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 communiy.
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