Update on Washington State Library Microsoft IT Academy
By Christina Hanson

I spoke with Elizabeth Iaukea, Program Manager of the Microsoft IT Academy program at the Washington State Library, on the latest of the Microsoft IT Academy in Washington libraries, program successes, and feedback she is hearing so far.  If you are not familiar with the program, a good introduction can be found on the Washington State Library page, here: https://www.sos.wa.gov/library/libraries/projects/ita/ 

Funding from the Washington State Legislature is paying for access to the Microsoft IT Academy for all public, community college, technical, and tribal libraries at no cost during this current 2-year legislative period.  The Microsoft IT Academy provides courses and certification opportunities on Microsoft software products, as well as curriculum and courses designed for basic digital literacy.  Iaukea’s role is to provide training and technical support to libraries across the state to launch this for all Washington state residents.  The Washington State Library is working closely with Microsoft to tailor the program to meet the needs of library patrons and fit the structure of our diverse local libraries, ranging from small public library branches, stand-alone tribal libraries, to technical libraries with distributed campuses.  Currently, there are around 400 library locations across the state of Washington currently offering patrons access to the IT Academy. 

The Microsoft IT Academy was first launched in public libraries in Hawaii, which are all part of a single statewide system.  Rolling out the program in the state of Washington has been a different process for Microsoft, as each of our libraries are distinct entities in terms of jurisdiction, administration, and organizational structure.  In addition, there were some challenges during the roll-out of this program due to a shift of the IT Academy to a new e-learning platform, as well as challenges stemming from the diversity of how our libraries are organized. 

Some sites are doing innovative and effective outreach, such as the Richland Library’s marketing of the IT Academy to local businesses and Hanford employees looking to retrain.  Initiatives like this can turn this resource into a powerful tool libraries can offer during economic recession, and a way to leverage the services and value we are providing to our communities.  While a large portion of the IT Academy is geared for professional-level tech skills, the curriculum aimed at bridging the digital divide and addressing the need for digital literacy has been very appealing.  The Washington State Library has been working with Microsoft to make this component of the IT Academy more user-friendly and easier to access by the patrons we serve. Microsoft has been very responsive to comments and suggestions from patrons, library staff, and state administrators to improve certain aspects of the IT Academy that were not well suited for the realities of our communities.

The Washington state legislature will vote on whether or not to continue to fund the IT Academy for libraries statewide, past June 2015.  There is contact information on the Washington State Library website where you or your patrons can provide feedback to make the program better, or to encourage the State to continue to provide funding.  In addition, look for opportunities at the upcoming WLA conference to find out more about the program and also to experience the certification process yourself.