Brantford Public Library Adds the "Library Without Walls"

New Brantford Public Library intiatives this month are moving the Telephone City into the passing lane on the Information Highway. The Electric Library and the full Library catalogue are now available on the Library's Internet web site.

Electric Library is a one-stop general research data base. It includes the full text of hundreds of magazine and newspaper subscriptions, reference books, maps, and three encyclopaedias. Chris Stanley, Manager of Reference and Branch Services, is excited about the content available to Brantford residents. "There's a lot of useful material: from The Complete Works of Shakespeare to the new Canadian Encyclopeadia, to the Monarch Notes series, to the 72,000 indexed photographs. "I know Brantford will be pleased with the quality of both Canadian and international information." All public catalogue terminals in the Library (Main and St. Paul Avenue Branch) can access the data base, and up to 80 registered Library members can use it at any time through the Internet.

Melody Rholler, Account Manager for Electric Library Canada, is impressed with Brantford's commitment to the "library without walls" concept. "We congratulate Brantford Public Library on its visionary approach to bringing a whole new level of research capability to the Brantford community. No less than 80 'seats' have been set aside for library patrons who wish to access Electric Library from the comfort of their own homes. This is an extraordinary value-added service to Brantford Library card holders."

The Library has looked forward to this moment for several years. Board Chairman Jim MacDonald said, "Back in 1994, when we were anticipating the library of the future, we began to work towards two kinds of public library in Brantford. Weknew that our friendly, familiar library buildings would endure for a long time, because people of all ages simply love to go there. But we also envisaged a 'library without walls', available electronically 24 hours a day, along with it. With the launch of Electric Library Brantford Public Library reaches that milestone."

And putting the Library's own online catalogue on its web site is a major improvement on the existing dial-up access, according to CEO Wendy Newman. "The dial-up gets a lot of use from homes and offices -- up 40% last year alone -- so we know the demand is out there. But we needed to put it on the Internet, where people expect to find it these days, and make it more user-friendly. With this change, we do both."

Electric Library and the Brantford Public Library Catalogue are both available from the Library's Internet home page at www.brantford.library.on.ca. Any resident with a valid BPL membership card can use Electric Library on the Internet. However, both members and non-members of the Library are welcome to use it inside Library buildings.

Information: Chris Stanley (519) 756-2220 ext 314 or Wendy Newman (519) 756-2223 ext 4.

Brantford Hopes to Get Smart

Brantford Expositor, February 16, 1999, By Ross Markwits, Expositor Staff

Fear not. This effort has nothing to do with IQ tests and the intellectual capacity of local residents. Instead it's aimed at developing the municipality's technological innovations to empower residents and maintain the country's global competitiveness.

Smart Communities is a federal initiative presented last year by the prime minister as part of the government's "Connectedness Agenda." A panel of experts, including Brantford Public Library CEO Wendy Newman, developed a report recommending how the government should proceed. It's expected that reconition of this project will be included in today's federal budget.

"Smart Communities is about embracing an idea that is potentially so beneficial and transformative to our society that it may be reasonably viewed as Canada's ultimate and most logical millennium plan," said the 36-page report released last week.

The panel has recommended that up to 20 Canadian and aboriginal communities be designated as Smart Communities. It suggested that up to $5 million be made available to assist each community to develop its technological potential over three years.

The municipality will begin considering making a formal bid at a meeting of the community planning committee this afternoon. But a broad-reaching commitment by the local public and private sectors would be required to enhance computer access and information.

Newman told councillors Monday that the city is well-placed to be selected as a Smart Community based on its history of unique community efforts to provide online services to residents, including the blind.

"Yes, I believe we can do this," she said during a presentation of the panel's report. "This community has a strong resume of the eligible criteria."

Participation won't necessarily mean municipal financial commitment. But it will involve participation from all areas of the public sector and private businesses, Newman said.

Each Smart Community would determine its own strategy. Municipalities across the country use technology in unique ways. Some help residents receive distance medical care. But there are no concerted, wide-ranging efforts.

The program would help provide more technological services, faster and better. Optimum use of information and communication technologies is an essential element of Smart Communities. Barriers have to be removed so access can be achieved by all, regardless of cost or physical disabilities.

Details of the government's response to the report aren't known. But Newman said the municipality's partners will likely have to work quickly to prepare a proposal if Smart Communities are selected by 2000.

The panel has suggested that a selection committee be established that is arm's length from government.

New Study Shows Libraries On-ramps to the Information Highway

A new Canada-wide study conducted by Ekos Research Associates confirms the growing importance of Canadian public libraries as access points to the Information Highway.

The study, entitled Canadians, Public Libraries, and the Information Highway, was conducted over three months during 1998 and included 1,271 respondents.

