June 6, 2014
What is Edge
Edge is a management and leadership tool that gives public libraries the ability to evaluate the public access technology to its community. Edge was created through a national coalition of library and local government organizations, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and led by the Urban Libraries Council. Through the Edge Assessment Workbook, libraries will be able to see what areas they are excelling at and what areas need improvement. Edge helps libraries see where they need to improve to better serve their community.
Where to Begin
- Watch a short video presentation on the steps in Edge to see if it is for you.
- Go to Edge's website.
- Register your library.
- If everything was entered correctly, after 10 business days Edge will notify you that your library was approved.
- You can print out the Assessment Workbook to get started collecting the necessary information and enter it into your account later.
After Completing the Assessment
Edge gives libraries that complete the assessment access to four 90 minute webinars that any staff member from your library can attend. The library can also build Action Plans, allowing the library to pick specific areas that needs improvement based on the scores. To help with this, Edge has collected dozens of online sources and filtered out so that each source helps with a specific need.
Libraries Participating in Wisconsin
The following public libraries in Wisconsin participated in the Edge Initiative:
Altoona Public Library
Appleton Public Library
Beloit Public Library
Black River Falls Public Library
Brillion Public Library
Brown County Library
Brown Deer Public Library
Coloma Public Library
Columbus Public Library
Dodgeville Public Library
Durand Community Library
Dwight Foster Public Library
Eager Free Public Library
Florence County Library
Fond du Lac Public Library
Fontana Public Library
Frank B. Koller Memorial Library
Hazel Green Public Library
Hustisford Community Library
Irvin L. Young Memorial Library
Joseph W. Emma L. Wachute Memorial Library
Karl Junginger Memorial Library
Kenosha Public Library
Knutson Memorial Library
Larsen Family Public Library
Lomira QuadGraphics Community Library
Lowell Public Library
Madison Public Library
Manitowoc Public Library
Marathon County Public Library
Mayville Public Library
McMillan Memorial Library
Mead Public Library
Milwaukee Public Library
Mukwonago Community Library
Muskego Public Library
Neenah Public Library
New Glarus Public Library
New Holstein Public Library
New London Public Library
Ontario Public Library
Oshkosh Public Library
Portage County Public Library
Racine Public Library
Reedsburg Public Library
Rhinelander District Library
Rusk County Community Library
Schreiner Memorial Library
Shiocton Public Library
Slinger Community Library
Sun Prairie Public Library
Superior Public Library
Wabeno Public Library
Walter E. Olson Memorial Library
Waupaca Area Public Library
Whitefish Bay Public Library
Whitehall Public Library
Resources