RUOnline?
Via Amy from the Virginia Library Directors group:
I wanted to let you know that Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today a new statewide initiative to help policymakers better understand where Virginia has the largest gaps in broadband coverage across the state. The Governor announced the initiative at a ceremony to sign House Bill 912, which clarifies and improves the process for installing communications infrastructure benefiting rural communities. The new initiative, RUOnlineVA, provides a platform for Virginia residents and businesses to notify the Commonwealth whether or not they have access to broadband Internet connections.
RUOnlineVA is a key component of the Governor’s overall strategy to increase connectivity throughout the Commonwealth. House Bill 912 makes it easier to put telecommunications infrastructure in the rights-of-way for state-maintained roads. In addition to these components, the Governor’s budget includes $2.5 million for the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative, which provides funding for infrastructure expansion in unserved areas of the Commonwealth.
RUOnlineVA, which runs through early August, will leverage an online demand capture tool created by the Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) and Virginia Tech’s Center for Geospatial Information Technology (CGIT). Virginia residents in need of Internet service are asked to log onto RUOnline.virginia.gov or call (877) 969-6685 and answer a few simple questions regarding where they live and what level of connectivity they have. Responses will be aggregated, mapped, and shared with policy makers and the public to stimulate broadband policy and funding discussions throughout the remainder of the administration.
This is just a heads up to let you know that that Governor’s Office is suggesting that if citizens are unable to access the RUOnlineVA website at home, they can access the website at their local library. Attached is a flyer that you may want to share with your staff, so that they are aware of the program and can point patrons to the web portal. Since reliable broadband access remains an issue for many of Virginia’s public libraries as well, you may wish to make copies of the attached flyer available to your patrons so that they are aware that they can make their voices heard. Having citizen input will help the governor and policy makers decide what strategies to employ to stimulate broadband policy and funding discussions.
So Virginia residents, please go online and make your feelings known. The websites is:
http://ruonline.virginia.gov/
Library Trends
Doris sent along a link to an interesting article about some new approaches in libraries. Take a look!
Trends in Libraries
Begin with ... Parks?
The library has four Virginia State Bookbags/Backpacks to circulate. These are really neat items which will circulate much like the Begin With Books kits except that they will check out for two weeks, no renewals, and overdues are $2 per day. Each pack contains a number of items, including nets to catch bugs, ID sheets for flora and fauna, AND a free park pass! There is a sheet with prices of individual items that will need to be checked carefully when the packs are returned. The park pass itself is valued at $66, and the entire kit at $111.65. These are replacement prices, but replacement parts are limited.
Upcoming Special Events!
- Tech Saturdays in the Jones Creativity Center begin this Saturday courtesy of First Appalachian Robotics! The program starts at noon, and the first demo will be of their 3D printer. The next demo will be soldering on June 11.
- Social Media For Seniors classes will be in the JCC at 11:30 am on Tuesdays in June. Folks will learn how to do Facebook, Twitter, Skype and more!
- Grand Opening of the Teen Library will be on June 3 at 2:30 pm! There will be a ribbon cutting and guests. The kick off to the Teen Summer Reading Program will follow.
- SCHOLASTIC BOOK SALE!!! All Books Half Price!! Now that I have your attention, I'll add that this will be in the Main Children's Library starting Friday, May 27 and lasting until June 5.
Summer Reading Programs!
It's that time again! *Avoca is already signing people up and will have their kickoff program on Friday, June 3. *Main Children's registration will begin on Friday, May 27 with the Scholastic Book Sale. (Did I mention all books are HALF PRICE??) *Main Teen registration will begin on Friday, June 3, at the Grand Opening. 
