User:Janisdawson/Knowledge ontario

Knowledge Ontario is the result of a collaboration between the province’s 6,500 university, community college, school, public and government libraries. Knowledge Ontario partners with culture organizations and educators in an effort to build platforms for collaboration and services that create access to digital knowledge resources and learning tools in fostering a more connected, inclusive and digitally literate Ontario, a mandate that aligns directly with the strategic priorities of several Ministries of the Government of Ontario.

The collaborative relationships that form KO draw on the intellectual and technology leadership of a network of public libraries, school boards and post-secondary learning institutions. The organization aims to create a foundation of learning resources and digital services capable of reaching every community, every school, every library and every home across Ontario.

Knowledge Ontario’s plans and projects support the achievement of six over-arching goals :

1.	Bridge the digital divide by providing equitable and seamless access to high quality digital content and services to people at every stage of life and reflective of Ontario’s diverse communities.

2.	Strengthen libraries as community hubs of learning and literacy by adopting and delivering new technologies and innovative services.

3.	Enable the creation of informed, engaged and digitally literate citizens.

4.	Build Ontario’s digital literacy and critical thinking skills through creation of innovative, collaborative, web-based learning tools.

5.	Support life-long learning and close the gap experienced by students and adult learners in Ontario’s remote and rural communities by delivering quality electronic databases, virtual reference services and digital learning tools.

6.	Enable communities to create and manage sustainable digital content about Ontario history and culture and make it discoverable to a wider audience.

Knowledge Ontario's solutions are delivered through five project streams in communities across the province through public libraries, learning institutions and culture sector partners. In each case, projects are developed through a project management framework using Rapid Application Development (RAD) methods focused on research and consultation on user needs, prototyping, piloting and engagement of early adopters to help guide subsequent iterations.

This approach, coupled with a modular design approach, enables Knowledge Ontario to remain responsive as it moves from proof of concept through piloting and early adopter stages and to wider launch of services.

The five current project streams are Ask Ontario, Connect Ontario, Learn Ontario, Our Ontario, and Resource Ontario.

Partnering organizations include:

Library profession •	Ontario Library Association (and its Divisions) (OLA)

Public libraries •	Federation of Ontario Public Libraries (FOPL) •	Southern Ontario Library Service (SOLS) •	Ontario Library Services – North (OLSN)

Academic libraries •	Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL) •	Heads of Libraries and Learning Resources of Ontario (HLLR)

K-12 schools and school libraries •	Council of Ontario Directors of Education (CODE) •	Ontario School Libraries Association (OSLA) •	Association of Library Coordinators and Consultants of Ontario (TALCO)

Board governance

Knowledge Ontario is governed by a 13-member Board of Directors. Eight of these members are appointed through sector level accountability processes and are intended to reflect the interests of the lead stakeholder groups (public libraries, university and college library systems and school libraries/school boards). The remaining five members of the Board include the executive director of the OLA (Ontario Library Association), a representative of the broader cultural sector and three other members chosen to reflect additional strategic considerations as they change over time.

The board typically meets four times a year in early April, June, late September and early December.

The work of the board is also supported by three committees - the Executive Committee, the Governance and Policy Committee, and the Audit, Reporting and Performance Committee.

Method of appointment and election

Public Libraries - Member(s) are elected through FOPL (Federation of Public Libraries of Ontario).

College Libraries - One member is appointed by HLLR (Heads of Libraries and Library Resources). One member is appointed by COPEX (Council of Presidents Executive Committee). Both appointments are confirmed by COPEX.

University Libraries - Two members are appointed by OCUL (Ontario Council of University Libraries).

School Libraries - One member is appointed by the CODE (Council of Directors of Education). One member is appointed by a joint committee of TALCO (The Association of Library Coordinators and Consultants of Ontario) and OSLA (Ontario School Library Association).

At Large Members - Along with the executive director of the OLA (Ontario Library Association), the four remaining seats are appointed by the Knowledge Ontario Board. Selection is based on recruitment criteria designed to secure the skills and capabilities needed to support strategic focus and governance responsibilities.

Transition to a policy governance board

Board of Directors: Since its inception in the spring of 2007, the Board has focused on overseeing the successful launch of Knowledge Ontario’s new services in each of its project streams. The Board continues to work closely with the Executive Director to further develop the programs and services as articulated in its five-year plan and to partner with the Ontario government to ensure stable and secure funding in future years.