According to Brantford Public Library Board Chairman Jim MacDonald, "This confirms what we've known all along. With the help of The Expositor, we were one of the first public libraries in Canada to offer public Internet access. Our partnerships with Human Resource Development Canada and the Brant FreeNet have since made this a mainstream service at the Library." CEO Wendy Newman added, "Our Internet access seats are virtually always occupied. That means there's a need. Even people who have Internet access at home or work use public library access -- to get professional help to find what they are looking for."

According to the study:

• Public libraries top the list of appropriate locations for public Internet access.
• 66 per cent supported libraries as a resource for training on how to use the Internet.
• Public libraries are seen to have a role in providing Canadian Internet content.
• Nearly two out of three have a public library membership, visiting an average of 7.7 times a year.

Public libraries have welcomed the study as a strong public endorsement of their campaign for the establishing of sustainable sites for public Internet access in libraries of all sizes across Canada.

Library CEO Wendy Newman paid tribute to the work of the Hon. Jane Stewart in supporting federal initiatives to strengthen Information Highway access in Brantford. "Our MP's support of the Brant FreeNet, of public access in large and small libraries in Brant County, has been constant. She has been a strong advocate for an important federal commitment."

Information: Wendy Newman, Chief Executive Officer
Tel. 519-756-2223
Fax 756-4979
E-mail wnewman@brantford.library.on.ca
Internet ref.: schoolnet.ca/ln-rb/

Library's Summer Reading Programs Set New Records

The Brantford Public Library wrapped up its annual Summer Reading Club for children with its biggest participation ever. Altogether 669 children signed up for the 1998 "Jungle" theme, an increase of 70% over 1997. This year, both the Main and St. Paul Avenue Branches invited children to play a Monopoly-style game that would direct them to their next book genre at the throw of dice. Attractive prizes for total books read, provided by 26 organizations added to the incentive. Many of the donors were local Home and School Associations.

According to Library Board Chairman Jim MacDonald, "Summer Reading is one of our foundation programs for children. With the help of our donors, we have kept it both free and fun. But the big increase in enrolment was a challenge this year. We're proud of the staff who managed the 70%v increase so well."

In addition to the Summer Reading Program, the Library also offered its Read On tutoring program, offering free one-on-one assistance to children in need of remedial assistance. Financial assistance from the federal government's program enabled the Library to increase its summer tutoring staff from the usual three to four.

Other free summer programs for children drew 952 children and their families -- an increase of 28% over 1997. They included drop-in story times, finger plays, and films for children from preschool up. "Again and again, our staff hear that these programs provide an essential service for families in search of alternative children's materials -- books and films that celebrate childhood," commented CEO Wendy Newman. "And the child who's been read to and exposed to good books early becomes a lifelong reader."

For information:
Wendy Newman,
Chief Executive Officer
E-mail: wnewman@brantford.
library.on.ca

City Aims at "Smart Community" Status

Brantford Expositor, August 20, 1998

Smart Communities Facts

The city of Brantford is poised to become one of Canada's first "Smart Communities." Here are a few details about the program and the local initiative:

What: The Smart Community program is one part of the national Connectedness Agenda that aims to make Canada the most connected nation in the world by the year 2000.

How: The initiative will use the information highway and technology to link people and organizations together to share ideas and address local needs.

Who: A blue-ribbon panel that includes Brantford's chief librarian, Wendy Newman, is looking at ways to better use information technology and create Smart Communities.

When: The panel is scheduled to report to the Ministry of Industry by November 1998.

Other: Anyone who wants more information about the Smart Communities initiative or would like to contribute to the effort can call Brant MP Jane Stewart's office at 751- 2566 or visit the web site at cythera.ic.gc.ca/smart/.

Long known as the Telephone City and more recently as the Best Blooming Community, Brantford is poised to become one of Canada's first "Smart Communities."

A "Smart community?"

That's the label the federal government is using to describe communities that use information technology to accelerate their economic, social and cultural development.

Smart Communities, according to the federal government's definition, use new technology to improve health care delivery, improve education and training and help business grow.

But what such a community looks like is still to be determined and is the focus of a blue ribbon panel established by the federal government. The panel's work is one part of an overall effort to make Canada the "most connected nation" in the world by the year 2000.

Wendy Newman, Brantford's chief librarian, was recently appointed to the panel, which aims to complete its report to the Ministry of Industry in November.

"There are examples of Smart Communities in Europe and the United States and, here in Canada, there are lots of really good examples of communities that have put in place the building blocks for a Smart Community in place," said Newman.

"But the term (Smart Community) is still being defined and we're still trying to determine what the Smart Community in Canada will be."

Brantford, she said, is an excellent example of a Canadian community that is well on its way to earning the label, despite its lack of precise definition.

"I think we have a lot of the building blocks in place and our vision is that of a Smart Community," Newman said.

