Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study Project Partners
Project Team
Project Director
Denise M. DavisDirector, ALA Office for Research & Statistics
Denise M. Davis is the overall project director. In addition to this project, Denise provides leadership and expert advice to ALA staff, members, and public on all matters related to research and statistics about libraries, librarians, and other library-related inquiries; represents the Association to Federal agencies on these issues; and initiates projects needed to expand the knowledge base of the field through research and the collection of useful statistics. Visit the Office for Research & Statistics website.
Project Manager
Larra Clark
Project Manager, ALA Office for Research & Statistics
Larra Clark manages activities associated with the Public Library Funding and Technology Access study, including coordination of focus groups and site visits in select states. She joined the office in late January 2007 after working more than six years in the ALA Public Information Office as the Manager of Media Relations. Larra completed her master’s degree in library science through the distance education program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in December 2006. Previously, she worked in nonprofit public affairs, media relations and print journalism in Chicago and Arizona.
Project Researchers
John Carlo Bertot, Ph.D.
Professor and Director
Center for Library Innovation, College of Information Studies,
University of Maryland
Charles R. McClure, Ph.D.
Frances Eppes Professor of Information Studies and Director
Information Institute, College of Information,
Florida State University
Drs. John Carlo Bertot and Charles R. McClure are co-principal investigators to the project. Susan Thomas, also at the Information Institute, will serve as the on-site project manager to oversee the day-to-day work of a number of graduate students at the Information Institute who will be involved in key areas of the project (e.g., survey preparation, Web site development, survey mailings, and data analysis). The study team has significant experience in conducting such studies related to this topic. Study team background information, experience, qualifications, and work on recent projects can be found on the Information Institute Web site and the University of Maryland Web site.
Project Consultants
Peggy Barber and Linda Wallace
Library Communication Strategies, Inc.
Peggy Barber and Linda Wallace will assist the ALA with state-level focus groups and site visits. Barber and Wallace are principals and co-founders of Library Communication Strategies, Inc., a consulting firm based in Chicago. They are experienced focus group leaders and have extensive knowledge about libraries. Before launching Library Communication Strategies, they worked many years for the American Library Association.
Additional support
ALA Public Information Office
The ALA Public Information Office (PIO),withinput from ALA ORS and the ALA Public Library Association (PLA) Executive Director, will provide media and outreach support for the study. The PIO is the point of inquiry on ALA studies and messaging, and provides advocacy support for libraries. The PIO Director, Media Relations Manager and Media Relations Coordinator will develop a communications plan at the start of the program and will work with the media to disseminate study findings. The PIO’s Advocacy staff and the Campaign for America’s Libraries manager will coordinate study messaging.
ALA Office for Information Technology Policy
Study findings will be extremely helpful to the ALA Washington Office as they relate to informing key stakeholders about library funding and technology-related services. The ALA Office for Information Technology Policy Director and Internet Policy Specialist will be involved throughout the project to advise on the study questions and study findings messaging.
ALA Information Technology & Telecommunication Services
Technology support to this project is provided by two staff in the ALA Information Technology & Telecommunication Services department - a project manager and a Web developer.
Contact the Office for Research & Statistics for questions about content on this page.