Librarian by Day » Funding http://librarianbyday.net by Bobbi Newman Tue, 22 May 2012 12:18:25 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Have an Idea to Improve Access to Information in Your Community? The Knight News Challenges Wants to Fund It #knc http://librarianbyday.net/2010/11/18/have-an-idea-to-improve-access-to-information-in-your-community-the-knight-news-challenges-wants-to-fund-it/ http://librarianbyday.net/2010/11/18/have-an-idea-to-improve-access-to-information-in-your-community-the-knight-news-challenges-wants-to-fund-it/#comments Thu, 18 Nov 2010 12:28:45 +0000 Bobbi Newman http://librarianbyday.net/?p=5113 You invent it, they fund it. Simple as that. The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is running a grant competition called the News Challenge.  The News Challenge awards up to $5 million for innovative projects that use technology to transform the way communities send, receive and make use of news and information. Applicants must only follow three rules: Use digital, open-source technology (so many of us are already using open source technology) Distribute news in the public interest (hey everything we do is in the public interest!) Fit into one of four categories (Look at number 2, it practically shouts information literacy or news literacy.  And number 3, digital media labs anyone?) The four categories – emphasis added by me Mobile: Seeks projects that use mobile devices to produce, deliver, consume, share and otherwise engage with news. The category reflects the fact that the mobile phone, with 5 billion units in use, has become an important tool for news. Authenticity: Looks for projects that help people better understand the reliability of news and information sources. We’re hoping to identify promising ideas for helping citizens negotiate our oft-chaotic media world. How can we help news users better evaluate the validity [...]]]>

You invent it, they fund it. Simple as that.

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is running a grant competition called the News Challenge.  The News Challenge awards up to $5 million for innovative projects that use technology to transform the way communities send, receive and make use of news and information.

Applicants must only follow three rules:

  1. Use digital, open-source technology (so many of us are already using open source technology)
  2. Distribute news in the public interest (hey everything we do is in the public interest!)
  3. Fit into one of four categories (Look at number 2, it practically shouts information literacy or news literacy.  And number 3, digital media labs anyone?)

The four categories – emphasis added by me

  • Mobile: Seeks projects that use mobile devices to produce, deliver, consume, share and otherwise engage with news. The category reflects the fact that the mobile phone, with 5 billion units in use, has become an important tool for news.
  • Authenticity: Looks for projects that help people better understand the reliability of news and information sources. We’re hoping to identify promising ideas for helping citizens negotiate our oft-chaotic media world. How can we help news users better evaluate the validity and trustworthiness of news and information? How can we better filter and assess the credibility of what we read and watch?
  • Sustainability: Considers new economic models supporting news and information. New ways of conducting and consuming journalism may require new ways of paying for it. We’re open to ideas for generating revenue as well as ways to reduce costs.
  • Community: Seeks groundbreaking technologies that support news and information specifically within defined geographic areas. This is designed to jump-start work on technologies and approaches that haven’t arrived yet. Unlike the first three categories, submissions in this area must be tested in a geographically designated community.

If you have questions you can reference the FAQ,  check the archived chat transcript and/or participate in the second live chat on November 18 at 1:30 pm EST

Deadline is midnight EST, December 1st.

Need some inspiration? Take a look at some of the winners from previous years:

  • The Front Porch Forum, a virtual town hall space, helps residents share and discuss local news, build community and increase engagement.
  • Local Wiki this project will create enhanced tools for local wikis, a new form of media that makes it easy for people to learn — and share — their own unique community knowledge.
  • Councilpedia: a wiki devoted to local legislators
  • Data Visualization: a suite of easy-to-use tools for anyone to use on any standard set of data ranging from government databases to demographics and statistics.
  • Crowdsourcing Crisis Information – Ushahidi can help fill the gap by creating a free web map and timeline that journalists and citizens can use to contribute multiple reports of large news events.
  • CMS Upload Utility – create new and easy to use tools that will allow news organizations to essentially drag and drop articles onto an online news site.
  • Video Volunteers: will train 100 people in rural India as Community Video Producers.
  • Beanstock’d: encourage green living through an interactive game. Using social networking tools and real-time news and information, players would be able to track their environmental impact, discover how they stack up against neighbors and team up in a friendly competition to leave the smallest imprint on their community.
  • The Includer: The device is meant for people in rural areas with marginal online access so that messages can be physically transported to and from places connected to the Internet

