[LIBRARYDIR] RE: Microsoft IT Academy

[Winters, Sharon]

FYI from our faculty program chair, Networking & Cyber Security, Jeanette Smith-Perrone:
"We currently pay $1999 a year for access to the content via MS IT Academy. The account was just renewed in the beginning of July. Yes, we are using the content in a number of IT and a few CU courses. The students gain access to the content for free."

Sharon Winters
Tacoma Community College
6501 South 19th Street
Tacoma, WA  98466
(253) 566-5091
swinters at tacomacc.edu<mailto:swinters at tacomacc.edu>


From: librarydir-bounces at lists.ctc.edu [mailto:librarydir-bounces at lists.ctc.edu] On Behalf Of Martin, Jeff
Sent: Friday, July 12, 2013 1:40 PM
To: librarydir at lists.ctc.edu
Subject: [LIBRARYDIR] Microsoft IT Academy

Funding for the Microsoft IT Academy was included in the Washington State Library's budget that was recently approved by the Washington State Legislature.

What does this mean? Staff at the Washington State Library is meeting with Microsoft IT Academy staff to develop a plan for implementation for community and technical college libraries, public libraries, and tribal libraries.

The next steps are to continue planning but also to proceed with fulfillment. Fulfillment includes determining who wants to participate, signing up those libraries/library branches, and purchasing the required licenses. A separate license will likely be required for each branch.

Following that, the training of library staff will occur such that seamless service is provided to patrons when deployment of the service actually occurs. The final step includes monitoring and evaluation of the IT Academy in Washington State.

This message is simply to alert you that sign-up and registration is in the near future. Be thinking about participation. It is a great opportunity from our perspective but you know how this fits best in your local environment.

What is the cost? Licensing is paid through an allotment approved by the Washington State Legislature. If you see your legislator, be sure to thanks them for the Microsoft IT Academy for libraries. This resource will support students and many others who participate and gain better skills for present and future education and employability. Your library website will be one way for those participating in the IT Academy to access those resources. Once patrons sign up, they will also be able to access the IT Academy directly from home. Your staff will need to be able to register new participants, direct people to the site, and provide some support for the questions which are bound to arise.

More information coming soon.

Jeff Martin
Library Development Program Manager
Washington State Library | Office of the Secretary of State
Voice: (360) 704-5248 | Fax: (360) 586-7575
E-mail jeff.martin at sos.wa.gov<mailto:jeff.martin at sos.wa.gov>
Web  http://www.sos.wa.gov/library


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