Digital Divide

Digital Divide, Public Access Computing
Help Recruit for Internet Apprenticeship Positions
May 18th, 2010 | Permalink | Comment?
As of 5/15, the University of Minnesota was still looking for applicants for 8 Broadband Apprenticeship positions. The positions are open until filled. Front line library staff are in a great position to know community residents who’d be a great fit for these positions. Because the need for digital literacy skills and access to the Internet is so great, as library staff well know, please encourage good candidates to apply for these apprenticeship positions.

Please share this job description and flyer with those who would be interested in serving in this apprenticeship position — learning technology skills, providing computer support, and training community residents to use computers and the Internet. Advanced education is not required and second language skills are a plus. The University of Minnesota recently posted the job description for the Broadband Apprenticeship Position – Community Program Assistant. (See attachment or online application for full details.)

Highlights from the Job Description:
- The apprentices will have an opportunity to learn marketable new technology skills that can be used to find employment in a computer lab, help center, or other jobs requiring computer knowledge after the yearlong apprenticeship ends.
- Apprentices will receive initial and ongoing training and will augment current staff by providing computer support in the public computer labs and training community residents (using training materials provided) to use technology for internet access and to access information about education, jobs, health care, and economic and community development.
- High school diploma or GED and two years of work experience or additional education
- … fluency in a second language – especially Spanish, Hmong, Somali and other languages commonly spoken in Minneapolis and St. Paul – is a plus.
- See job description for more details.
Full-time position, one-year appointment, $13.87/hour

How to Apply:
1. Applications must be submitted on-line through the University of Minnesota Office of Human Resources Web site at www.umn.edu/ohr/employment/.
2. Click “Search & Apply for Job Openings”.
3. Click “Search Postings”.
4. In the box for requisition number, enter this code: 166129
5. Under Position Title, click View.
Contact: Courtney McLean, 612-624-0530 or mclea075@umn.edu

FYI–Some Background on Funding:

Minnesota was one of the few states to have an application selected to receive a federal broadband stimulus grant during BTOP Round 1. A Public Computer Center Award was granted to the University of Minnesota, 12/17/2010.

“MINNESOTA: Regents of the University of Minnesota, $2.9 million grant with matching funds of $741,000 to enhance broadband awareness and use for residents in four federally-designated poverty zones in Minneapolis and St. Paul.”

–White House Press Release: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/vice-president-biden-kicks-72-billion-recovery-act-broadband-program

–U of MN Press Release: http://www1.umn.edu/news/news-releases/2009/UR_CONTENT_165027.html

As an outcome of this grant, the University has created these apprenticeships. According to the job description, “There are eight one-year positions as Broadband Apprentices to work on the Urban Research and Outreach/Engagement Broadband Access Project (BAP). These positions are funded by a grant from the [Round 1] U.S. Department of Commerce, (Award #27-42-B10003) and a $750k match from the University. BAP will enhance broadband access, awareness, and use in one new and ten existing public computer centers located in the urban cores of Minneapolis and St. Paul.”

Mary Ann
Digital Divide, Public Libraries
Education Week Commentary: Fund Public Libraries
April 16th, 2010 | Permalink | Comment?

It’s not obvious to everyone that public libraries are part of the fabric of a strong education system. Last week two professors, one who served as an assistant U.S. secretary of education under President Bush, joined the chorus of those noticing the impact of government budget cuts on local libraries and their communities. In “How to Close the Digital Divide? Fund Public Libraries“, a commentary published in Education Week, April 6/7, 2010 (online/print), authors Celano and Neuman noted the following:

Having studied for a decade children’s use of books and computers, the two of us have warned for some time that the public library often is the only place outside of school that a poor child can find a book. We argue now that public libraries may be the only place outside of school where low-income children can use a computer and learn to navigate the Internet.

Although there is evidence that gaps in in-school computer use between poor and middle-income children may be closing, computer use outside of school is nowhere close to being equal. U.S. Census figures show that few low-income children have Internet access at home.

In Libraries on the front line of the digital divide, Ramsey County Library director, Susan Nemitz, described this very education-related scene in Maplewood, MN:

At 3 p.m. on a weekday in the Maplewood Library, teens begin to sweep through the building to access the public computers. When asked why they choose to use the library, they cite required group projects, the need to access specific software programs like PowerPoint, the competition among three siblings fighting over access to the sole computer at home, the dial-up modem that fails to provide adequate bandwidth, and their desire to work in a safe and quiet after-school space.

Over the Easter weekend I chatted with two teens from Orono high school. Since Orono is one of the highest income areas in the metro area, I asked if most of their classmates had laptops or PDAs or home access to the Internet. Their reply was fascinating to me. They reported daily schools assignments that required the Internet. They reported that a lot of their classmates had laptops or iPhones or good computers and the Internet at home. Then they said this: “It’s really hard for the students that have dial-access at home. They try to do their work on the school computers in whatever free moments they can find. And my computer’s not that new. I’m taking an online class and I have to be careful. If my home computer crashes during an online test, I don’t get credit.”

Even in our communities with more financial resources, students may not have the home or school Internet access needed for completing schoolwork. And the public libraries often provide the only free access to high-functioning computers and high-speed Internet after school hours.

Celano and Neuman conclude their commentary this way:

Cutting library funding may be a short-term economic fix, but if our long-term goal is an equitable and educated populace, it is the wrong idea at the wrong time.
Digital Divide
MN and America’s Digital Inclusion Summit
March 17th, 2010 | Permalink | Comment?
Libraries play a critical role in digital inclusion – access to computers, software, and the Internet; basic training of anyone interested; relevant content in a range of formats. I was surprised but pleased that libraries were mentioned many times during America’s Digital Inclusion Summit, sponsored by the FCC (Federal Communication Commission) and The Knight Foundation.

Minnesota Connections:

Minnesota Panel Discussion: Several members of the Minnesota library community reported viewing the highly informative webcast from their desktop. Others participated in the Maplewood webcast, which included a local panel and discussion after the webcast. (See attached email for details.)
- Until the video recording and transcript are available, you may find Ann Treacy’s summary useful, Minnesota’s portion of the Digital Inclusion Summit (Blandin on Broadband, 3-9-2010).
- Ramsey County Library director Susan Nemitz was one of the local panelists, and did a great job of representing the situation in libraries. View this blog entry for access to her recent Pioneer Press opinion piece on the digital divide.
Minnesotan Featured: Alex Kurt, CTEP Americorp Member working in St. Paul’s Rondo Library, was featured in the national webcast. (Very nice job, Alex!) (I’m working on getting the text of his segment.) How did a community representative from Minnesota get on the national panel? Well, as the story goes, consultant and local CTEP founder, Catherine Settanni, met with the FCC representative who was collecting data on digital inclusion efforts in Minnesota. (Bet you didn’t know the FCC was doing that!) Catherine introduced the FCC rep to the current CTEP directors, who ultimately worked out the arrangements for Alex to speak at the Summit in Washington, D.C.

CTEP Model: The proposed national broadband plan includes a Digital Literacy Corp, modeled as it appears, on the local Americorp Community Technology Empowerment Program (CTEP), founded by Catherine Settanni, DigitalAccess.org, consultant and digital inclusion supporter. Some of you will recognize Catherine as the person who spearheaded community conversations about the Minneapolis Wifi initiative that led to a vendor-funded Digital Inclusion Fund for Minneapolis.

The local CTEP program has Americorp members in 25 local libraries and nonprofits with public access computing, including the public libraries within St. Paul and Hennepin County. Library staff routinely assist patrons with basic computer and Internet search skills and database use. The demand is high, and the presence of Americorp members has extended the reach of both libraries in providing technology training and support for the public.

Many CTEP members and their supervisors participate in the Technology Literacy Collaborative, a network of digital inclusion supporters committed to sharing best practices, providing or advocating for technology literacy skills and access, and promoting collaborative efforts..

By the way, just a few minutes ago, the American Library Association posted its positions on the proposed National Broadband Plan and voiced this sentiment about the proposed National Digital Literacy Program:

ALA enthusiastically supports the launch of this Program. Providing individuals with the guidance and training necessary to search, locate, obtain, and use all forms of information resources is central to the mission of libraries. And libraries – whether school, public, academic, or otherwise – are already present in communities across America and are ideally situated to provide digital literacy training or to collaborate with other community organizations to provide such training.
Digital Divide, Public Access Computing
U of MN Posts Digital Inclusion Position
March 11th, 2010 | Permalink | Comment?

