How to Start a Community Technology Center

Technology plays a big role in satisfying our society's information needs. Public libraries and technology centers ensure that all individuals have adequate access to that information. To help more people have easy access to today's technology, keep the following in mind when you start a community technology center.

Instructions

1. Visit your local library and inquire what type of community technology education they offer. Public libraries are charged with the mission of providing educational and informational services to the general public. They often work in close collaboration with local school districts to assess the needs of local students. They also provide continued educational opportunities for the population they are responsible for serving. This often means the inclusion of technological education that is available to the community.

2. Network with local librarians and educators to actualize and officially establish the need for a community technological center. Since public librarians are charged with assessing and providing on going educational opportunities to their local patrons, librarians have a good idea of what their community's technological needs are. If a visit to a local public library does not provide the results necessary to assess the legitimate need for a community technology center, attempt to contact a librarian at a local academic institution of higher learning such as a college or university.

3. Learn about legislation and government assistance programs that support the establishment of community technology centers.

4. Visit the U.S. Department of Education's website to see what types of programs are being implemented and what type of funding is available for these types of programs.

5. Talk with local government officials about the possibility of allocating funds for the establishment of a community technology center. Back this up with research gained from doing demographic studies of the community and target population, as well as from the knowledge and support gleaned from local librarians and educators.

6. Rally the local community to support the allocation of public funds to establish and maintain a community technology center.