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• Part I. Secondary Data Report
  
  
  
  
• Part II. Survey Report
  
  
  
  
• Part III. Case Study Report

PART I: SECONDARY DATA REPORT

IV. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NEGOTIATED GRANTS

The Technical Assistance Negotiated Grants (TANG) program was begun in FY 1999 to enable library staff to make better use of technology in their libraries. TANG funds were provided to the individual library systems ranging from $12,719 (TTPLS) to $99,999 (NETLS). Total funding ranged from $500,839 in FY1999to $618,988 in FY 2000 and $596,274 in FY 2001. Average funding in FY 1999 was $50,000; it increased to nearly $62,000 in FY 2000, and decreased to about $60,000 in FY 2001. Funding to individual Library Systems was based on amount requested and negotiated. TANG funding increased during the three years for six of the Library Systems, was uneven for two of the Library Systems, and actually decreased for two of the Library Systems.

1. Use of TANG Funds

All 10 regional Texas Library Systems participated in the grant. Library Systems used TANG funds to provide technological aid to their member public libraries. Grant funds were used for personnel, equipment, supplies, telecommunications, travel, and professional services. Most Systems chose to hire a technical support staff person to provide consultations, training and needs assessment.

2. TANG Activities

TANG uses three performance measures:

• Number of library staff assisted, including professional staff, technical staff, volunteers, and community members who help provide technical services to the library.
• Number of library staff trained, including professional staff, technical staff, volunteers, and community members who help provide technical services to the library.
• Number of instructional materials provided, including all materials purchased for libraries or for the System office, and substantive materials provided to libraries and library staff such as manuals or workshop packets.

The setting of targets by Library Systems was inconsistent from year to year in the three performance measurement areas. The extent to which Library Systems met, failed to meet, or exceeded their targets was also inconsistent throughout the three years, as shown in the following tables. Some Library Systems experienced difficulty in hiring or retaining qualified technicians. This affected their ability to provide technology-related training and assistance to their member libraries.

It is unclear from the analysis of the data reported by Library Systems over the 1999-2001 period, how Library Systems set targets in any of the measurement areas and why they failed to achieve or exceeded their targets. It is also unclear how they used data on their performance in Year 1 of the TANG grant in setting targets in the following years. For example, some Systems held the target constant over the three years while others increased the targets significantly in Year 3 from the Year 1 target and yet other Systems decreased the targets or varied the targets up and down. Some of the variation in targets set from one year to the next may be associated with variations in the use of TANG funds between years.

Setting targets also appeared to be unrelated to the extent to which Library Systems managed to meet their target during each of the three years under review. As seen in the table below, percent of targets achieved varied greatly from year to year within the three areas of performance, but the variance was not consistent and did not follow any patterns.

Similarly, Library Systems did not appear to have taken into consideration the target they set and their actual performance in one year in setting targets for the following year. The data analysis indicates that target setting was done independently from year to year with little consideration to actual performance.

The data that Library Systems reported to TSLAC with regard to number of trained staff do not indicate how many people have actually been trained or the specific levels of training they received. These data also do not identify the number and percent of member libraries which have staff who received "basic" and "advanced" training. Hence, these data do not help TSLAC determine the percent of the member libraries that have in-house staff with specific levels of technology-related skills.

Finally, the data that Library Systems provided to TSLAC on the TANG funding did not have any impact measures. Impact measures for this grant may include:

• Unduplicative number and percent of member libraries whose staff received "basic" training.
• Unduplicative number and percent of member libraries whose staff received "advanced training.
• Reduction in number of calls to the Library System for assistance with "basic" technology problems.
• Number of calls to Library System on more advanced issues.
• Number of member library staff receiving more advanced technology training.
• Extent to which member libraries are able to trouble-shoot.
• Extent to which member libraries have become more self-sufficient.
• Patron use of technology.

Part One, Section Three | Part One, Section Five