Libraries Get Broadband Stimulus Grants

Libraries in six states benefited the first round of awards from the $7.2-billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act broadband grant and loan programs. See
Libraries Get Broadband Stimulus Grants | American Libraries Magazine

The award categories include: “middle mile” projects that connect communities to broadband services; “last mile” projects that connect end users such as homes, schools, libraries, or businesses to the middle mile; public computing; and sustainable adoption of broadband services.

Funding involving libraries in this initial round included:

• a $1.5-million sustainable broadband adoption grant (with an additional $591,000 in matching funds) to the New Mexico State Library to increase broadband adoption and promote computer literacy and Internet use statewide. The Associated Press reported that the program will provide small-group training at libraries in 15 communities, plus training offered by the state library to small organizations and business owners;
• a $1.3-million public computing grant (with matching funds of $320,000) to the Arizona State Library, Archives, and Public Records to enhance existing facilities in more than 80 public libraries throughout the state;
• a $1.9-million public computing grant (with matching funds of $477,000) to the city of Boston to expand computer and Internet capacity at the main library and 25 branches, 16 community centers, and 11 public housing sites;
• a $39.7-million middle-mile grant (with matching funds of $9.9 million) to telecommunications firm ION Hold Co., LLC, to build 10 new segments of fiber-optic, middle-mile broadband infrastructure that will connect more than 100 institutions—including libraries, state and community colleges, and health clinics—as well as households and businesses, in more than 70 rural communities in upstate New York and parts of Pennsylvania and Vermont.

Lots of states and groups are after the broadband stimulus money. It's not surprising to see that Boston Public Libraries are benefiting, given that is the location of ALA Mid-winter Planning Meeting.

Put a "HOLD" on Netbooks Until the New Year

Former Business Week technology columnist Steve Wildstrom now has his own blog, Steve Wildstrom on Tech: Skeptical Musings on the world of personal technology. He says to not buy a netbook for the holidays because in early January, a number of new versions will be showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Vendors keep upgrading netbooks and smartbooks.

Too late for me -- I got a sweet little Samsung netbook last summer and use it when I travel. It meets my needs, but I could easily do without it and enjoy the scenery or a good book. With technology, you can wait and wait until things settle down and as soon as you finally buy the next cool tool, a better version comes along.

CNET 100 Webware Awards - 2009

Not sure if I captured the 2009 CNET webware awards site, so now I have. Love the way the award categories (icons) and webware winners are presented. Very colorful and full of well-known logos.

MyPictr - clip or size photos for your sites

Librarian-in-Black posted about MyPictr as a cool tool for properly sizing photos or icons for websites and social networks. I could have used this a year ago! Check it out.

It is as easy as 1- Upload. 2- Select. 3- Pictr it!

Wufoo Form Builder

Played with a form-building tool from Florida-based Infinity Box, Inc. called Wufoo. What I like about it is that it doesn't require knowledge of HTML to create web-based contact forms, online surveys, registrations, lead generation, online orders, and invitations.

First, you select a template. Download the html or customize it to fit your needs. Add theme colors. There is an education version. Check it out.

Good Link Building is Good Marketing

Justilien Gaspard of SearchEngineWatch.com says the two top search engine optimization (SEO) challenges are developing linkable content and making people award of it. See his June 25, 2009 article, "Link Marketing Challenges and Solutions". Some highlights:

• Content includes all sorts of thing other than your own words. Add interactive web 2.0 tools, videos, polls, and such. Follow what the most popular, most competitive sites and industries are doing.
  
• Marketing your content is very time-consuming, so hire or invite others to promote your site. Nonprofits like schools or libraries could encourage students or members to contribute to and promote the site. [Note: I've found that by posting new items to Facebook and sending a tweet tends to increase traffic and Google AdSense hits.] It makes sense that the more people are aware of your content, the more links it will obtain. Stay focused: build awareness and reputation. The higher the (Google) ranking, the more people will link to your site.
  

In my case, all links are at no cost -- other than my investment of time and energy.

Library Application for iPhones

High School Teacher Librarian Tom Kahn alerted me to a library iPhone application by Boopsie Inc. The example showcased here is the Santa Clara County Library.

This company was also a sponsor, presenter, and mobile provider at the October 14, 2009 LITA Conference. LITA is the Library Information and Technology Association, a division of the American Library Association. They are eager for libraries to become "mobilized" with help from Boopsie. See the presentation below: