Electronic Branch Servicesfor Southeast Regional Library

Jason Hammond

Branch Supervisor

I Want To Start By Sharing A Secret

Nobody In This Room Is A Teenager!

So if you’re a regional library trustee…

A complete overhaul & update of our web site might seem like a very low priority to you.

But here’s the reality…

Our parents, our teachers, even the dictionary has been lying to us!

Libraries aren’t about books – they’re

about information.

It’s The Information Age…

In 2005, almost 60% of people in rural areas had accessed the Internet and the number continues to grow every year. (Statistics Canada)

The number of people accessing online databases across the province was up 18% from 2005 to 2006. (MDLP 2006-2007 Annual Report)

People over 55 years of age are overtaking younger people as the fastest growing Internet user group in the world (HitWise.com)

What Would An E-Branch Do That Our Current Site Doesn’t?

Patrons could: write reviews of books they’ve read receive regular e-mails highlighting new books see the latest news & events from across the

region including photos and video clips view profile pages about communities in our region get online homework help download electronic books

What Are Some of the Drawbacks?

How do we pay for it? How do we keep an electronic branch

“regional”? Who will maintain the site once its

established? How do we best serve all users?

Who Would This Serve?

When I began, I said an E-branch was about teenagers but it’s more than that…

Children

Small business people

Farmers

Job seekers

Recent immigrantsAboriginal People

TouristsAnd many more!

This Isn’t Just About A Web Site Though…

Jason – Age 3

For Your Consideration…

Southeast Regional Library should: develop an e-branch consider it equivalent to a traditional physical

branch implement current technologies make it scalable reduce barriers to access create an e-branch promotional campaign