The document discusses the Bridge project, which aims to assess the impact of public library technology services through data collection and analysis. It provides an overview of the project timeline and outcomes from the pilot phase, which found that library technology helped increase digital inclusion, literacy, and secondary outcomes like community engagement. The project will now expand across Ontario to benchmark technology services and identify service priorities based on evidence. The goals are to build capacity for outcomes measurement and position libraries as leaders in evaluating their community impacts.

1. Bridging Ontario Public Libraries
FOPL Board Meeting
November 23, 2018
BRIDGE
technology services
assessment
toolkit
closing the gap on technology access & inclusion

2. Few influential people understand the
expansive role that public libraries
play in modern communities
“
”Is the Public Library Obsolete?
The New York Times
(September 8, 2018)

3. Understanding the value of
library service pillars

4. libraries in the digital age

5. 5

6. 6

7. the foundations
for lifelong
success in the
21st century, are
increasingly
dependent on
access to online
services and
networks

8. No other public institution
has the mandate and reach, physical and technical
infrastructure, talent and community presence
to support digital inclusion and literacy for all

9. opportunities for creativity and innovation

10. opportunities for experiential, collaborative &
self-directed learning

11. Mount Dennis Branch
opportunities for all

12. the why of the study

13. every Ontarian has convenient, local access
to the technology they want and need, and the
comfort and confidence to use it,
so that they can access economic, educational,
social, health and civic opportunities
to achieve prosperity, advancement,
and overall well-being

14. innisfil public library | kitchener public library | mattawa public library |
naotkamegwanning first nations public library | perth & district union
public library | toronto public library | wikwemikong first nation library |
windsor public library
Our pilot partners

15. Project kick-off
Jul 2016
Research & consultation
Aug – Sep 2016
Design & development
Oct 2016 – Feb 2017
Pilot 2
Jul – Oct 2017
Finalization & reporting
Oct 2017 – June 2018
Pilot 1
Mar – May 2017
Post - project
Ontario wide rollout
Project Timeline

16. what the research showed us

17. 17
• The library plays a central role in Bridging the Digital
Divide
• To demonstrate impact, we need an outcome
analysis framework
• A technology solution to the problem will support
data collection and analysis practices.
1.2

18. 18
1.1How Bridge works
Outcome
Framework
Data
Sources
Bridge
Grid

19. PRIMARY OUTCOMES
SECONDARY OUTCOMES
community, social
& civic engagement
creativity &
innovation
entrepreneurship &
business development
workforce
development
digital inclusion digital literacy
outcome assessment framework

20. 20
Data components
Patron survey main source of data that allows us to evaluate
impact in any of the 6 outcome areas using a single KPI.
Service Availability and Usage library administrators
enter monthly statistics. Data entry for previous months is possible.
Staff survey supplementary source of data that helps to gauge at
staff comfort in delivering technology services.
1
2
3
1 + 2 + 3 = Optimize

21. 21
2.1
1.3

22. What Bridge Does
Measure the outputs and outcomes of library technology
services;
Benchmark technology service levels with other public
libraries in Ontario;
Understand how prepared frontline staff are to support
technology services, and;
Identify priorities for library technology services based on
evidence

23. what we found

24. 56% used technology
at the library
digital inclusion
68% for respondents age 55+
63% for respondents
identifying as low income
46%
respondents who would not have
had access otherwise
accessed the internet
at the library
PRIMARY OUTCOMES

25. 44% were introduced to
new technology
52% for respondents age 55+
84% increased their
digital comfort
after having used one or more
technology services at the library
respondents who used
technology at the library
digital literacy
PRIMARY OUTCOMES
92% continued to use it 91% for customers identifying
as a visible minority

26. community, social and
civic engagement outcomes
SECONDARY OUTCOMES
81% increased their level of
community engagement
81% increased their level of
social engagement
34% accessed online government
resources
respondents who used technology
at the library

27. multi-media and writing projects most common
SECONDARY OUTCOMES
creativity and innovation
outcomes
41% made creative products
respondents who used technology
at the library
Higher among younger customers under 34 years of age

28. workforce development
outcomes
SECONDARY OUTCOMES
64% used it for
educational activities
45%
developed
employable skills
36%
developed
job search skills
respondents who used technology
at the library
43% had success in finding a job

29. SECONDARY OUTCOMES
entrepreneurship & business
development outcomes
26%
used for business-related
activities
respondents who used technology
at the library
93%
small businesses with
<20 employees

30. key learnings

31. Staff developed a “community of practice”
around measurement and evaluation
Staff increased their comfort level with
measurement and data and value of outcomes
Libraries gained a better understanding of the
needs of frontline staff and in turn allowed library
systems to better deliver technology services
Benefits to Libraries

32. Increased level of awareness and appreciation
among staff of outcomes and impacts of the
services they delivered
Increased awareness among customers of the
technology services delivered at the library
Staff were able to use the results to communicate
to key stakeholders
Benefits to Libraries

33. Where are we now?

34. Ontario Rollout
Phase 1
1. Share
planning
intelligence
2. Build
capacity
3. Sustain
Bridge
Practices
4. Compare
and Share
Results
5. Feedback
and
Improvement
34

35. 35
1.1Who are we?

36. Timeline for Province
Previous
Phase 1-4
Oct 2018
Launch activities
Nov 2018
Access & training
Dec 2018
Data Collection
Feb 2019
Monitoring
May 2019
New findings
Oct 2019
Expansion
36
Aug 2019
Feedback and
improvements
Support advocacy capacity building monitoring comparing

37. To be effective, we need:
Advocacy
Access
Dialogue
Consistency
37

38. Discussion

39. Bridge has the potential to position the library sector as
a leader in the advancement of outcome measurement
practices for peers in other jurisdictions, as well as
across the culture sector and beyond
“
”Technology Access in Public Libraries:
Outcomes and Impacts for Ontario Communities
Nordicity
(August 2018)

40. Questions?
Contact Information:
Elizabeth Glass
eglass@torontopubliclibrary.ca
Carmen Ho | Program Lead (Bridge)
cho@torontopubliclibrary.ca
Jorge Rivera | Project Lead (Ontario Wide Rollout)
jrivera@torontopubliclibrary.ca