Truly being of service to a community means being able to identify the specific needs of everyone in a neighborhood and then take action to implement the necessary resources, services, and programs to meet (and often exceed) those needs.
The Providence Community Library realized that their branches needed the ability for their patrons and staff to have mobile, wireless Internet access – and they wanted to be able to provide 21st century technology directly to their underserved patrons – especially those who could not physically visit one of their branch locations. While cost was, of course, a concern to adopting a seamless, user-friendly broadband connection, they knew that once their patrons became comfortable and confident embracing this new service, their patrons could reap countless benefits from it for themselves and their family members.
After meeting with several vendors and doing their due diligence, Providence Community Library selected a local service to help them achieve their mobile technology goals. The service was able to provide them with both mobile hotspots and low cost unlimited access. As a result, the Providence Community Library – for the first time ever – was able share some of their library functions and services out into the community – literally, outside of their of the physical libraries and into the communities.
These bookmobile services were such a success, they are now contemplating the idea of embracing this innovative technology to “loan out the Internet” in neighborhoods where access is nonexistent. The possibilities of the service’s ability to create these hotspots and help the libraries not only to achieve their mission of providing free accessible library services throughout the community, but also to continue to further use these technological innovations.
While hosting mobile events at area schools, centers, and medical centers, the new hotspots can readily access the library’s reference services to answer questions, complete circulation duties, and provide free Internet services for residents in the neighborhood. Beacon’s mobile technology also allows for the provision of Internet-accessible iPads for use with the bookmobile ~ enabling patrons to check their email easily. Librarians can now hold their traditional story time sessions through the convenience of iPads and offering subscriptions to an eBook program.
Librarians can hold computer lab classes outside of the physical library’s brick-and-mortar structure; by taking the mobile computer lab on location, classes can be now held anywhere.
Perhaps one of the best outcomes of PCL working with a local vendor, is how all the previous non-users of the Internet (whether out of fear, out of range, or out of no previous opportunity) can now learn easily how to access and embrace sustained broadband use.
Further exciting goals for PCL’s future include outreach to elderly and disabled to teach them how to get online and explore the Healthcare Exchange options.
In theory, identifying areas of concern, making a commitment to improve the status quo to ensure the lives of everyone in the community area enhanced, improved, and even inspired to do more, discover more, explore more, and understand more (for themselves and the community as a whole) sounds feasible. Transforming that challenge and actualizing that goal into reality, however, is a whole other feat. And the 9-branch PCL has accomplished just that.
No matter what the age, technical know-how, or education level of the community members of which PCL strives to be of service, they continue to implement programs and innovative ideas that are far-reaching and easily-accessible to all.
