Product News

Technology Benchmarks for Public Libraries Coming Soon

A coalition of library and local government leaders will utilize $2.8 million in Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funding to develop guidelines for library technology access. The benchmarks will dovetail with the Institute of Museum and Library Service’s broader framework but will focus on attainable targeted public technology access guidelines. Coalition members include library support organizations, the ALA Office for Information Technology Policy, the Public Library Association, LYRASIS, the Urban Libraries Council, WebJunction–OCLC, TechSoup Global, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, several state libraries and university-based research groups, and the International City/County Management Association. PLA will additionally lead train-the-trainer programming in support of benchmark adoption and implementation, and curriculum development.