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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">News from the American Library Association.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Andalus","serif";color:blue">Pamela J. Hickson-Stevenson, Ohio Chapter Councilor to ALA and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Andalus","serif";color:blue">Deputy Director<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Andalus","serif";color:blue">Akron-Summit County Public Library<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Andalus","serif";color:blue">60 S. High Street<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Andalus","serif";color:blue">Akron, OH 44326<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Andalus","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Andalus","serif";color:blue">(v) 330-643-9102<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Andalus","serif";color:blue">(f ) 330-643-9160<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Andalus","serif";color:blue"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Andalus","serif";color:#1E1EE0">Visit us on the
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Andalus","serif";color:blue">Web</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Andalus","serif";color:#1E1EE0"> at
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Andalus","serif";color:#FF6600"><a href="http://www.akronlibrary.org/"><span style="color:#FF6600">http://www.akronlibrary.org</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Andalus","serif";color:#F79646">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Andalus","serif";color:#1E1EE0"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Andalus","serif";color:#1E1EE0">or on
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Andalus","serif";color:blue">our Mobile Site</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Andalus","serif";color:#1E1EE0"> at
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Andalus","serif";color:#FF6600"><a href="http://m.akronlibrary.org/"><span style="color:#FF6600">http://m.akronlibrary.org</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Andalus","serif";color:#E97E09"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Andalus","serif";color:#FF6600">The Akron-Summit County Public Library provides resources for learning and leisure, information services, meeting spaces, and programs for all ages that support,
improve, and enrich individual, family, and community life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""> Michael Dowling [mailto:mdowling@ala.org]
<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, September 11, 2013 10:03 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> alacro-l@ala.org; chapeditor@ala.org<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [alacro-l] Public Libraries- Participate in Digital Inclusion Survey<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p>For Immediate Release<br>
Tue, 09/10/2013<o:p></o:p></p>
<h4>Contact:<o:p></o:p></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal">Norman Rose<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Program Officer<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Office for Research & Statistics (ORS)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">312.280.4283<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:nrose@ala.org">nrose@ala.org</a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p>CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) is encouraging public libraries to participate in the first
<em>Digital Inclusion Survey</em>. The survey will take the pulse of public library service in the areas of digital literacy, economic and workforce development, civic engagement, educational support, health information and public access to the internet. Information
about the project and access to the online survey are available at <a href="http://digitalinclusion.umd.edu">
http://digitalinclusion.umd.edu</a>. The survey will be open through Nov. 15, 2013.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>The <em>Digital Inclusion Survey</em> is funded by the <a href="http://www.imls.gov" target="_blank">
Institute of Museum and Library Services</a> and conducted by the <a href="http://www.ala.org/offices/ors" target="_blank">
ALA Office for Research & Statistics</a> and the <a href="http://ipac.umd.edu" target="_blank">
Information Policy & Access Center</a> at the University of Maryland. The <a href="http://www.icma.org" target="_blank">
International City/County Management Association</a> and the <a href="http://www.ala.org/offices/oitp" target="_blank">
ALA Office for Information Technology Policy</a> serve as partners on the grant.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>“Participation in the survey is essential to raising awareness of the significant impacts that public libraries have in building digitally inclusive communities,” said Dr. Kathy Rosa, director, ALA Office for Research & Statistics. “The survey will provide
libraries with access to unique data that will make it easier than ever to inform and educate community stakeholders.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Libraries that participate in the survey will be able to interactively view their library in context with community-level data, including poverty and unemployment rates, household income, education levels, English proficiency and other population demographics.
This will enable libraries to:<o:p></o:p></p>
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identify community impacts of library public computer and internet access;<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3">
identify opportunities to improve public access technology services based on community needs and demographics;<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3">
demonstrate library contributions to community digital inclusion efforts.<o:p></o:p></li></ul>
<p>“Be it helping residents continue their educations, find jobs, improve their career skills, access e-government services, research health information, or connect with family and friends, libraries play an essential role in helping local government meet their
greatest challenges by connecting their services to critical community priorities,” said Robert J. O'Neill, Jr., executive director, International City/County Management Association. “Partnering with ALA and the University of Maryland on this project will
help bring greater understanding of the role of libraries on the critical issue of digital inclusion.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>More information and related resources are available at <a href="http://www.ala.org/DigitalInclusion">
http://www.ala.org/DigitalInclusion</a>. Updates and related news will also be available on the ALA Office for Research & Statistics
<a href="https://twitter.com/ala_ors">Twitter feed</a> (ala_ors).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p><strong>About the University of Maryland Information Policy & Access Center </strong>
<br>
The Information Policy & Access Center is a response to the pressing need for research on the processes, practices, policies, and social issues that govern access to information in our increasingly digital information society. IPAC is committed to studying
what policies and/or technologies lead to equitable and inclusive information access, a digitally-literate population, an informed and engaged public, or access to Internet-enabled resources and technologies, among key examples.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p><strong>About the International City/County Management Association</strong><br>
ICMA is the premier organization of professional local government leaders building sustainable communities to improve lives worldwide. ICMA provides member support; publications; data and information; peer and results-oriented assistance; and training and
professional development to nearly 9,000 city, town, and county experts and other individuals and organizations throughout the world.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p><strong>About the Institute of Museum and Library Services</strong><br>
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. Through grant making, policy development, and research, IMLS helps communities and individuals thrive through broad
public access to knowledge, cultural heritage, and lifelong learning.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p><strong>About the Office for Research & Statistics</strong><br>
The Office for Research and Statistics provides leadership and expert advice to ALA staff, members, and public on all matters related to research and statistics about libraries and librarians; represents the Association to federal agencies on these issues;
and initiates projects needed to expand the knowledge base of the field through research and the collection of useful statistics.<o:p></o:p></p>
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