A Tale of Two Cities: NYPL and CPL Wi-Fi Lending Projects

1. Luke Swarthout lukeswarthout@nypl.org Michelle Frisque mfrisque@chipublib.org A Tale of Two Cities: WiFi Lending in Chicago and New York City Luke Swarthout lukeswarthout@nypl.org Michelle Frisque mfrisque@chipublib.org

2. THE BROADBAND INTERNET GAP •  Across New York City, 27% of households lack home internet access. •  63% of New Yorkers with family income less than $20,000 a year lack home internet access. •  In the U.S. 30% of homes lack broadband internet. •  The number rises to 48% for families earning less than $30,000 a year. June 26, 2015 ALA: A Tale of Two Cities 1

3. DIGITAL SKILLS GAP •  15% of American adults do not use the internet at all, and another 9% of adults use the internet but not at home. Source: Who’s Not Online and Why, Pew Internet Project http://www.pewinternet.org/2013/09/25/whos-not-online-and-why/ June 26, 2015 ALA: A Tale of Two Cities 2

4. WHY DOES HOME BROADBAND ADOPTION MATTER? 1.  Homework gap 2.  Employment opportunities 3.  Libraries and schools are often closed when Internet access is most crucial 4.  Increase civic engagement 5.  Access social services June 26, 2015 ALA: A Tale of Two Cities 3

5. BARRIERS TO HOME BROADBAND ADOPTION June 26, 2015 ALA: A Tale of Two Cities 4 Source: Horrigan, John. [2010]. Broadband Adoption and Use in America. https://transition.fcc.gov/DiversityFAC/032410/consumer-survey-horrigan.pdf Image Source: http://www.webjunction.org/news/webjunction/the-internet-is-important-to-everyone.html

6. •  Libraries expose patrons to online resources that show the value of internet access. LIBRARIES ARE ALREADY CRUCIAL PLAYERS IN BROADBAND ADOPTION June 26, 2015 ALA: A Tale of Two Cities 5 •  Libraries provide training and support so that patrons can access and utilize internet resources.

7. A NEW AREA/OPPORTUNITY FOR LIBRARIES TO IMPACT HOME BROADBAND ADOPTION

8. New York City

9. OPTIONS FOR LIBRARIES TRYING TO IMPACT HOME INTERNET COST •  Amplify wifi signal inside library to bleed into surrounding public space. •  Rebroadcast library internet using whitespace in surrounding community •  Purchase and lend wifi hotspots to patrons. June 26, 2015 ALA: A Tale of Two Cities 8

10. WHY NYPL CHOSE TO LEND WIFI HOTSPOTS •  Low capital costs •  Easy to lend •  Works inside a patron’s home •  Can target to priority families •  Scalable (to a point) June 26, 2015 ALA: A Tale of Two Cities 9

11. SPRING 2014 PRE-PILOT •  Last spring, NYPL lent 100 hotspots to students through 4 branch libraries. These devices pull a cellular phone signal and distribute a local WiFi broadcast that can allow internet-enabled devices like computers and smartphones to connect to the Internet. •  Devices: Clear HUB Express 3G hotspots •  Service: Mobile Beacon •  Lending period: 2 months, renewable for additional 2 months •  Eligibility: families with students in Out of School Time or ESOL programs in four branches •  The successful pilot led to: June 26, 2015 ALA: A Tale of Two Cities 10

12. LIBRARY HOTSPOT PILOT SERVICE DETAILS •  Device: •  Netgear Zing Hotspots •  Can connect up to 9 devices to the internet •  Service: •  Sprint is the service provider in partnership with Mobile Beacon •  1 year service contracts with unlimited service •  Cost to libary is approximately $30/device and $13/month for service on Sprint network. June 26, 2015 ALA: A Tale of Two Cities 12

13. LIBRARY HOTSPOT PILOT A partnership between the 3 New York Public Library Systems. Each employed different distribution methods: •  New York Public Library (NYPL) •  Lending period of 6 months, one renewal allowed up to a year •  Targeted 4000 students in NYPL’s adult literacy and out of school time programs. •  Later began registration-required Lending Events at branches in high need neighborhoods •  Queens Public Library (QPL) •  Lending period of 1 month, three renewals allowed •  Targeted high need branches, devices lent on a first-come, first-served basis •  Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) •  Lending period of 1 year •  Targeted high need branches, devices lent on a first-come first served basis to those who attend an orientation session June 26, 2015 ALA: A Tale of Two Cities 13

14. PROGRAM COSTS AND FUNDING •  New York City Libraries received $2 million in funding from: •  Google •  The Knight Foundation •  The Robin Hood Foundation •  The Open Society Foundation •  Potential sources of funding for library broadband efforts: •  Foundations •  Elected officials •  Corporate Partners June 26, 2015 ALA: A Tale of Two Cities 14

15. KEY QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER WHEN LENDING HOTSPOTS •  Length of device loan •  Number of devices to loan •  Speed/data plan on devices June 26, 2015 ALA: A Tale of Two Cities 15

16. ChicagoChicago

17. June 26, 2015 ALA: A Tale of Two Cities 18 ShortTermGoals •  Increased comfort with digital technology •  Increase in user perception that the Internet is relevant to them MediumTermGoals •  Increased ability to use the Internet across a broad range of goals •  Participants taking steps to acquire Internet access for him/ herself via one of several low-cost options •  Reported improvement in ability to navigate education, career and other critical activities online in order to achieve personal goals LongTermGoals •  Increased Internet participation in the community areas where this service is available

18. THE PILOT •  Funded by Knight Foundation and Google •  Launched in 3 branches: Greater Grand Crossing, Douglass, and Brighton Park •  100 hotspots at each location; 10 will be kits that include a hotspot and a Chromebook or Surface tablet (July) •  CyberNavigators available for one-on-one coaching June 26, 2015 ALA: A Tale of Two Cities 19

19. THE PILOT •  Hotspots can be checked out for 3 weeks and may be renewed up to 15 times (if no holds) •  Items must be returned to the lending branch •  Items are holdable but must be picked up and returned to the lending branch •  CPL reserves the right to turn off hotspot 3 days after it overdue June 26, 2015 ALA: A Tale of Two Cities 20

20. MANAGE MOBILITY •  Staged all mobile devices (including: restricting access to administrative password, disabling roaming, customized some selections, etc.) •  Asset tagging and management of all items •  Reporting (both real-time and long term) •  Can turn off hotspot connectivity (and turn back on when it is returned) June 26, 2015 ALA: A Tale of Two Cities 22

21. NEXT STEPS •  Launch at 3 more locations before the end of summer •  Fall: explore how we want to expand the program •  Revise program based on patron and staff feedback June 26, 2015 ALA: A Tale of Two Cities 23

22. Luke Swarthout lukeswarthout@nypl.org Michelle Frisque mfrisque@chipublib.org Michelle Frisque mfrisque@chipublib.org Luke Swarthout lukeswarthout@nypl.org Thanks! Program Evaluation http://bit.ly/litaevals