NCompass Live - Dec. 7, 2016 http://nlc.nebraska.gov/ncompasslive/ In the past three years, the Iowa City Public Library has tripled their patron involvement in technology classes taught by library staff, without increasing staff or budget. Technology is an ever changing landscape and classes are a great way to help patrons become savvier technology users. Learn how to grow interest in your library’s technology courses with strategies for assessment, marketing, and curriculum development. Presenter: Jen Eilers, Library Assistant, Iowa City Public Library. Jen organizes and coordinates a team of librarians who teach 4-5 classes a month to adult learners. The classes focus on technology and information literacy skills for the Iowa City Community. She also staffs the information desk and problem solves various patron technology issues through the library's drop-in tech zone.

1. TECHNOLOGY CLASSES AT
YOUR LIBRARY
Presented by: Jen Eilers

2. ASSESSINGYOUR RESOURCES
Resources
• Extra hours/flexible work
schedule
• Online calendar and
webpage
• Computer Lab
• Marketing Department
• Five hours away from
service point
• 7 Staff members
(librarians)
*Offer night and
weekend classes
*Up-to-date
calendar and
website entries
*Create a
marketing plan
with the
marketing
department
*Encourage staff
to promote
classes
Solutions
Get 1
patron in
each
scheduled
class
Goal
Lack of
patron
attendance
Problem

3. ASSESSINGYOUR RESOURCES
• How will I measure the
outcomes of my solutions?
• Am I using the right
resources to solve the
problem?
• Does my goal need to be
adjusted?
• Are there other solutions
that might work better to
solve this problem?

4. ASSESSMENTTOOLS AND MEASURES
• Would a paper or an online form work better for getting patron
feedback?
• When do you want to have patrons assess your technology class?
• How much time do you have to record data?
• How much time do you think you’ll need to analyze the data? How
frequently will you do this?
• What other data would be useful to determine the success of your
classes?
Questions to Consider:

5. ASSESSMENTTOOLS AND MEASURES
Google Forms
• Free and easy to use
• Custom forms
• Stores compiled data
in a spreadsheet
• Data can be analyzed
and manipulated
using a program of
your choice
Survey Monkey
• Free and easy to use
• Creates surveys and
analyzes data
• Surveys can only be
10 questions long
and free account
only captures 100
responses
Project Outcome
• Pre-designed surveys
• Built in analysis of
the data entered
• Supported by the
PLA (Public Library
Association)
• Data is shared with
libraries across the
United States
Library Research
Service
• Tips & strategies for
collecting date,
creating surveys, and
analyzing survey
data
• Private entity
specializing in library
research
• Offers 3 general
survey templates

6. CREATING SUCCESSFUL MARKETINGTOOLS
Create a
Marketing
Plan
• Press releases
• Columns in local paper
• Radio spots KXIC and KCJJ
• Social Media Posts
• TheWindow Newsletter
Saturate
your
Community
• Half-sheet handouts for service
desks
• Calendar of Events
• Bottom of class handout
• Posters
• Website
Develop
Marketing
for the
Library
• Share class listings at meetings
• Brainstorm improvements to
classes with staff
• Encourage staff to attend classes
• Send email or post info internally
Inform your
Staff
Strategies to Consider

7. CREATING SUCCESSFUL MARKETINGTOOLS
• Senior Center Mailer
• Handouts and posters at
other community centers:
RecreationCenters,Town
Hall, churches, etc.
Utilize
Existing
Partnerships
• Iowa CityTech Chicks group of
women looking to improve
tech skills
• Sense & Cents-ability
investment group using
databases
Look for
Potential
Partnerships
• Make sure to add a “How you
Heard” section on your survey
• Scale back your efforts once
you’ve found methods that
work
Assess
your
Efforts
Strategies to Consider

8. BUILDING BETTER CURRICULUM
GCFLearnfree.org
• Free online
tutorials
• Technology
courses for basic
computer skills to
Windows 10
tutorials
• Have provided
tutorials for over
10 years
Learning Express
• Database the state
library provides
too all libraries for
free
• Great tutorials on
software programs
like Excel and
Photoshop
DigitalLearn.org
• Free videos, pdfs
of curriculum, and
pdfs of handouts
• Project was done
in conjunction with
the Public Library
Association
Other public
libraries
• Denver Public
Library provides
instructor notes and
handouts on all
classes they teach
• https://www.denverli
brary.org/ctc-classes

9. QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
Contact me at jen-eilers@icpl.org