Yakama Nation Library Computer Lab

 

The Yakama Nation Library Computer Lab in Toppenish, WA began in 2006 with only six computers. Because of high demand, users often waited in long lines and were limited to only an hour of computer time. Over the years, the lab grew and with CCNP BTOP funding, the Yakama Nation Library was able to purchase 15 new desktop and 10 new laptop computers. Although the lab is often at capacity, it is rare that someone has to wait for a computer. The library benefits from a high-speed broadband Internet connection, which the surrounding rural area and reservation lack, and finds many library patrons bringing in their own computers to access the library's wireless Internet.

 

Open lab time continues to be very popular with lab users. Approximately 100-150 youth and adults use the lab every day. Computer Lab staff members Mike Sekaquaptewa and Heidi Ineguez provide one-on-one assistance to youth working on their homework, and to adults creating an e-mail account or applying for a job online. Through the classes and open lab time, Mike and Heidi report that users have been able to secure more job interviews and that the availability of dedicated, accessible staff allows users to create professional and effective resumes. Additionally, lab users have gained knowledge about how to efficiently use e-mail and manage social media accounts.

 

Mike and Heidi lead classes on digital photography and media, Microsoft Publisher, and the suite of Microsoft Office tools. Most recently, the Computer Lab hosted a free resume-building workshop. The workshop was very well-attended, and Heidi plans to repeat the class monthly to meet the demand of job-seekers.

Teens and young adults use the computer lab to complete homework, attend online classes, and keep up with e-mail.

The Computer Lab is also helping high school students graduate on time. The Computer Lab serves youth from three different school districts (Toppenish, Wapato, and White Swan), providing access to students from across the region to complete their homework. Additionally, if Yakama Nation Tribal school students find themselves falling behind in their coursework, they have an option to access online courses after school and on the weekends. Access to computers at the Library is facilitating student learning and helping them graduate with their peers.

 

To find out more about the Yakama Nation Library Computer Lab, visit the Network Directory Page.

Schools, Health, and Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Conference, May 22-24, 2012

 

Focusing on sustainability, the SHLB Conference in Arlington, VA convened anchor institutions, BTOP awardees, and other interested groups to explore sustainability strategies for next-generation broadband networks. At the conference, panel experts explored how community anchor institutions can benefit from and leverage these broadband investments to serve their communities.

 

In addition, CCN was asked to speak at the Tribal Affinity group breakfast on the first day of the SHLB conference. In attendance was the Honorable Lawrence Strickling, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information of the U.S. Department of Commerce and head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and Anthony Wilhelm, Deputy Associate Administrator of the U.S. Department of Commerce and leader of the BTOP.

 

The presentation focused on the recently operational Kalispel Tribe video- and tele-conferencing systems used to support the Kalispel Tribal Court operations. The video and tele-conferencing systems are used in conjunction with the Northwest Justice Project web portals to provide online tools and videos for users to access important legal information. The Kalispel Tribe has provided access to these web portals through workstations located at their courthouse locations, as well as supporting Kalispel Public Law and Justice Public Computing Centers located throughout the Kalispel reservation. To learn more about the speakers and see conference slides, visit the conference wiki: http://shlb.pbworks.com/. To view the SHLB Conference Kalispel Tribal Court presentation, download the PDF here.  

 

Council on Digital Inclusion (CoDI) Submits Comments on Lifeline Reform

 

In early May, the Council on Digital Inclusion submitted comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on the recently announced program to restructure the Lifeline/Universal Service Fund. The FCC program announcement may include funding to support digital inclusion and digital literacy. The City of Seattle provided outstanding leadership throughout the process of drafting and submitting comments. To view the comments, download the PDF here. 

 

CCN Update By the Numbers: Where We Are Now

 

Our grant supports a total of 22 subrecipients throughout the state of Washington, including:

• 5 Libraries
• 2 Justice Centers
• 15 Non-profit organizations

PCCs have added 187 additional public workstations, increased public hours by 391 per week, and collectively average 4,600 visits per week, and volunteers provide an average of 6,900 hours of service per week. To date, more than 52,000 hours of training have been offered to more than 9,500 clients, with basic Internet skills (16,372 hours), multimedia (13,038 hours), and ESL (13,140 hours) sessions being the most popular.

 

Overall client activities include 65,690 client sessions for general access to information, 54,203 client sessions focused on connecting with friends and family through e-mail and social media, online banking, and engaging in neighborhood events, and 24,441 client sessions have focused on technology skill enhancement. 5,129 clients have accessed technology to meet educational needs, such as increasing literacy or completing homework, and 4,724 clients have utilized services to seek employment, resulting in 63 clients reporting that they have secured employment as a result having access to the equipment and services provided by subrecipients. 

For more information about Communities Connect Network (CCN), please contact Leslie Rae Schmitz, Senior Project Director for Digital Inclusion at lschmitz@edlabgroup.org or 425.477.4741 x 4778.