Hometown Countryside Connection

Abstract

Hometown Countryside Connection is a Community Information Network that provides Internet access for local library patrons through an LSCA grant awarded by Secretary of State George Ryan and the Illinois State Library. In addition to public Internet access, the central and western Illinois libraries have a leadership role in developing sources of community information on the Internet.

Hometown Countryside Connection serves 299,249 citizens in 34 public or district libraries, serving 98 communities in 18 counties. Internet access and community links are available for an area of 2,705 square miles in central and western Illinois.

Introduction

Hometown Countryside Connection is a Community Information Network that brought Internet access for local library patrons in central and western Illinois. In addition to public Internet access, the local library developed a leadership role in establishing community information resources on the Internet.

Community links are tailored to meet the needs of the people in each community. The number of community organizations participating in Hometown Countryside Connection continues to grow as more volunteers are trained in each community.

Hometown Countryside Connection is a very positive addition to all the communities served. Librarians, boards and community organizations have responded enthusiastically. Hometown Countryside Connection adds to the tools that enable the library to expand its role as a leader in coordinating community information needs. Additionally, Hometown Countryside Connection establishes new relationships for better community service. The connection with local government and civic organizations is especially strong.

This project provides the opportunity for the library to demonstrate the community value. Some communities have noted a growing interest in library service from areas outside the taxing district since adding public access Internet capability.

Hometown Countryside Connection and the Public Library Mission

The participating libraries agree that the grant provides increasing community involvement and greater community interest in library services. Community groups that have participated in the community connection include businesses, schools, civic organizations, churches, genealogy groups, scout troops, local government, county health organizations, economic development councils, historical societies and other local groups.

The diversity of groups that have established a local presence on the World Wide Web reflects the interests of each unique community. Communities are very enthusiastic about having immediate access to local information. Many people and organizations are interested in building an Internet link; this project provides the necessary tools, training and community impetus to link a variety of organizations into a single local presence on the Internet. The local library helps establish new community links and reinforces links already in place.

Community pages include business directories, Chamber of Commerce connections, church directories as well as information on local churches, scouting and 4-H activities, sport events for local teams, community events calendar, health organization directories and links, and historical and tourism information.

Library pages include staff, hours, services, programs, history and an on-line link to the collection for RSA libraries. Links from both the library and the community pages make navigation easy. Other links from the library page include the sites of particular local interest and, in some libraries, access to a search engine.

The local home page is frequently the default home page when someone connects to the Internet from the public library. This creates an immediate local recognition of the Internet site.

Strengths of Hometown Countryside Connection

There are three major strengths of Hometown Countryside Connection.

1. Coordinated community presence on the Internet

*Kay Cloyes, library consultant, Alliance Library System, Pekin. She formerly served as Director of Caterpillar Technical Information Center, Mossville, retiring in 1995.

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2. Public access to the Internet

3. Technical support

Coordinated Community Presence on the Internet: With Hometown Countryside Connection, local and regional information is available in a wide area of central and western Illinois. Existing community information networks expanded and new sources of information are added rapidly. This project demonstrates the Internet philosophy that shared resources add value for the users.

Community coalitions include the library, educators, businesses, universities, community agencies, government agencies and local volunteers. Adding community information is a volunteer effort for many organizations. The synergy developed by involvement of various people in the community is important to the continuation of Hometown Countryside Connection.

The shared investment of time, effort and money has made community information centers a reality in communities where a single source of information did not exist before. Sharing the time and money involved to develop a local information Web site has increased local interest in continuing Hometown Countryside Connection.

Most librarians reported that the volunteers were very pleased to participate by adding information to the Web site. As I talked to individual volunteers, I saw the same sense of pride in the community and in the information the volunteer makes available to others in the area.

Public Access to the Internet: Adding public access to the Internet seems to be a very big drawing card for Hometown Countryside Connection libraries. Libraries reported an increase in the visits by 13-19-year-olds and an increase in the time spent in the library during a visit. Students use covers both education and recreation.

Senior citizens are discovering Internet service and using it for continuing education and personal research as well as recreation. The Internet offers new resources for health services that are not available in many small libraries.

Many libraries see an increase in male patrons. Activities include both professional and volunteer organizations that are participating in Internet Activities.

Response by individual patrons is enthusiastic in every community. Most patrons have no difficulty using the Internet, so library staff provides minimal training beyond showing a patron how to access the Internet. Libraries are seeing daily Internet usage increase as word spreads about access in the library and the public becomes familiar with using the Internet.

Technical support: The technical support provided by Infobahn Outfitters of Macomb gave this project stability. The libraries and the librarians benefited from the professional association with Infobahn Outfitters. Infobahn Outfitters provided the following services for Hometown Countryside Connection.

• Hardware and software support
• Home page templates
• Software for creating and editing information
• Training for groups and individuals
• Manual with online and printed version
• Support via telephones and on-site

Project Replication

Hometown Countryside Connection indicates the value of extending a successful project. A number of communities replicated the project, which forms a solid foundation for a public library that takes the lead in developing a cooperative project for community Web sites. Other interested libraries can replicate this project. Those interested can take advantage of the tools and learning that occurred as a result of this project.

During the expansion of Hometown Countryside Connection, team members provided mentoring for libraries joining the project. Future librarians will continue to have the advantage of growing expertise in the library community.

Participants developed skills in building Web sites, establishing new community partners, increasing participation of current partners, training community participants, and the skills needed to maintain an active community Web site. Ongoing development will help the librarians develop additional skills in public relations and gaining sponsorship for the Web site.

Participants as well as the Internet provider suggest that discussions with local Internet service providers early in the project cycle is beneficial. Local Internet service providers have commented on an increased interest in commercial and personal accounts. Some Internet service providers are willing to provide local connection at very reasonable rates in return for public visibility in the library.

Conclusion

Hometown Countryside Connection expands library service into the local community. Hometown Countryside Connection further validates the need and desire for cooperative, community information networks. Additionally, the project made the tools available for the primary project and for replication.

For school children and the rural Illinois population, Hometown Countryside Connection helps equalize the opportunities to access worldwide information resources.

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