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Library Fund Raising Using Text Messages http://librarianbyday.net/2010/04/01/library-fund-raising-using-text-messages/ http://librarianbyday.net/2010/04/01/library-fund-raising-using-text-messages/#comments Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:19:25 +0000 Bobbi Newman http://librarianbyday.net/?p=3373 A couple of weeks ago I had a conversation with a colleague at work about using mobile fundraising for the library.  It is an easy way for patrons to support the library. Send a text message donate $5 or $10 whatever.  No need to go home and get the checkbook or get online and enter your credit card information.  Even better its instant, no worry that they’ll forget before they get a chance to make that donation. Last week I came across How Text is Changing Philanthropy and it seemed like a good time to revisit the issue. Of course the best and most recent example of text fund-raising is the situation in Haiti.  The Red Cross raised over 30 million from texts alone. Why can’t libraries use this?  Hang a sign in the library, put a message on the home page, but a link on the OPACs, its fast, its easy its simple.  It might reach a whole different demographic than our tradition fundraising methods, people who might never have donated otherwise. Text-based fundraising is all about immediacy. You don’t need to wait until you get home and turn on the computer. Simply enter a five or six-digit code [...]]]>

A couple of weeks ago I had a conversation with a colleague at work about using mobile fundraising for the library.  It is an easy way for patrons to support the library. Send a text message donate $5 or $10 whatever.  No need to go home and get the checkbook or get online and enter your credit card information.  Even better its instant, no worry that they’ll forget before they get a chance to make that donation.

Last week I came across How Text is Changing Philanthropy and it seemed like a good time to revisit the issue. Of course the best and most recent example of text fund-raising is the situation in Haiti.  The Red Cross raised over 30 million from texts alone.

Why can’t libraries use this?  Hang a sign in the library, put a message on the home page, but a link on the OPACs, its fast, its easy its simple.  It might reach a whole different demographic than our tradition fundraising methods, people who might never have donated otherwise.

Text-based fundraising is all about immediacy. You don’t need to wait until you get home and turn on the computer. Simply enter a five or six-digit code into your cell phone, along with a single word in the body of the text, such as “Haiti.” You don’t even need to plug-in your credit-card info — the donation amount is simply added to your next phone bill. It’s all so quick and convenient, you can give in the moment. There’s no chance of you forgetting to do it later. – Time

Some other institutions are already doing it, Susan G Komen Foundation and St. Jude’s among them. And one library, the Brooklyn Library has already started a campaign. (go Brooklyn!)

Read more:

I’m not vouching for any of these companies but here are a few options

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Geek the Library http://librarianbyday.net/2009/06/23/geek-the-library/ http://librarianbyday.net/2009/06/23/geek-the-library/#comments Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:00:53 +0000 Bobbi Newman http://librarianbyday.net/?p=1485 Monday OCLC kicked off their Geek the Library campaign with Iowa (my home state!) and Georgia (my current state!).  What is Geek the Library? Its  a community-based public awareness campaign.  The idea is to increase public awareness of libraries and the important role they play and the funding we so desperately need.  People can share what they are passionate about using geek as a verb Geek\Verb. To love, to enjoy, to celebrate, to have an intense passion for. To express interest in. To possess a large amount of knowledge in. To promote I love (or is that geek?) the potential of this campaign!  When they get the gear up I’ll be first in line for a shirt and coffee cup! Right now they are testing the campaign in Georgia and Iowa, with plans to kick off nationwide in 2010.  I’ll be interested to see how it plays out.  The site looks slick and being a geek is cool in many circles now, I’m sure it will be a hit with librarian.  Will it raise public awareness and more importantly funding for libraries?  I hope so. For the public they have show your support page.  I do with they had made [...]]]>

whatdoyougeek-1024x768Monday OCLC kicked off their Geek the Library campaign with Iowa (my home state!) and Georgia (my current state!).  What is Geek the Library? Its  a community-based public awareness campaign.  The idea is to increase public awareness of libraries and the important role they play and the funding we so desperately need.  People can share what they are passionate about using geek as a verb

Geek\Verb.

  1. To love, to enjoy, to celebrate, to have an intense passion for.
  2. To express interest in.
  3. To possess a large amount of knowledge in.
  4. To promote

I love (or is that geek?) the potential of this campaign!  When they get the gear up I’ll be first in line for a shirt and coffee cup! Right now they are testing the campaign in Georgia and Iowa, with plans to kick off nationwide in 2010.  I’ll be interested to see how it plays out.  The site looks slick and being a geek is cool in many circles now, I’m sure it will be a hit with librarian.  Will it raise public awareness and more importantly funding for libraries?  I hope so.

For the public they have show your support page.  I do with they had made the Local Events and the Myth or Reality page more prominent.

For libraries they have special geek page

Show some love connect with them on Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, Facebook or share your story, what do you geek?

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Technology for Tight Budgets http://librarianbyday.net/2009/03/03/technology-for-tight-budgets/ http://librarianbyday.net/2009/03/03/technology-for-tight-budgets/#comments Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:01:09 +0000 Bobbi Newman http://librarianbyday.wordpress.com/?p=1021 Times are tight, and likely to get tighter, if you’re looking to save money talk with your IT department. They may have some helpful solutions. Take a look at the University of Missouri’s IT department suggestions – Technology for Tight Budges. Many of these can be used by libraries and other businesses looking to save funds. Investigate the Technologies Available to Stretch Your Budget MeetingPlace Audio/Web Conferencing SharePoint Online Collaboration Tools IT Training — In the Classroom and Online Captivate e-Learning Authoring Tools Voice over IP (VoIP) Go Green, IT! Power Down and Virtualize Server Virtualization Videoconferencing TelePresence Smartphone Technologies Similar Posts: Save Money – Use the Library We’re barely treading water, what will keep us from drowning? Congratulations to the 2010 Movers and Shakers]]>
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Times are tight, and likely to get tighter, if you’re looking to save money talk with your IT department. They may have some helpful solutions.

Take a look at the University of Missouri’s IT department suggestions – Technology for Tight Budges. Many of these can be used by libraries and other businesses looking to save funds.

  • Investigate the Technologies Available to Stretch Your Budget
  • MeetingPlace Audio/Web Conferencing
  • SharePoint Online Collaboration Tools
  • IT Training — In the Classroom and Online
  • Captivate e-Learning Authoring Tools
  • Voice over IP (VoIP)
  • Go Green, IT! Power Down and Virtualize
  • Server Virtualization
  • Videoconferencing
  • TelePresence
  • Smartphone Technologies

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The Laptops are Here! http://librarianbyday.net/2008/05/06/the-laptops-are-here/ http://librarianbyday.net/2008/05/06/the-laptops-are-here/#comments Tue, 06 May 2008 13:27:07 +0000 Bobbi Newman http://librarianbyday.wordpress.com/?p=159 The laptops are here! I snuck in early this morning to sneak a picture of one of them.  Dont’ tell Robin!   Yes all 15 are red, they were on clearance from Gateway.  We also purchased an instructor laptop that is blue, it’s a bit more powerful.  Even better, it came with a free digital camera!  I’m hoping we’ll have more pictures of programs and events on MRRL’s Flickr account now!  The laptops are for a Grant we received for a Mobile Technology Teaching Lap.  We’ll be using them to teach patrons basic computer classes like email, Internet safety in addition to classes about blogging and facebook!Similar Posts: Teaching Patrons about Flickr Computer/Internet Classes for Patrons SCOM Videos]]>

The Laptops are here! The laptops are here! I snuck in early this morning to sneak a picture of one of them.  Dont’ tell Robin! ;)   Yes all 15 are red, they were on clearance from Gateway.  We also purchased an instructor laptop that is blue, it’s a bit more powerful.  Even better, it came with a free digital camera!  I’m hoping we’ll have more pictures of programs and events on MRRL’s Flickr account now! 

The laptops are for a Grant we received for a Mobile Technology Teaching Lap.  We’ll be using them to teach patrons basic computer classes like email, Internet safety in addition to classes about blogging and facebook!Similar Posts:

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