA in short

If you are interested in partnering in Minnesota, view and share ideas via the Minnesota Broadband Coalition’s site, Broadband stimulus ideas.

For ongoing updates from the library perspective, visit the ALA site, Know Your Stimulus.
Economic Development, Grants, Public Training, Recession, Technology
Broadband stimulus application procedures released today
July 1st, 2009 | Permalink | Comment?

And you thought you were going to have a few days off for the holiday!

If you’ve been intrigued by the idea of money for libraries for broadband infrastructure or related public education, then this is the document you’ve been waiting for. Expect to see more about the provisions in the days to come. But if you want to see the 121-page application procedures document for yourself today, here’s the link.

Direct Link to NTIA/RUS Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA):
http://broadbandusa.sc.egov.usda.gov/files/BB%20NOFA%20FINAL%20with%20disclaimer_1.pdf

For a great overview, see this posting from ALA’s Washington Office:
NTIA/RUS release highly anticipated Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for broadband stimulus programs (District Dispatch, 7-1-2009) http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=3145

Per the District Dispatch posting, “Applications will be available beginning July 7 and electronic applications for broadband funding must be submitted by 5 p.m. ET on August 14, 2009, so time is of the essence!”

So, application procedures today; application next week. Happy reading!

To view all blog entries on this topic, type “broadband stimulus” in the WebJunction Minnesota search box.
Advocacy, Economic Development, Library Value, Research
Library Return on Investment
February 22nd, 2009 | Permalink | Comment?

There is a brief Webliography on studies on Library Return on Investment studies on the blog It’s all good. It’s all good is blog maintained by four OCLC staff members. This post is by George Needham. Stephen Abram pointed to the post in his blog and added a link to one of his articles The Value of Our Libraries: Impact, Recognition, and Influencing Funders.
Economic Development, Recession
Understanding the ARRA and Libraries
February 18th, 2009 | Permalink | Comment?
Now that President Obama has signed the American Investment and Recovery Act (ARRA) into law, the American Library Association has created a one-stop source with resources on how to make sure libraries benefit from the Economic Stimulus package and the most up-to-date information on the stimulus. As information becomes available, the ALA Washington Office will post updates on this page with details, such as how funding will be distributed and how to apply. Currently the page lists four programs that are included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that can benefit libraries:
- $7.2 billion for Broadband
- $53.6 billion for the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund
- An additional $120 million for the Senior Community Service Employment Program
- An additional $130 million for the Rural Community Facilities Program
You can read the details of these programs at the above link. As more information becomes available, it will be posted on the American Library Association Web site on a page titled American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 101. This will eventually include state-by-state impact of the ARRA.
Advocacy, Economic Development, Public Libraries, Sustainability
Local Government Managers and Public Libraries: Partners for a Better Community
December 17th, 2007 | Permalink | Comment?
Turns out the Gates Foundation has another initiative in the works to support public libraries. Minnesota recently completed the Rural Library Sustainability program, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, via a grant administered by State Library Services. 239 members of the Minnesota library community participated during the past year.) As part of its US Libraries Initiative, the Foundation has also created the Local Government and Public Libraries Initiative. ICMA (International City/County Management Association) is partnering in this initiative. Take a look at the following article and information recently provided by the ICMA.
The October issue of Management Perspective is entitled, Local Government Managers and Public Libraries–Partners for a Better Community. Click here to download.

Management Perspective is a periodic publication from ICMA (International City/County Management Association) that features in-depth coverage of a local government topic that taps the expertise of one of ICMA’s strategic partners in a way that is of high value to our members. In this issue, ICMA has teamed up with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and our member advisory committee to expand our knowledge and understanding of how libraries support community sustainability and quality of life. For more information on this initiative visit www.icma.org/public_libraries.

This is an article many will find useful. Here are the article headings:
- Managers Can Strategically Use Their Public Libraries to achieve Community Priorities
- Manager’s role in supporting libraries
  
  Strategic Planning
  
  Funding
  
  Public Support
  
  Accountability
- The role libraries play and value they bring to a community
  
  The Third Place
  
  Building Communitiies
  
  Education, Workforce, and Business Enhancement
  
  Change Agent
- The changing roles of public libraries
- Governance and community partnership models for libraries
- Next steps
Watch for a proposed plan to be developed in the coming months by the ICMA Local Government and Public Libraries Partnership Initiative – Advisory Committee. The Committee is discussing how local govenments and public libraries can partner to improve communities. Sounds promising!
Economic Development
Minnesotas Public Libraries: Priceless, in Dollars and Sense (from MN2020.org)
November 7th, 2007 | Permalink | 1 Comment

This posting about Minnesota libraries and economic development came out yesterday from Minnesota 2020 (www.mn2020.org). Terrific article to share with staff, board members, Friends, press, funders, decision-makers. Great quotes from colleagues and library users around the state, and from research done in other states.

Minnesota’s Public Libraries: Priceless, in Dollars and Sense (Published 11/6/2007)

http://www.mn2020.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={A42E728E-7F22-46A4-B806-5949B9F4FA06}&DE=

Quoted:

Rushford Public Library director, Susan Hart (SELCO)- libraries as resource during emergencies

Park Rapids Public Library manager, Becky Walpole (Kitchigami Regional Library)- how libraries support public access computing

Sherri Syverson, a rural Fergus Falls farmer, cabinetmaker and avid reader

Linked:

SELCO blog regarding the role of libraries during the recent floods.

Research on impact of libraries and economic development

Note: Minnesota 2020 is a self-described progressive, non-partisan think tank, founded by Rick Entenza. The website focuses on “Issues that Matter” for the future of Minnesota.

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Economic Development

Advocacy, Economic Development, Library Value

Libraries at the Heart of Our Communities (Planning Commissioners Journal, Summer 2009)

Economic Development, Funding, Grants, Public Access Computing, Public Training, Technology

Broadband Stimulus Funds: Workshop and Summary of NOFA

Economic Development, Grants, Public Training, Recession, Technology

Broadband stimulus application procedures released today

Advocacy, Economic Development, Library Value, Research

Library Return on Investment

Economic Development, Recession

Understanding the ARRA and Libraries

Advocacy, Economic Development, Public Libraries, Sustainability

Local Government Managers and Public Libraries: Partners for a Better Community

Economic Development

Minnesotas Public Libraries: Priceless, in Dollars and Sense (from MN2020.org)