Field Reports
Notes from the Digital Inclusion CorpsThe Connected Village of Akhiok: Part 1
We took off from the Kodiak airport after a long delay due to high winds. The flight to Akhiok was beautiful but bumpy. As we flew south along the western coast of Kodiak. The sheer distance of the flight and the seemingly impassable mountains that stretched to the...
Identifying “Under-Connected” Libraries
I’m happy to say that the momentum for digital inclusion work at the Arizona State Library will continue after the NDIA Digital Inclusion Corps pilot ends this month. This week we had the second Digital Inclusion Working Group meeting. Working group is an apt name as...
Minnesota Broadband Task Force’s Annual Report
The Governor’s Task Force on Broadband recently released their 2017 annual report in time for the upcoming legislative session. The recommendations focus on two goals during the next four years; the timeframe was determined by the deadline to meet state goals for...
ExploraConnect Discovery Labs Part 8: Gallup Regional Educators
Introductions I’d like to continue the Discovery Lab Administrator roll call with our gallup regional educators, who they are, where they work and how they are uniquely positioned to help us in our efforts. Explora as an institution is dedicated to being an active...
ExploraConnect Discovery Labs Part 7: Girl Scout Troop #2009
Introduction I met Nia Allen at several of our events in Shiprock New Mexico. She was always there, always eager to hear more, always bringing more of her kids, and eventually her neighbors kids, and always talking about her scouts. Eventually, as I was looking for...
ExploraConnect Discovery Labs Part 6: Senator John Pinto Library
Intro to the Institution The first of the three labs I’d like to talk about is Senator John Pinto Library. I may have written a blog or two about this location, so bear with me as I write just this one more. In case you haven't read yet, or just want to hear it again...
Takeaways from the SHLB Grow2Gig Webinar “Libraries as Digital Inclusion Champions”
I had the pleasure of attending the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition (SHLB) webinar “Libraries as Digital Inclusion Champions” on Thursday, January 25. Libraries have long been local champions of digital inclusion in their communities, and I loved...
ExploraConnect Discovery Labs Part 5: Managed Devices
Probably the best step we have taken to make our Chromebooks the most user friendly the can be (for the borrowers and for the lenders) was to make them Public Session Kiosks. To get you primed about this topic I will include an official Google Help link here: Public...
Old Harbor Tribal Media Center
I arrived in Old Harbor on the eastern side of Kodiak after a bumpy flight through the snowy mountain passes. The houses perched over the sea looked beautiful in the morning sun. I noticed right away that the houses were missing a telltale sign of poor Internet...
Blandin Foundation
The Blandin Foundation is a strong partner and resource for rural Minnesota communities. When it started in 1941, the foundation centered its work on the area around its home base of Grand Rapids, Minnesota. It has since expanded its vision to include building...