In 2009-10, the Board’s role has evolved to that of a policy governance Board. This enables the Board to focus its energies on the vision, mission and key strategies, as well as creating alliances and developing partnerships with public and private organizations and working to ensure long-term sustainable funding for Knowledge Ontario.

To help chart this evolution, the Board has established three committees: the Executive Committee, the Governance and Policy Committee and the Audit, Reporting and Performance Committee. The Board will also seek out champions and invite them to become involved in Knowledge Ontario both at the Board governance level and as strategic allies and advisors. Board governance and alignment of projects with overall strategic directions are supported by the Executive Director and the Strategic Investments Group (SIG).

Executive Director: The Executive Director has overall responsibility for the management, staffing and fiscal processes of Knowledge Ontario. Duties include: development partnerships with strategic allies; ensuring that Project Steering Committees are working both individually and collectively to meet project and organizational goals; supporting the Board to develop a diversified funding base and a stakeholder engagement plan; directing the work of the SIG to ensure that projects are appropriately aligned and that they have adequate support and resources to successfully implement their work plans and activities.

Strategic Investments Group (SIG): The SIG, comprised of the Chairs of Project Steering Committees and other key advisors, meets three or four times a year to plan and provide advice to the Executive Director and the Board. The SIG will focus on recommending priorities and options within the context of Board strategic directions and that support effective project management by the Project Steering Committees. In addition to Project Chairs, the remainder of the membership will be made up of key technology specialists and key strategic partners.

Once a sustainable multi-year funding framework is in place, it is also anticipated that representatives from key funding organizations such as the Ministries of Culture and Education would either have representation on this group, or alternatively, participate separately as members of a Funders Steering Group.

In addition to the governance and decision-making structures noted above, Knowledge Ontario will convene other advisory, consultative and deliberative groups as required to develop project ideas, set future directions and maintain a high level of collaboration and stakeholder engagement in planning projects and services. There are currently two such advisory committees contemplated within Knowledge Ontario: a Technology Infrastructure Advisory Committee and a Funding Diversification Working Group.

Such advisory structures are to ensure that the interests of key stakeholders are made known within Knowledge Ontario. They identify common issues and challenges facing Knowledge Ontario and assist the Executive Director in devising strategies to address them. Knowledge Ontario‘s services are developed through collaborative processes to translate vision into action.

Project Steering Committees: The Project Steering Committees (PSCs) direct and develop the various projects undertaken by Knowledge Ontario. The PSCs are appointed by the Executive Director, in consultation with Project Managers, on an as-needed basis. Membership and size is based on the needs of the work, but is likely to come from the library, education, museum, archive, research, business, consortia and vendor/technology communities, and, where appropriate, end users. The annual workplan of each project is framed by each project’s Steering Committee, vetted through SIG, Charter, and recommended to the Board for approval.

There are also Strategic Alignment and Project Management Frameworks in place to ensure that project level decisions are appropriately aligned with the strategies and directions being pursued by the Board.

Communications and marketing in conjunction with strong branding help Knowledge Ontario to promote its products and services and provide recognition to funders. This also encourages all libraries to participate in the Knowledge Ontario partnership. Knowledge Ontario endeavours to provide products and services in both English and French and to meet the needs of those speaking other languages and in need of specialized services.

Knowledge Ontario’s management team put into place the necessary infrastructure to support the organization’s products and services. The team works to develop comprehensive marketing and awareness building campaigns, extend bilingual access to the organization’s products and services and work with partners to devise and execute a comprehensive training program to develop needed skills among library staff and users of Knowledge Ontario’s digital resources.

http://www.knowledgeontario.ca/

http://askon.ca/

http://www.knowledgeontario.ca/KOSolutions/ConnectOntario.aspx

http://learnontario.ca/search

http://ourontario.ca/

http://www.knowledgeontario.ca/KOSolutions/ResourceOntario.aspx

http://www.accessola.com/ola/bins/index.asp

http://www.fopl.ca/home/

http://www.sols.org/

http://www.olsn.ca/

http://www.ocul.on.ca/

http://www.ocls.ca/HLLR

http://www.ontariodirectors.ca/

http://www.accessola.com/osla/bins/index.asp