One of those building blocks is accessibility to information technology -- something that's provided by the public library. The library, with the help of the private sector gives area residents an opportunity to use computers and learn more about information technology and the Internet.

Accessibility is a big issue in Brantford and many other places across Canada because, unlike affluent communities such as Richmond Hill, residents here aren't as likely to have a home computer and in-home access to the Internet, Newman said.

Residents here can also take advantage of the Brant FreeNet -- a low-cost community project that allows residents limited access to the information highway during the day and unrestricted access after midnight.

The FreeNet, combined with the efforts of the library in co-operation with the private sector, opened the door to the Internet for many Brantford and area residents.

Many, once they have become familiar with the power of the Internet, move on to commercial providers of the service, Newman said.

Partnerships were crucial to the development of the FreeNet and to the availability of information technology resources offered by the library, Newman said.

"None of the partners could have done this on their own," Newman said. "The resources just aren't there any more and it has forced groups to share what they have and work together."

In its quest to provide more and better access to information technology the library has been helped by Wescast Industries, Raymond Industrial and The Expositor.

However, having access to information technology is only one part of the overall picture. The next step is to take what's available and put it to good use for the betterment of the community.

That process has already started in many communities, including Brantford, and the goal now is to made more information available and make it easier to get at.

Already, employment and training organizations -- including the Human Resources Development Canada office, Brant Community Futures, the economic development office and Mohawk College -- have worked together to get information about the local labor market onto the Internet.

At least one local business, The Grand River Canoe Company, has its own web site. And with a marvellous resource such as the Grand River flowing through Brantford and a growing interest in eco-tourism, the Internet is also a way of bringing people to the community.

Social and health organizations can also use the Internet to make sure people are aware of the services they have to offer.

"It's a way of telling people who are here what's available in their community and of telling people outside the area more about us and what we have to offer," Newman said.

Information technology could also change the way people interact with their government at all levels.

At the municipal level, many people could apply for and receive the various licenses and permits they may require.

Newman said it's vital that everyone in a community has access to the information and the technology available.

"If we don't make sure everyone can take advantage of this then I think we will have failed, Newman said.

"In this type of society the knows and the know-nots become the haves and the have-nots."

Newman Named to Federal Industry Panel

Brantford Expositor, August 14, 1998

The city's chief librarian is taking on another challenge.

Wendy Newman, the chief executive officer of the Brantford Library, has been appointed to the Ministry of Industry's blue-ribbon panel on establishing "Smart Communities" in Canada.

The panel is a result of an initiative announced by Prime Minister Jean Chretien in his June 8 speech to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and is part of the federal government's strategy of linking Canadians to the Information Highway.

Smart Communities are those communities that use information technology to achieve better health care delivery, education and training, and business growth, said the news release.

As a member of the panel, Newman will join experts from areas such as telecommunications, health care, education, natural resources, environment and transportation.

The panel has a mandate to provide the federal Industry ministry with advice on the concept of "Smart Communities" and the criteria for a "Smart Community" initiative in Canada.

In addition, the panel will look at ways to make the most of the potential of technology and the benefits to communities.

The panel held its inaugural meeting on July 30-31 and is expected to present its report to the ministry in November.

Newman, who earlier this year was elected president of the Canadian Association of Public Libraries, is excited about the panel's work.

"We already have the foundation -- the building blocks of the Smart Community concept," Newman said.

The Brantford Public Library -- through partnerships with numerous community groups -- is taking advantage of technological advances to give all people more and better access to information technology.

Area residents and interested groups can learn more by visiting the smart communities web site at cythera.ic.gc.ca/smart/ or by contacting the office of Brant MP and Indian Affairs and Northern Development Minister Jane Stewart's office at 751-2566.

Stewart announced Newman's appointment to the panel in a statement released Wednesday.

Top Librarian Honored

Brantford Expositor, July 3, 1998

The city's top librarian has been elected president of the Canadian Association of Public Libraries.

Wendy Newman took over the post at the association's annual general meeting held June 19 in Victoria, BC. She will serve a two-year term.

"Her election to the post is another credit to a first-class public library," said Jim MacDonald, chairman of the Brantford Public Library board of directors.

"Her outstanding leadership of this organization and of the larger library community is recognized across Canada."

Mayor Chris Friel and library board vice-chairman Tim Philp also attended the conference.

"I was so very impressed meeting people that Wendy works with and seeing the respect that they have for her and the brantford Public Library," Friel said. "Brantford's library was thehighlight of the conference."

In her first speech as association president, Newman said her top two priorities are moving ahead with the federal government's plan to connect every Canadian to the information highway by the end of 1998 and ensuring Canadians become better informed about their libraries.

"People love their libraries, but libraries can't live on love," Newman said. "If we're serious about a lifelong learning culture in this country our public libraries are key."