Promote digital inclusion “in the urban core of Minneapolis and St. Paul” as a Broadband Access Team Leader. Ken Nelson, supervisor of the Digital Divide Initiative (DDI), just reported the position is still open for applications, and additional related position postings will follow. (Nice to hear in tough economic times!)

While the job title refers to broadband access, and includes tech support for public computer labs, the work of the teams will include training the public in basic digital literacy skills – so that they can take advantage of all that broadband has to offer. (Side note: The DDI estimates that on the north side of Minneapolis, for example, just 26% have computers in the home, and just 18% have Internet access in the home. They expect their efforts to expand access and training to the underserved, complementing the services local libraries and tech centers are providing now.)

Many staff of libraries and other community technology centers would be excellent candidates for this position. Notice that skills are required for working with technology, training, coworkers, and the public.

Full Position posting: https://employment.umn.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=85288

Excerpt: “The University of Minnesota invites applications for four available positions as Broadband Team Leaders to work on a three-year federal grant program. The Broadband Access Project (BAP) is supported by a $2.9 million grant to the University of Minnesota as part of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act/Stimulus Bill from the Department of Commerce and a $750,000 match from the University. BAP will enhance broadband access, awareness, and use in ten existing public computer centers and one new center located in the urban core of Minneapolis and St. Paul. ”

BTW—DDI Supervisor, Ken Nelson, used to work for IBM and later managed the Patchwork Digital Divide initiative, providing computers to low-income residents of the north side of Minneapolis, before joining the University of Minnesota. Good energy, good friend of libraries and other tech centers, has made a difference in the community.
Digital Divide, Public Libraries
Susan Nemitz: On the front lines of the digital divide … (St. Paul Pioneer Press, 2-17-2010)
February 18th, 2010 | Permalink | 1 Comment

Take a look at this article about the digital divide and the role of public libraries in meeting public need, written by Ramsey County Library Director Susan Nemitz.

http://www.twincities.com/opinion/ci_14420880

Thank you, Susan, for putting the experience of so many into words.

I was in a public meeting the other day, and the folks from one non-profit were lamenting the limited computer/Internet time available in libraries for their homeless clients. They wished for expanded hours of service and more than 30-60 minutes of Internet access for the public. Later, an unemployed woman, without a computer or the internet at home, told me that she traveled from one library system to another each day, so that she could have more than an hour for her job search efforts. Public libraries across the state, and across the country, are indeed on the front lines of the digital divide.

(Note: If this link doesn’t take you to the article, try obtaining it via the ELM databases (elm4you.org), available at no charge to Minnesota residents.)
Advocacy, Conference, Digital Divide, Library Associations, Public Access Computing, Research
“The Digital Divide is alive and with us.”-FOLUSA Director
October 15th, 2009 | Permalink | Comment?

During the grassroots advocacy luncheon today, Sally Reed, FOLUSA (Friends of the Library USA) reinforced why it’s so important to get the word out about what libraries do and why it matters. If they are to support and fund libraries, the public and decision-makers have to understand the role of the library in creating an informed democracy and understand why the library is unique and indispensable.

Reed gave several reasons why the library is unique – expertise available on hand, parenting collections, modeling of reading to children via story hours, meeting learning needs, computer and technology support, more.

Here’s where she caught my attention. At the beginning of her talk, she said, ”The digital divide is alive and with us. Libraries assist those in the depths of the divide without access and experience. Decision-makers want to tell us the library is not relevant any more and funding can be cut, but we have to tell them what we do to support those without access.” Near the end of her talk, she said, “All jobs are online now. Applicants must respond with digital resume and cover letter. Libraries serve those without skills, access. No one else does this to the extent libraries do.”

I moderated a program yesterday on, “Doesn’t Everyone Have the Internet?” This topic is near and dear to my heart. Here are a couple of session handouts with US and Minnesota statistics.

Who Doesn’t Have the Internet? (Minnesota Internet Study) — Marnie Werner, Center for Rural Policy and Development

Digital Divide Statistics: Internet Use and Home Broadband Access – compiled by me from various sources. All feedback welcomed. Sidenote: Let me know if you have more recent data on access for those with disabilities.

Trends in Community Technology Centers in the Twin Cities Area (MN) – an example of “telling the story” to decision-makers. Add your ideas to the list!

