Building a Tech Tool Box
Recognizing that people today are receiving information in new ways, Cleveland Public Library in 2010 started an initiative entitled "Tech Tool Box." Made possible by a grant from the State Library of Ohio, the "Tech Tool Box" consists of some of the latest communications technologies, including electronic book readers. The pilot program kicked off in the fourth quarter with training programs to familiarize Library staff with the latest technologies so that they could, in turn, help patrons use them.
The main purpose of the program is to educate patrons on the technologies so they can best leverage them to access Library resources for use at home, thus allowing users to interact with the Library in a new way. It is the Library's intention to pursue other grants and expand the program throughout the branches in 2011.
Downloadable audio books and e-books have grown in popularity. They now represent the fastest-growing part of the overall collection available through the regional CLEVNET library resource-sharing network, of which Cleveland Public Library is a founding member. Downloads were up 43 percent in 2010 over the previous year and are expected to increase significantly in 2011.
Cleveland Public Library was the first library in the U.S. to launch a downloadable platform nearly 10 years ago, making us a leader in the field. The Library currently has one of the largest collections of electronic materials of any public library. Many top titles and best sellers are now available in a downloadable format.
