Library Collaborative Technology Center

About the Program

Category: Information Technology (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

The Nevada County Library implemented an entirely grant funded project to increase technology and equipment-based recreation in the Grass Valley/Nevada City region through the creation of a Collaborative Technology Center (CTC) at the main branch library. Technology focused recreation is a growing trend due to high public demand in recreation programs across the country and is commonly referred to as RecTech. The project was supported by over 20 local businesses, non-profits and schools. Many organizations communicated strong support and have been eager to collaborate on joint programs and services, from after school programs, summer high school programming/gamming classes and student internships, to digital literacy, job skills and employment search courses. All of these collaborations make the CTC stronger, more robust, and sustainable; enhancing the recreational technology opportunities and resources available to the general public. The CTC added an additional 2000 square feet of space to the Helling Library and over 75 new devices ranging from tablets, laptops and stationary pc’s to video equipment and 3D printers. In addition to simply adding space and technology devices, the center also serves as a place to conduct workforce development and recreational technology classes. Volunteer instructors come from local businesses, dedicated docents and library and other county staff in a collaborative environment. The results have been a doubling in the amount of patron computer use, 20 brand new technology classes per month, and unexpected general library patron usage has increased by 20% simply as a result of offering these additional services in the library.