Building Ontario's Digital Future

1. Building Ontario's Digital Future January 28 - 31, 2009 OLA Libraries Super Conference Barbara SwartzentruberStrategic Projects Manager, MGS

2. What does a Digital Future Look Like? “New players, on a new playing field, developing new process and habits for horizontal collaboration.” Thomas L. Friedman, The World is Flat

3. A Connected World *Transcontinental Fibre Optic Cable Source: image.guardian.co.uk

4. The digital society is driving demand and changing expectations • Faster service • Information-rich and multi-media websites • User created content and self expression • File sharing and collaboration • Uploading and downloading Online customer support –online chat with another personvia webcam and headsets

5. The Rise of e-Government: Ontario Source: R. Dowler & F. Graves, “The Rise of e-Government”, Canadian Government Executive (Sept 2008)

6. Challenges in a Digital Economy • Global competition for investment, jobs and skilled workers • Mobile investment and workforce • Transitioning from an industrial economy to a knowledge economy • Moving to a “green” economy

7. What does Ontario Need to Succeed in a Digital Economy and Society?

8. Conditions for Success in a Digital Economy Strategic Research Findings Ontario’s Digital Strategy Digital Infrastructure Capacity • Digital Skills and Literacy 1. Affordable, accessible broadband 2. Next generation infrastructure 3. Innovation in a digital economy • 4. Digital citizens and • businesses 5. Digital government and communities • 6. Digital inclusion

9. What is Ontario Doing? • $30 million over the next four years to deploy broadband to rural areas in Southern Ontario: • $30 million was announced in the March 25, 2008 provincial budget • $10 million was announced in 2007 and has been allocated to 18 rural communities through the Rural Connections program and to strategic research initiatives • The November announcement of $8.8 million committed to 15 additional Rural Connections projects brings the total to 33 projects undertaken jointly by rural municipalities and the province. • The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation has allocated $30 million over 3 years to address cellular ($15 million) and broadband ($15 million) access gaps in northern Ontario • $1.5 billion over three years in the Government of Ontario’s Skills to Jobs Action Plan • Over $1 billion throughout the next five years in the Next Generation of Jobs Fund

10. Broadband Service in Southern Ontario

11. What are Digital Skills and Literacy? • Digital Skills and Literacy • Human capacity, behaviour and knowledge related to broadband use. • Confidence and trust using broadband technologies and tools, e.g., the Internet and Web 2.0 . • Skillful use of technology to play, learn, socialize and work. • An understanding of the social and economic benefits of broadband.

12. Web 2.0 requires new skills and literacy

13. Digital Citizens and Businesses Creating a talented and skilled citizenry and workforce with the confidence to use digital infrastructure to achieve social and economic benefits

14. Digital Government and Communities Improving public sector service delivery and the quality of life for Ontarians

15. Digital Inclusion To encourage full participation in the digital economy by addressing critical socio-economic digital divides Source: EKOS 2006-07 Information Technology Update and Usage and the Communications Household

16. A Digital Economy and SocietyNeeds Full Participation • Governments, local communities, businesses, citizens and community groups are also planning for a digital future. • More effective if we all work together.

17. Digital Ontario Websitewww.digitalontario.mgs.gov.on.ca

18. Digital Ontario Collaborative Toolswww.digitalontario.mgs.gov.on.ca

19. Digital Ontario Second Life Island

20. Public Libraries Delivering Digital Literacy OLA Super Conference – Session #328 29 Jan 2009 David I. Harvie Systems Librarian, Stratford Public Library PCIN Network Administrator dharvie@pcin.on.ca

21. Public Libraries Delivering Digital Literacy Perth County Information Network • A federation of public libraries in Perth County. • Perth East Public Library • West Perth Public Library • Stratford Public Library • Stratford Perth Archives (Associate Member) • St. Marys Public Library (Associate Member)

22. Public Libraries Delivering Digital Literacy PCIN Activities • Shares an integrated library software (ILS) system via a wide area network (WAN). • Shares IT Support. • Resource sharing. • Consortium purchasing. • Shares Programming - Public Library on Wheels (PLOW) • Maintains the Information Perth Community Services Database

23. Public Libraries Delivering Digital Literacy Trends Library 2.0 • Web 2.0 “social networking” technologies employed by libraries to re-invent and re-vitalize themselves: • Blogging • Wikis • Podcasts • Tagging

24. Public Libraries Delivering Digital Literacy Library 1.0 vs. 2.0 Themes

25. Public Libraries Delivering Digital Literacy Library 2.0 • Library 2.0 attempts to harness the library user in the design and implementation of library services by encouraging feedback and participation. • The library patron becomes a participant, co-creator, builder and consultant. • The basic aim of Library 2.0 is to get people back into the library by making the library relevant to what they want and need in their daily lives and to make the library a destination and not an afterthought.

26. Public Libraries Delivering Digital Literacy BiblioCommons BiblioCommons is a next generation Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) interface that incorporates social networking software technologies. It brings “social searching” or “social discovery” to the OPAC. Use of the library catalogue becomes an activity in “discovery” rather than “finding.

27. Public Libraries Delivering Digital Literacy BiblioCommons • Patrons can: • Discuss books, create book reviews & rate items within the OPAC. • Categorize or “tag” items with headings that reflects genre, mood, content, or style that make sense to the user. • Recommend and point to similar titles. • Advise on age suitability and mark items for: • Offensive language • Graphic violence • Sexual content

28. Public Libraries Delivering Digital Literacy BiblioCommons • build and share personalized lists of the library’s collection. • manage their own level of privacy and identity within the community. • build networks of favourite reviewers that will subsequently feed personalized recommendations and search processes based on the user’s tastes. • communicate with other users and Library staff with a built-in email system.

29. Public Libraries Delivering Digital Literacy

30. Public Libraries Delivering Digital Literacy Benefits of Partnerships • PCIN has received support from the Broadband Initiative in our bid to be one of twelve BiblioCommons test sites. • Support from the Broadband Initiative in PCIN’s LSDF grant application to hire a Digital Literacy Promoter in support of a BiblioCommons project. • The opportunity to contribute to the Ontario Digital Second Life Island.

31. Public Libraries Delivering Digital Literacy SPL On Digital Ontario SL Island

32. Public Libraries Delivering Digital Literacy Why is Digital Literacy Important? • Libraries need to re-invent themselves using social networking software if they are to survive. • Products like BiblioCommons create a community around the library’s catalogue. • Its no longer about the "digital divide“, but about increasing social isolation. • The marginalized will not only be uninformed BUT INCREASINGLY ALONE.

33. Public Libraries Delivering Digital Literacy Thank you.