Posted on November 12th, 2009 by smoreland
Brenda organized a series of online training sessions for everyone needing to update their Technology Plan, needed for e-rate funding purposes. In the first session, we discussed what needs to be included ina tech plan, sample technology plans that meet e-rate requirements, tips and advice from a technology planning expert (Kendra) and TechAtlas as a possible tool for writing your tech plan. Brenda recorded this first OPAL session and you can listen to it here: sound file (.mp3)
She also shared some valuable links and follow-up information that I wanted to share:
Thank you to everyone who attended today’s NEKLS technology planning
session. I hope it was useful to you as you write your new plan.
Here are some resources that may be helpful.
State Library of Kansas e-rate information
http://www.kslib.info/erate/
Great resources from the state library.
Mail new plans to (keep a copy for your files) :
Jeff Hixon
State Library of Kansas
300 SW Tenth Avenue-Rm 343N
Topeka, KS 66612-1593
Jeff’s email address is: jeffh@kslib.info
TechAtlas Information
http://ks.webjunction.org/techatlas
If you are thinking about using TechAtlas, there are a number of useful things here (including links to informational webinars about TechAtlas)
(see also recent NEKLS blog post: http://blog.nekls.org/index.php/archives/452)
Not sure if you have a TechAtlas acct? Have other questions about TechAtlas? Email Kendra techatlas@webjunction.org
I am attaching several sample technology plans:
- Osawatomie (used TechAtlas)
- Richmond (I would add a cover page and more specific dates to this one – like the style though)
- McLouth
- Holton
- Linwood (used TechAtlas)
- Williamsburg
If you want the sound file (.mp3) from today’s session, let me know (it’s big and I don’t want to clog your in-box unnecessarily).
Join us again next week (Wednesday, Nov 11 at 1 PM in OPAL) if you would like to follow-up.
Yesterday’s follow up included a discussion of Technology Plan ideas for libraries of all sizes. Please let Brenda or I know if you would like to add to this list or have questions about one of these possible new initiatives. Some of these ideas came from member libraries in the System and others came from informal brainstorming done by Heather, Liz and I.
The List:
- Upgrade Bandwidth – add a second ISP from a local provider (cable/DSL) or plan to upgrade amount of bandwidth with your current provider
- Upgrade or maintain hardware – including patron and staff PCs, networking equipment, wireless access point, copiers, fax machines and printers
- Color printer for use by the public and/or staff
- Projector, screen and speakers to use for programming and outreach (Silver Lake)
- Gaming system, such as a Wii, for programming and outreach (Tonganoxie)
- Electronic frame to show a rotating collection of Publisher flyers saved as .jpeg image files to promote programming and collections in the library (Atchison)
- Create a new Web site or migrate to a My Kansas Library on the Web (WordPress) site
- Include an action step to update the Web site weekly with new events, purchases, meeting announcements, etc.
- Include an action step to enrich the site with interactive widgets such as a flickr photo badge or a Meebo instant messenger chat box
- Digitization project using a new or existing scanner, off-site (Cloud) file storage for images and access through a Content Management System or your existing Web site (Pilot project in process with Wellsville)
- Flip digital video camera for programming and archiving library events
- Laptop check-out project
- Wireless printing for laptop users, possibly using a Universal Docking Station (Claudia at Baldwin City suggested this and we are researching possible solutions)
- Google Apps migration from a current Yahoo or nekls.org mail server account
- Include an action step to invite Heather to train on the many features and uses of Google Apps, such as the shared calendar and Google Docs
- Upgrade or migrate your current ILS software, for example to the NExpress Shared Catalog
- Include an action step to purchase and install new barcode scanners and receipt printers
- Mobile lap-top lab with a cabinet (Basehor has a MacBook lab for use in their basement meeting room – allows for more flexibility in the use of the meeting room)
- Expand patron computer classes
- Web camera and microphone at a computer to allow video calling, for example for military families
- Staff training, either self-paced or as part of staff meetings, with WebJunction, NEKLS workshops, and nexpresslibrary.org materials
- Open source pilot project using inexpensive or older hardware and software such as OpenOffice and WebConverger (Pilot in process at Tonganoxie to create a lab in the community room for Job Seekers – contact Thatcher for more details)
- Mac computers in the library (Pilots at Winchester, Silver Lake and Basehor)
- Kidoz.net, a safe and free Web environment for kids, that runs on Adobe Air software (Pilot at Winchester – contact Heather for more details)
- Off-site backup for file and image storage using MozyPro or other cloud solutions
- Uninterrupted Power Sources (UPS) for all hardware, including networking hardware, to protect equipment from lightening strikes, brown-outs and power outages
- On-site Technical Support, increase hours or consider finding local technical support for emergencies and to help with patron computer classes, Web site maintenance, software and hardware upgrades and ordering
- Patron computer reservation and print management systems
- Screencasting, using Jing for example, to create instructional videos for patrons on Web-based databases, catalogs, and sites
I hope this gives you some assistance in discussing, revising, and updating your new Three-Year Technology Plan.
Feedback and additional ideas are welcome!
-Sharon
Reminder from our friend Jeff Hixon at the State Library:
Just one suggestion – … the library should keep “a copy” of the plan. The library’s copy plus the letter of approval constitutes the official document in the eyes of the FCC. I keep copies for backup and emergency, but my file is not considered official.
