The New Digital Divide

The keynote speaker at IUG had some amazing facts and a perspective on how connectivity is changing the way we live. A lot of it was not new but he had real world examples of how he lives his life with technology and really served to underline for me how backward NZ may become unless connectivity is given a huge boost soon.

Larry Irving served under Bill Clinton as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information. He now consults and speaks about information technology.

He was the person who coined the term "the Digital Divide" in his advice to the Clinton administration in the 1990's.

Some of the facts he quoted which I found incredible:

The Library of Congress has been collecting and cataloguing information since before 1800. In all that time, they had amassed a huge store of every kind of printed, cartographic, manuscript and photographic material. In round figures, call it 200 years - now an equivalent amount of content is added to the internet every 15 minutes.

YouTube now generates as much traffic as the entire internet in 2000. They only started in 2005. By 2010, because of their cable and wifi connectivity 20 typical US households will consume as much bandwidth as the whole internet did in 1998.

He has an amazing array (to us kiwis anyway) of devices to live his life, none of which cost more than $500. I thought the coolest one was a slingbox which transmits your cable TV to you wherever you are in the world. Sounds kind of ridiculous, but then you realise what options they have as far as their cable delivery and content. Satellite like our Sky is only for people in remote areas who can't get cable. Since we have been here I have seen guys sitting in bar watching ice hockey on one guys laptop over wifi via his slingbox because the game had finished on TV and he had recorded it at home. (I assure you I was only in the bar to observe). I saw another guy standing in the queue at the subway station on his way home after a baseball game watching a highlights package on his PDA from the game he had just left.

It's all bandwidth - it doesn't matter what you come up with to do once you have it, if you don't have it you can't do anything.

Larry quoted a project called "Connect Kentucky" which is a little like our peoples network project. They mapped the entire state for broadband (which here means cable) availability, speed and cost. The results have been phenomenal. If you're interested please take a look.

Around the Country in 20 Days - Rivkah Sass in NZ

Updating on the eLGAR co-ordinated visit to New Zealand of Rivkah Sass, our American Librarian visitor is currently in Masterton on the final leg of her three week trip around the country. Rivkah was brought to New Zealand as a result of 3M Innovation Award prize money won by eLGAR in 2006. As the investment of international travel from Omaha, Nebraska had already been made, eLGAR offered this inspirational speaker to our public library colleagues around New Zealand and was delighted at the number of regions that took up the opportunity to share in hearing an international conference speaker.

The complete intinerary co-ordinated by the Programme Office included five speaking venues offering all staff the opportunity to attend an event anywhere within the Auckland region at a variety of times. We were also delighted that the invitation extended to our neighbouring colleagues was gladly accepted by librarians from Papakura and UNITEC. In addition to the collective talks Rivkah visited selected libraries to meet personally with staff and to see what New Zealand Libraries have to offer. She was most impressed by the quality and diversity of our services and by the welcoming friendliness of all our people. Congratulations!

After Auckland Rivkah travelled to Nelson for a breakfast talk to staff at Nelson Public before attending the South Island Manager's group meeting. Then in a whirlwind of stops it was on to Dunedin to address public and university librarians as well as local Councillors, Balclutha and Invercargill. The next day in Gore Rivkah was flattered that the Mayor of the town joined the library staff to hear her speak. Next it was up to Winton before Queenstown to talk to the Lakes District librarians and a much needed quiet weekend in the haven of Arrowtown. On Monday she flew to Christchurch for a tour of Selwyn/Aoraki and Christchurch libraries then Wellington to catch a train through the Rimatakas to Masterton. Currently Rivkah is being toured through the Wairarapa Libraries back to Wellington where she will leave us on Saturday. Phew! Quite a feat for our visitor but having spent some time with her in Auckland I can say that she has so much energy and enthusiasm for libraries and her comment was that she didn't want to miss a minute of the opportunities we had given her in New Zealand.

While Rivkah remarked that she felt that the trip would benefit her more than us, the feedback received from staff indicates what a two-way exchange it has been. Jane Robinson the librarian in Gore sent an email thanking eLGAR for including country libraries in the itinerary, remarking that smaller libraries often miss out. The Programme Office is delighted to co-ordinate opportunities that promote professional development for librarians and in particular eLGAR staff and we hope to be able to offer other programmes in the future.

Rivkah at Rodney & North Shore

Yesterday Rivkah Sass started her grand NZ tour with a library management seminar followed by a presentation to Rodney Libraries. Rivkah, American Librarian of the Year, is in NZ thanks to eLGAR and the 3M Innovation Award. Rivkah also presented to the North Shore Libraries yesterday evening.

Her wide ranging presentation includes Rivkah's thoughts on the need for librarians to be open to risks and challenges and try new things, if they don't work it doesn't mean the end of the world. It is interesting how some things are universal, challenges for here are shared by librarians around the world. Increasingly librarians are having to manage the expectations of staff, political and financial stakeholders, and customers. Rivkah also says "Omaha is Omaha" meaning we all need to serve our own community and there is no single solution that will fit across the entire Libray world.

The tour continues at Manukau and Waitakere today (Thursday) and Auckland City tomorrow. Next week Rivkah travels south as far as Invercargill, which must be about as far away from Omaha as it's possible to be.

Rivkah Sass - Visiting American Library Speaker

Welcome all to the eLGAR - 3M Innovation Award visit of American guest conference speaker Rivkah Sass to Auckland.

Rivkah is the dynamic Director of the Omaha Public Library, noted for risk-taking when named by the Library Journal as Librarian of the Year 2006. A great believer in technology where it combines to improve service to customers and make the life of a librarian easier, she is an advocate for progress. Rivkah is passionate about connecting with our communities to form strong partnerships and she is an energetic campaigner promoting libraries in a competitive world.

eLGAR is using prize money from the 3M Innovation Award to bring you five opportunities to attend a talk by this international guest. All staff are welcome and those applying for LIANZA Professional Registration may wish to include this as part of their continued update of professional knowledge.

Wednesday 2 April Orewa Community Centre, Moana Court, Orewa, 11.30am-1.00pm
Wednesday 2 April Takapuna Library, The Strand, Takapuna, 5.30-7.00pm
Thursday 3 April Howick Little Theatre, Lloyd Elsmore Park, Pakuranga, 11.00am-12.30pm
Thursday 3 April Lecture Theatre 510-B007, UNITEC Campus, Ratanui St, Henderson, 5.30-7.00pm
Friday 4 April Waitemata Conference Room, Auckland Central Library, Lorne St, 10.30am-12.00pm

In order not to miss out on this opportunity RSVP to your local contact:
Kris Wehipeihana - Rodney
Myrna Contreras - North Shore
Rachael Stevens - Manukau
Winnie Noronha d'Costa - Waitakere
Louise Anderson - Auckland