Healdton Community Library, a branch of the Southern Oklahoma Library System

PROJECT PURPOSE

The Multi-Purpose Community Library Project invests in capital assets and technology infrastructure designed to directly enable work, education and health objectives. With the rapid growth of remote work, education and health monitoring, the population of Healdton, OK and outlying communities will have the opportunity to access resources to find employment, meet with employers for interviews, address health issues including the engagement in telehealth appointments, and increase educational development with tutors and databases.

EVIDENCE

Over 28% of children in the Healdton community live in poverty, according 2019 Census. Healdton has no regular public transportation available which contributes to a hardship in a community whose residents have been historically disadvantaged. The greatest technology issue facing school-aged children and families is equitable access to high-speed broadband Internet. The NEA?s Digital Equity research shows that only 65% of students in Oklahoma have full access to broadband and devices for school. The divide is worse among underserved populations and those living in rural areas such as Healdton.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

The lack of public meeting space in the Healdton Community has been greatly affected by the COVID-19 public health emergency. This need has become much greater in recent days. The rapid growth of remote work, education and health monitoring means that the town of Healdton needs more spaces available to the community to meet with employers for job interviews, meet with teachers for assessment and testing and meet virtually with health care providers. The Healdton Community Library building currently occupies 3,600 square feet. Even with closures during the pandemic, the Library is still averaging 2,300 visitors per month. There is only one private meeting room in our library. This means that for those who have a virtual job interview, are taking tests for school or are conducting a virtual medical appointment and come to the Library because they need the Internet access, may have to do so in a public space where anyone else in the room can hear the conversation.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

To measure project performance, statistics will be collected on library door count, meeting room use, Internet connections and program attendance. Because the library?s Wi-Fi is available 24/7, these statistics can be gathered after hours as many people continue to use library services even when the library is closed. Additional statistics will be gathered from database use and use of telehealth pods. Surveys will be distributed to those using facility for additional input.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

One-time project will not need continued funding