Technology Planning Tips for Small Libraries August 19

Technology Planning Tips for Small Libraries August 19, 2015

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Technology Planning Tips for Small Libraries August 19, 2015

Presenters Julie Elmore Oakland City-Columbia Township Public Library Oakland City, IN Chat: Twitter: @techsoup 4 libs #ts 4 libs Travis Montgomery Crystal Schimpf Liberty Lake Municipal Library Tech. Soup for Libraries Liberty Lake, WA San Francisco, CA Becky Wiegand Ginny Mies

Today’s Topics • • • The Director Perspective The IT Perspective Tips, Templates, Best Practices Resources Q&A @techsoup 4 libs #ts 4 libs

Poll Does your library have a current technology plan? • Yes • No • I’m not sure

Poll Are you required to have a technology plan? Check all that apply. • Yes, my state library requires it • Yes, a funder requires it • Yes, my board requires it • Yes, for other reasons • No, I’m not required • I don’t know if it is required

Technology Planning: The Director Perspective Julie Elmore Library Director Oakland City – Columbia Township Public Library www. occtpl. lib. in. us occtpl@gmail. com Personal Twitter: @rurallubrarian @techsoup 4 libs #ts 4 libs

About Us • Service Population – appx. 3900 • Current Staff – 1 Director (full-time) – 4 clerks (part-time) – 0 dedicated IT professionals • Budget – $200 k approved • Reality is $175 k

Why I First Created A Tech Plan? I had to Indiana Administrative Code 590 Rule 6

Why I’m Glad It Was Required? • • Serves as a guide Provides direction Serves as an evaluation tool Measures progress

Our Plan • 3 year plan • Utilized state library templates http: //www. in. gov/library/files/TEMPLATE_Technol ogy_Plan_2011_12_06. pdf • I opted for the K. I. S. S. strategy (Keep It Super Simple)

Simplicity Benefits of simplicity: – Don’t stress over not knowing details – If it doesn’t apply to you, leave it out – It allows for your library to stay fluid

Time & Process • • • Not a one afternoon job Inventory what you have Direction Focus on key areas Goals and objectives Drafts and edits image credit: openclipart. org

What’s Included • • • Mission Statement Technology Inventory Goals & Objectives Professional Development Strategy Budget Evaluation Process

Current and Proposed Inventory More than just computers: – Networks – Computers (hardware & software) – peripherals – Internet Connections – ILS

Goals & Objectives • • • Maintenance Patron Training Replacements Online presence for the library Databases

Online Presence

Maintenance • • Virus Protection Upgrades Updates Cleaning

Training, Training • Patron training – classes – one-on-one • Staff training

Professional Development “The Oakland City – Columbia Twp. Public Library strives to have a knowledgeable staff when it comes to our technology. When new equipment is added to the library, staff receives training on how the equipment is operated. Additionally, when time allows staff members are encouraged to take advantage of any freely available training. “

$ Money $ • Existing Budgets – Our goals are written to be realistic to our budget. • Grants • Free Stuff! $

Evaluation • Monitor your progress “Technology needs will be monitored by staff through observing usage and requests for new technology. ” • Frequency

Remember • • Keep it realistic K. I. S. S. (Keep It Super Simple) Review and evaluate You’re a Librarian, YOU CAN DO THIS Photo credit: rg 1024 on openclipart. org

Please type your questions in the chat window. Julie Elmore Library Director Oakland City – Columbia Township Public Library www. occtpl. lib. in. us occtpl@gmail. com Personal Twitter: @rurallubrarian @techsoup 4 libs #ts 4 libs

Tech. Soup for Libraries Cookbooks • Planning for Success • Small and Rural Libraries • Recipes for a Five Star Library Download at: Tech. Soupfor. Libraries. org

Technology Planning: The IT Perspective Travis Montgomery Technology Specialist Liberty Lake Municipal Library www. libertylakewa. gov/library tmontgomery@libertylakewa. gov @techsoup 4 libs #ts 4 libs

Liberty Lake Municipal Library • Population: 8925 • 10 miles from Spokane WA • 3 full time staff • 9 part time staff • Lots of wonderful volunteers

Practical Reasons For Having A Technology Plan

Saving Money The best time to buy something is when you don’t need it.

Shop Around • New. Egg • Tech. Soup • Amazon • e. Bay • Frys

Shop at the Right Time • Black Friday • Cyber Tuesday • After Christmas

Preventative Maintenance

Compressed Air

Rubber Rejuvenator

Surge Protectors & Uninterrupted Power Supplies

Kiosk Software • Deep Freeze • Drive Vaccine • Reboot Restore RX (Free) • Steady State (Free)

Software & Security Updates • Important Updates • Antivirus Definitions

What do you do if you don’t have access to an IT Guy?

Search Engines • Google • Bing • Yahoo How you ask the question is just as important as the question itself

Microsoft IT Academy

How-To Books

You. Tube

Networking with other Libraries • Talk to other libraries • Forums or Message Boards • Networking is not just computer based

Community Outreach It can go both ways

Replacement Schedules • Every library is different • Make it your own • It should evolve over time

Liberty Lake’s Technology Plan IT and Library Director: 50/50 split

Please type your questions in the chat window. Travis Montgomery Technology Specialist Liberty Lake Municipal Library www. libertylakewa. gov/library tmontgomery@libertylakewa. gov @techsoup 4 libs #ts 4 libs

Other Resources • Web. Junction: Technology Planning • LITA Guide: Technology Planning for Small and One-Person Libraries • Idealware: Technology Planning Training (Tech. Soup Donation) • Tactical Technology Planning: Requesting Technology Donations through Tech. Soup (Webinar Archive)

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