Emerging Technology Scholars Program

document.write(' Emerging Technology Scholars Program

PLCMC Technology Scholars Program

What is it?

The PLCMC Technology Scholars Program provides employees with a six-month scholarship opportunity to take innovative ideas that they have for new or expanded library services and make them a reality. The program will support two scholars at a time and is open to any fulltime employee who has at least one year of service.

The PLCMC Technology Scholars Program will be based out of Main Library’s Virtual Village where scholars will split their workweek between Virtual Village and their own emerging technology projects, which will be defined by the employee.

Why is PLCMC offering it?

As PLCMC continues to strive to be “America’s best public library” we realize that often the most innovative ideas can often be found among our employees. The barrier that staff has in executing great ideas is not from a lack of knowledge or expertise; but rather is from a shortage of not having dedicated time and resources.

The PLCMC Technology Scholars Program aims to provide staff with both time and available resources to take their ideas and make them blossom. Scholars will work physically out of the Main Library’s Virtual Village location (working no more than 20 hours on the desk/week) but may spend the rest of their time working out of any other location. The remaining 20 hours or more of their work week will be spent developing a project that they wish to lead and scholars will have at access to any and all system-wide resources that are available, including funding.

You can think of the PLCMC Technology Scholars program as library’s own mini Fulbright scholars. It is designed to encourage staff to stretch their wings and provide leadership opportunities for ideas that can benefit our customers and the library.

How do I apply?

PLCMC staff members who are interested in applying the PLCMC Technology Scholars Program should be prepared to submit a proposal that outlines the details of the project that they would like to develop and lead. Proposal Guidelines and the application for this program are available on PLCMC Central (see PLCMC Technology Scholars application on the Forms page).

The application deadline for the first class of scholars will be June 15^th. Proposals will be reviewed by a subset of the Emerging Technology Team and selected scholars will begin to transition into the program by August 1^st.

FAQs:

How is the PLCMC scholars program different from an internship program?

The PLCMC’s Scholars program is designed to provide staff members who have innovative ideas with time and resources to make them bloom. Unlike a normal internship program, in which interns serve as apprentices to gain experience or learn a new skill, the Scholar’s program aims to provide motivated staff members with opportunities to stretch and sharpen their own skills as they provide leadership for projects that can benefit the Library system-wide.

The Public Services Technology Director and Emerging Technology Manager will serve as mentors for scholars and will work closely with throughout the program to help identify and obtain the resources, skills and guidance that scholars will need to complete their project.

The success of the Scholars program will be a team effort and scholars will be given access to access to any and all resources available to help make their ideas fly.

What if the idea I have requires funding, will I be given a budget?

Yes, PLCMC recognizes that funding is often required to implement new technologies and ideas and is committed to allocating funding for projects selected for the Scholars program. As part of your Project Proposal, you will be required to provide an estimated budget for the project and will work closely with the Technology Director to ensure that funding is allocated. If you need assistance coming with a rough budget figure for your proposal, please contact the Emerging Technology Manager, Matt Gullet.

Where will program participants go after time in the scholarship program is through?

The Scholar’s program is designed to help foster new ideas and new technology services system-wide. After scholars complete their program they will rotate back to their previous position where they may be to continue to work on system-wide technology projects and help foster new initiatives at the branch level.

What are the results that PLCMC helps to achieve?

With so many emerging technologies available and great ideas among our staff, this program was created to foster new programs and services that may benefit both library patrons and staff. The objectives of the program are to:

Foster new emerging technology library services.
Provide staff with opportunities for growth and leadership.
Strengthen PLCMC’s role within the community as education and technology resource.
Assist PLCMC in achieving its goal of being the “best public library” as it relates to innovative and emerging technology services for our local community.

Can anyone apply for the Scholar’s program? Or will it be limited to only those with library degrees?

Any fulltime staff member with more than one year of service is eligible to apply for the scholar’s program. Eligibility is not based upon education or position.

How will scholars be selected?

Participants in the PLCMC Technology Scholars program will be selected based upon the strength of their program proposal and its merits and benefits to PLCMC system-wide. This focus of this program is to foster innovative ideas and provide leadership opportunities among all staff. It is not designed to be an internship, but rather it is designed to mentor leadership and great ideas.

How will program proposals be evaluated?

Program proposals will be based upon a several criteria. These may include, but are not limited to:

Use of a new or emerging technology. We are looking for program proposals that help PLCMC explore territory or enhance an existing service.
Benefits to the Library. We are seeking proposals that provide either benefits to our customers, staff or both.
Quality of the proposal. We are looking for program proposals that are well defined, throughout, and demonstrate that the applicant has a firm grasp on the idea that they would like to develop and implement.
Leadership capability. We are looking for proposals from individuals who wish to stretch, develop or strengthen their leadership skills.

Can you provide some examples of the type of proposals that you are looking for?

The area of emerging technology is so vast that almost anything that has significance to library or our community is a possible proposal candidate. For proposal ideas, think about various forms emerging technologies (video blogs, gaming, distance learning, online worlds,
e-commerce convenience technologies, etc) and how these might be applied in a library or local community setting. We know that staff members have many great ideas that would make excellent applications.

How can I apply?

The PLCMC Technology Scholars application can be found in the forms are of PLCMC Central. Competed forms can be sent to Helene Blowers, Public Services Technology Manager. hblowers@plcmc.org

PLCMC Technology Scholars Project Proposal

Please use this form to submit your project proposal and application for the Emerging Technology Scholars Program to Helene Blowers, hblowers@plcmc.org by June 15^th. Project Proposals should be well defined and should not exceed 3 pages.

Project name:
Description of Project:	Please provide a brief description of the project. What is it? What benefits does it provide?
Project Objectives:	What are the objectives of the project? What services, issues or problems doe the project address? What do you hope it will achieve?
Summary of Work:	What work does the project detail? What will be produced as a result of the project?
Estimated timeline for the project:	Please provide a rough estimate for the project’s timeline. Are there specific phases to your project, such as planning, design, implementation, etc.?
Project Resources:	Outside of yourself, what resources do you foresee needing in order for your project to be a success? Is there an estimated budget that you need?
Project Evaluation Factors:	Outside of the completion of the project, how do you plan to evaluate it’s success?
Leadership:	Please describe the leadership role you plan to play in this project? Do you have other experience that you feel might be relative to this project?

Project Name:
Submitted by:

	_________________________________ ____________ Applicant’s signature Date _________________________________ ____________ Supervisor’s signature Date

H. Blowers

');