Computer technology is playing an increasingly important role at Monroe County Public Library: It provides access to a great number of new and useful information resources; it allows more efficient communication with our users and our colleagues; and it broadens the scope of services that we can provide. As we further our use of technology, we must proceed without losing sight of our core values. At the same time, we must reexamine those values to ensure they are keeping pace with our users' needs. This plan will govern our use of technology over the next three years by setting specific objectives within the broader vision of the following technology goals:
Monroe County Public Library aims to achieve the following specific technology goals over the next three years:
Objective 1: Continue to expand our computer resources.
Justification: Our goal is to provide easy access to hardware and software options for our patrons and staff.
Strategy: We are maintaining a four year replacement cycle for most staff and public workstations. Over the past two years we have standardized our desktop environment for our public workstations. In the coming years we will continue this standardization while expanding the resources available on each workstation in terms of applications and hardware. We will regularly evaluate the resources we provide for public use and modify them where appropriate to keep up with our patrons' needs.
Objective 2: Upgrade/Migrate our Integrated Library System.
Justification: The library currently uses INNOPAC from Innovative Interfaces Incorporated (III) for its automation system. While III continues to support this system, they've released a new version of their system and are introducing new features which are unavailable with our current software. Our current hardware is also approaching the end of it's useful lifetime.
Strategy: Information Systems will work with staff from all departments to evaluate our options for migrating to a new integrated library system, and facilitate a smooth transition once that decision has been reached.
Objective 3: Further develop our intranet to improve internal communications.
Justification: We strive to keep everyone abreast of policy updates, procedural changes, upcoming events, and other information needed by staff. Our intranet has already become an integral part of our internal communications. As we build on our existing resources our intranet will make it easier for staff to capture and share their expertise with each other.
Strategy: We are using a secure portion of our current web server for the intranet. Staff from all departments, working with Information System, develop and maintain our intranet. Information Systems staff will continue to explore new methods and technologies to leverage and extend the usefulness of our existing systems, including web and email technologies.
Objective 4: Begin a systematic offering of technology training for staff, in conjunction with the creation of the Human Resources Office.
Justification: MCPL's staff makes heavy use of technology for day-to-day operations. Many systems are library-specific and most functions require training at various levels.
Strategy: During 2002 a small training lab was organized in the VITAL Resource Room, and it is reserved for staff use during a certain portion of the day. Initially training will be done in this space during the assigned times, and will be conducted by current staff members who have specialized knowledge. The intent is to distribute this task so that no one department is burdened with training.
Objective 5: Further Develop Web Technologies
Justification: Our website is a tremendous success, providing a link for our patrons to important information about their personal accounts, including the ability to place holds via the web-based catalog. Other areas of development have included providing access to library information, such as programming calendars, service descriptions, policies, etc. Patrons will expect more interactive features and we expect that patrons will continue to want their library web experience to simulate their physical library experience. Usability, resource access and functionality are ongoing concerns in the process of website maintenance and upgrading. These principles will continue to drive our development of forward thinking, service oriented content and technologies.
Strategy: A Web Administrator in conjunction with a Web Committee comprised of staff from various departments manages our web site. Our Web Administrator will continue to upgrade her web related skills to take advantage of new technology available for web site development and staff from individual departments will contribute to the richness of our offerings through content generation. The members of the Web Committee, in conjunction with staff from other departments will utilize the latest available upgrades to the library OPAC to create easy, reliable and patron driven services, such as automatic alerts, holds, and inter-agency resource delivery.
We will continue to explore technology options which will increase patron access to Internet research resources, whether they are accessing library resources from within the library or from outside the library via the web.
Objective 6: Provide wireless Internet access to patrons and staff.
Justification: Encouraging patrons to use their own computer will free up workstations for others. It will also allow patrons to perform tasks that we do not allow on our public computers, such as installing software. In addition, extending our wireless coverage provides more flexibility for staff.
Strategy: We currently provide wireless access for our patrons at the Main Library. We plan to extend reach of our wireless access there so that more areas of the library are wireless-enabled, including all public meeting rooms. We will also provide wireless access at the Ellettsville Branch.
Objective 7: Improve access to computer technology for special needs populations.
Justification: MCPL wants to make sure that it can provide computer access for all members of the community.
Strategy: The Main Library does not currently have an ADA-compliant workstation. We plan to address this by researching currently available technologies for patrons with special needs. Once appropriate technologies are decided upon, we will undertake staff training on their use, and we will publicize their availability (by contacting those agencies and organizations that deal with the visually impaired).
Monroe County Public Library encompasses two buildings--the Main Library in Bloomington, and a Branch in Ellettsville. We have a bookmobile and van which visit over 20 stops each week, and we offer additional outreach services to the homebound and jail residents. In addition to standard library services, the Main Library houses a Public Computing Center: a public computer lab with internet-enabled workstations. We also provide office and equipment space to a not-for-profit entity, HoosierNet, Inc., who in turn functions as our Internet service provider.
Servers
The Main library has 3 Windows servers: An application/file server for all staff and public terminals (Windows 2000); a Proxy/DNS server (Windows 2000/ISA); and an application server (Windows 2003/SQL). The Ellettsville Branch has one Windows 2000 server. There are two Unix servers: One for email and web hosting (Red Hat Linux), and one for our Innovative Interfaces integrated library system (DEC Alpha). Both Unix machines function system wide.
Staff computers and Circulation workstations (Main and
Ellettsville)
MCPL has 124 workstations for staff (offices and public desks). The majority of these run Windows XP, with the exception of computers in CATS which run various versions of Mac OSX.
Public Computers (Main and Ellettsville)
There are 75 total internet-enabled computers that are available to the Public at our Main Library and Ellettsville Branch. The majority of these machines have Pentium 4 processors, DVD drives with CD-ROM burning capability, and the Microsoft Office Suite.
Public Computing Center
The Main library houses a Public Computing Center dedicated to full public use. The PCC has 24 internet-enabled workstations running Windows XP. In addition, this facility houses one Macintosh OSX workstation with Internet access and Office X suite, two Windows XP machines for children's games, and one for using CD-ROMs from our circulating collection.
Miscellaneous
There are various special purpose computers for public use. The Indiana Room has a Genealogy workstation. The Volunteers In Tutor Assisted Learning (VITAL) program has a literacy lab with 8 Windows XP computers with various applications for adult learners. We have one Windows 2000 workstation exclusively for Spanish language use, and plan to upgrade this computer to XP. Our bookmobile and Outreach van connect to our catalog server using a Windows XP laptop and cellular modem. Community Access Television Services (CATS) has four Macintosh workstations available to the public for editing broadcast programming.
Main Library
Cable is cat5 voice and data to the desktop, plus multimode and single mode fiber optic between wiring closets. There are 587 total data jacks available. Three wiring closets house Hewlett Packard ProCurve switches connecting workstations to a central switch in the computer room. Cisco routers from HoosierNet and IHETS handle routing. Two 802.11b wireless access points provide wireless access.
Ellettsville
Cable is all cat5 (voice and data), connected with one HP ProCurve swich. A Cisco 2600 router handles external traffic.
Contact
Us Monroe County Public Library, Monroe County, Indiana ° (812)349-3050
Updated:
May 29, 2007
° http://www.monroe.lib.in.us/general_info/techplan07.html