“Now More Than Ever: Improving Public Access to Technology” - Catherine Settanni, The Digital Access Project, gave an awesome overview.

The remaining handouts will be posted online soon.
Digital Divide, Library Value
The library is THE place to get online and to learn how to use online tools
March 23rd, 2009 | Permalink | Comment?

Ann Treacy, Blandin on Broadband, just posted a great blog entry on the value of libraries as “THE place to go online and to learn how to use online tools”.

Libraries and broadband are closing the gap
http://blandinonbroadband.org/2009/03/22/libraries-and-broadband-are-closing-the-gap/

Libraries, especially in metro areas, have partnered with other Community Technology Centers in nonprofits to provide public access to technology for years. Even when other options exist (e.g. WorkForce Centers, computers in the local social service agency or Church basement), the number of open hours, staffing, equipment support, and other resources make the library the place to go for many. And, in many communities, the library is the only place within driving distance offering online access and instruction.
Digital Divide
Digital divide still an issue in Minnesota–Public Libraries/Community Tech Centers can help close the gap
December 17th, 2007 | Permalink | 2 Comments
If you were listening to Minnesota Public Radio this morning before work (7:21 AM to be exact), you may have heard this great news story! For those of you practicing your talking points on how public libraries/community technology centers are used for access to computers and the Internet, check out this MPR feature story — available as text and audio!

“Digital divide still an issue in Minnesota” http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/12/06/digitaldivide/.
- The role of public libraries in providing technology skills is described in an interview with Stephanie Young, director of the computer lab at the Rondo Community Outreach Library, an inner-city branch of the St. Paul Public Library! Rondo Librarian, Alice Neve, is also quoted in some of the news clips I heard this morning.
- Mike Wassenaar, Executive Director of the Saint Paul Neighborhood Network, reinforces the importance of “providing affordable broadband Internet access.”
- Expect to hear more over time about the last item referenced in the feature – the digital inclusion fund, a unique contract provision of the Minneapolis citywide wifi project that will direct funds toward closing the digital divide.
Note: The “new report” referenced in the MPR feature is actually a report released a year ago this month – December 2006. Digital Justice: Progress Toward Digital Inclusion in Minnesota, “a new report by the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Race and Poverty, shows that while the digital divide remains a problem in Minnesota, community technology centers can help bridge the gap.” The report includes a chapter on “How Public Libraries Reach the Unreached”. [BTW--Brookdale Public Library is used as a Case Study in the report. Mary Wussow, Inver Glen Library, Inver Grove Heights appears in photos in the report.]

For sources of US and Minnesota statistics on the digital divide, see the attached summary, Digital Divide Research 4-9-2007 , distributed during the Rural Library Sustainability workshops last spring. Here’s the short summary for Minnesota, based on data I found in the Center’s annual Minnesota Internet Study.

DIGITAL DIVIDE STATISTICS: Summary – Minnesota
                                                                                             Total   Rural   Metro
Households with at least one working computer         68.7% 65.5% 71%
Households with a home Internet connection              63.5% 59.4% 67%
Households connecting to the Internet from home
using a broadband connection                                       49%     39.7% 57%

Compiled from: “The 2006 Minnesota Internet Study: Broadband enters the mainstream” (Center for Rural Policy & Development, St. Peter, MN)
http://www.mnsu.edu/ruralmn/pages/Publications/reports/Telecom2006.pdf

It’s a good day for getting the word out about community technology centers like libraries!

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Digital Divide

Digital Divide, Public Access Computing

Help Recruit for Internet Apprenticeship Positions

Digital Divide, Public Libraries

Education Week Commentary: Fund Public Libraries

Digital Divide

MN and America’s Digital Inclusion Summit

Digital Divide, Public Access Computing

U of MN Posts Digital Inclusion Position

Digital Divide, Public Libraries

Susan Nemitz: On the front lines of the digital divide … (St. Paul Pioneer Press, 2-17-2010)

Advocacy, Conference, Digital Divide, Library Associations, Public Access Computing, Research

“The Digital Divide is alive and with us.”-FOLUSA Director

Digital Divide, Library Value

The library is THE place to get online and to learn how to use online tools

Digital Divide

Digital divide still an issue in Minnesota–Public Libraries/Community Tech Centers can help close the gap