NCF Outreach Centre Report ========================== By Lisa Donnelly, NCF Executive Director 12 June 1996 Contents: 1. Decision Objectives 2. "Storefront" objective in NCF's 1996 Public Participation Strategy 3. Funds Budgeted 4. Desirable Attributes 5. Current Options 6. Recommendation 1. Decision Objectives ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ a) To obtain clarification on the desirable attributes on an "NCF store front" as mentioned in the 1996 Strategy b ) To decide if the "NCF store front" should be pursued at this time as budgeted c) To have the Board decide if they are interested in the offer by the Ottawa Public Library or the Andre Laurendeau High School 2. "Store front" objective in NCF's 1996 Public Participation Strategy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "National Capital FreeNet Strategic Direction for 1996 Public Participation Strategy, item 2: - provide "storefront" accessibility and visibility of NCF, to reach out to and introduce more members of the public to electronic community networking, and to provide a physical space for informal and formal orientation, training sessions and public access stations." 3. Funds Budgeted ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Note: We need to strictly control our overhead costs. Our ability to meet all the priorities will be dependent on the generosity of a host or sponsors. $1,500 per month for July - December for rent $449 per month for July - December for phones $4,500 in July for office furniture $8,000 in July for computers/equipment *see 1996 Budget for details 4. Desirable Attributes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ There are two possible and desirable options: a) Store Front or b) Store Front and office space for staff Option a: Store front/Outreach Centre ------------------------------------- -Central Location -near bus routes (transit way preferred) -easy to get to on bicycles -parking -High level of security -Location has phone/wiring/network access required -ethernet links or ISDN, multiple voice lines -Accessible during evenings and week-ends -Handicap accessible (washrooms too) -Approx. 1,000-1,500 sq.ft. -Hosted by an entity that will take responsibility for the centre -won't require F/T NCF staff -Large meeting space with room for terminals and desks Option b: Store front & office ------------------------------ Same as above plus: -Approx.2,500 sq.ft. total -Easy access to banking -Office and store front separated (office can be locked securely) -Five or six cubicles for staff (and the desks, chairs and computers to go with it) 5. Current Options: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ i) Rooms at the Ottawa Public Library's (OPL) new space: ------------------------------------------------------ Location: The location would be two small rooms in the new library at the Don Gamble Recreation Centre at the corners on Montreal Road and St. Laurent Boulevard in Vanier. One room would hold four to five multi- media stations. The adjacent room can be used for meetings. NCF could also use a large Board room for meetings. OPL Provides: - A free central location -near bus routes -easy to get to on bicycles -parking -A high level of security -Free ISDN line and required wiring of machines -Access until 8 or 9 PM -Handicap accessible (washrooms too) -40 sq.ft plus use of a large meeting room when pre-arranged -Hosted by an entity that will take responsibility for the centre -won't require F/T NCF staff -Furniture -Heat and water as required -Access to the recreational facilities at the Don Gamble Centre (not free) -pool, restaurant, exercise rooms, racquet ball, etc. OPL does not provide: -week-end access during the summer -room for staff or voice lines -Large space for terminals and desks -Full NCF usage at all times (they would like to book this at times for OPL usage) Costs: $8,000 one time start-up cost for equipment which may be negotiable. The equipment needs would be two multi-media stations, two standard desk top computers, and one laser printer. ii) Andre Laurendeau Secondary School (ALSS) ----------------------------------------- Location: The ALSS location is at the corner of McArthur and Olmstead in Vanier. The high school would arrange for space for us at their facilities. ALSS provides: -A free central location -near bus routes -easy to get to on bicycles -parking -High level of security -Location has phone/wiring/network access required -Accessible during evenings and week-ends -Handicap accessible (washrooms too) -High school students who can assist in running the Centre -Large meeting space with room for terminals and desks -Some furniture -Approx. 2,500 sq.ft. -Room for the NCF staff -Heat and water as required -Close access to banking if staff relocates -Office and Outreach Centre separated (This could be included in the remodeling costs) ALSS does not provide: -Free ethernet links or ISDN -Free wiring of the machines -Is not an entity that can take full responsibility for the centre Costs: *Without seeing the space and speaking further with ALSS these are indeterminable $X for the one-time remodeling costs (walls, doors, offices) $X for a connection to the Internet which could be used by the school. $X for wiring the building for phone and computer links Staff/volunteer time to obtain donated furniture Staff/volunteer time for planning and set-up of location 6. Recommendation ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Given our current budget and human resource constraints it would be advisable to put this strategy objective off for 1996, though the OPL option offers a very low cost/low maintenance approach. If the OPL is willing to share the equipment costs then there would be low cost and no effort from NCF. This could be a smaller way of achieving the goal with no fixed costs, minimal funds and no staffing requirements. At this point in time a stronger need appears to be the need for central offices where all staff and some volunteers can work together in a cohesive manner. NCF is large and tries to tackle many projects at once in a virtual work environment. This is a credit to our mission and human resources - but pursuing additional labour intensive projects when our internal structure needs to be optimized does not promote the overall health of the organization or our ability to serve the community.