FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

IMLS Press Contacts
202-653-4632
Natasha Marstiller, nmarstiller@imls.gov
Mamie Bittner, mbittner@imls.gov

Responds to Recommendations of the National Broadband Plan

Washington, DC—The Institute of Museum and Library Services is pleased to announce the selection of the Digital Inclusion Working Group. The working group will meet January 24-26 in Washington, DC and assist in the development of a Framework for Digitally-Inclusive Communities that can be used by local communities to assess their complex needs for public access technology.

The framework is a response to the National Broadband Plan, which recognized the pivotal roles that libraries and community-based organizations play in providing access to high-speed internet. The National Broadband Plan called on the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to develop tools to help communities assess their needs for public access technology. IMLS is working with the University of Washington and the International City/County Management Association to identify the characteristics of digitally inclusive communities in order to guide strategic public and private investments.

This announcement launches an effort to engage a broad range of stakeholders in the development of the framework. The 16-member high-level working group includes leaders from libraries, community-based organizations, business, local government and non-governmental organizations who will contribute to the development of the proposed framework. Phase two of the process will enlist a broad network of professional organizations and interested parties to further review and critique the framework.

A series of town meetings is also planned to provide additional input and to highlight promising practices.

The members of the high level working group are:

• Steve Albertson, Community Voice Mail
• Mary Carr, Spokane Community College
• Mark Cooper, Consumer Federation of America
• Catherine K. De Rosa, OCLC WebJunction
• Jon Gant, University of Illinois Graduate School of Library and Information Science
• Chris Gates, Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement
• Martín Gómez, Los Angeles Public Library
• C. Lincoln (Link) Hoewing, Verizon
• John Horrigan, Technet
• Mike Lee, AARP
• David Keyes, City of Seattle
• Traci L. Morris, Homahota Consulting
• Mare Parker-O’Toole, Medfield (MA) Public Library
• Frances Roehm, Skokie (IL) Public Library
• Jane Smith Patterson, e-NCa
• Sarah Washburn, TechSoup

From more information please see http://tascha.uw.edu/research/inclusionframework.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.