Your Name and Title:
Stephanie Stenberg, Director, Internet2 Community Anchor Program
Library, School, or Organization Name:
Internet2
Co-Presenter Name(s):
Carson Block, Library Technologist, Carson Block Consulting, Inc.
Area of the World from Which You Will Present:
Michigan and Colorado, USA
Language in Which You Will Present:
English
Target Audience(s):
All libraries (and the people that work there) that struggle with technology and broadband issues
Short Session Description (one line):
Learn how the free Toward Gigabit Libraries Toolkit can help you better understand and improve your library’s IT and broadband needs.
Full Session Description (as long as you would like):
Does your library have limited tech support and resources? Are you interested in building your knowledge of your library’s broadband and IT resources? Let us introduce you to the Toward Gigabit Libraries toolkit, a free, self-service guide to help libraries understand and improve their broadband and technology resources. Use the Toward Gigabit Libraries Toolkit and customized Broadband Improvement Plan to become better equipped to improve your library’s broadband services and become a stronger advocate for your library's broadband infrastructure needs.
At the session, we will take you through the areas covered in the toolkit and cover how to use the toolkit to understand your library’s broadband and IT environment, identify outdated equipment or insufficient internet speeds, make a case for more funding, and negotiate your broadband contract.
About the Toolkit:
The Toward Gigabit Libraries Toolkit and Broadband Improvement Plan was initially developed for rural and tribal libraries from an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant (RE-00-15-0110-15), where the team piloted the toolkit with 58 public and tribal libraries. The project team recently received a new IMLS grant (RE-246219-OLS-20) to improve upon and expand the toolkit's reach to more libraries, including urban libraries, across the nation.
Speakers:
Carson Block has led, managed, and supported library technology efforts for more than 25 years. He brings a user-centered technological perspective, with an emphasis on transparent and powerful solutions, with some “gee whiz” thrown into the mix. Carson’s passions include leading technology visioning and planning, creating highly-functional work groups, technical design (including infrastructure, RFID, and points of self-service), and project management with a focus on technology solutions tailored for each library and its community.
Stephanie Stenberg is Director of the Internet2 Community Anchor Program, where she works with regional networking partners, community anchor institutions, and Internet2 membership organizations to support mutually beneficial goals of bringing networking, trust and identity services, and advanced applications to community anchor institutions nationwide. Since joining Internet2 in 2018, she has been part of three Institute of Museum and Library Services-funded grant projects focused on libraries and connectivity.
Websites / URLs Associated with Your Session:
Replies