Neill Public Library, Pullman, WA
Technology Plan
July 1, 2005-June 30, 2008
Purpose
This document sets forth Neill Public Library’s (NPL) technology plan based on the library’s mission and vision, existing technology, future technological trends and observations, emerging research about learning with technology, and the library’s goals and objectives. This plan is written to cover a period of no more than three years. This document is revised regularly as warranted by new technological, fiscal, and political realities and opportunities. Minimally the plan is reviewed on an annual basis.
Mission and Vision
It is the mission of Neill Public Library to provide an open an environment in which people may freely avail themselves of the widest variety of stories, ideas, information & opinions.
Technology is a fundamental and critical tool that coexists with a friendly, courteous, professional, well-trained staff to provide quality service that assists the library in meeting this mission and the informational, educational and recreational needs of our community.
Technology enhances our ability to provide access to our own unique collections and resource databases as well as quick and efficient access to current informational resources in a wide diversity of formats and allows the public to explore the wealth of resources beyond the walls of the library.
The rapid and accelerating pace of technological change and the uncertainty of future legislation makes it difficult to accurately predict the exact nature of the public library in the future. Developments in computer technology, networking and telecommunications will be the source of many new opportunities. The library can’t control these technological changes and advances, but must be flexible and actively involved by being aware of, evaluating and participating in those changes in a fiscally responsible manner to ensure free and equitable access to information for any citizen or group and to meet the service needs of an increasingly technologically sophisticated community.
Neill Public Library is a gateway to the world of knowledge providing free access to ideas, information and the richness of human culture.
The library offers a stimulating, safe environment for discovery and exploration as well as a beautiful, comfortable setting for reading and relaxation
The library affirms its historic commitment to young people while encouraging literacy and love of learning in all.
In the heart of downtown Pullman, the library is a vibrant community center welcoming people with diverse interests, abilities and backgrounds.
The library staff commits to excellence in service based on community needs. In collaboration with other libraries and community organizations we creatively develop service options and integrate emerging technologies.
As a key asset to the community, the library appreciates sustained support from its many patrons, the Friends of the Library and the City of Pullman.
Current Library Activities and Resources Supported by Technology
· 24-hour access to library holdings and other resources from the library’s web pages on the Internet.
· The library catalog containing over 67,000 holdings is directly accessible by the public at the library, via the World Wide Web.
· Circulation transactions number over 310,000 each year.
· Databases are available on the library website. Many of these databases are purchased on an annual basis and can be accessed over the Internet and within the library.
· Patron Self-Renewal and Requests. Patrons via the Internet can renew and request library materials.
· Patron Self-Checkout allows patrons to check out their own library materials improving circulation efficiency by 15 - 20% and reducing longer lines at checkout.
· Graphical interfaces to the catalog are provided in the library and via the Internet.
· Community Information. In partnership with other community agencies, the library offers access to palouseresourceguide.org, a searchable Internet database of community organizations and services especially for families and children.
· Multimedia products for children are available within the library on standalone stations.
· Magazine and newspaper indexes and full-text periodicals, searchable by keyword and subject, are available over the Internet and through remote access by patrons using authentication based on the patron’s library barcode.
· Encyclopedias are available over the and for remote access by patrons using authentication based on the patron’s library barcode.
·Patron Workstations. Free public access to the Internet as well as word processing, spreadsheet and other productivity software is a available from our patron workstations.
· Neill Public Library World Wide Web Home Page. Users can connect to Neill Public Library from remote locations all over the world and retrieve information about library resources and collections, services, programs and policies. Web pages also provide links to help users locate productive reference resources on the Web including resources for young people.
· PALIS libraries. Users can search the catalogs of other Palouse-area libraries via links from NPL Web Pages, including Washington State University, University of Idaho, Latah County Library District, and Whitman County Library District.
· Email provides library staff quick access to information about new and emerging resources and to learn from the expertise of others to assist in meeting user information needs. Staff have networked email resources.
·Cataloging and collection management. Online bibliographic resources help to streamline acquisitions, cataloging and processing procedures and make it possible to quickly and efficiently add new records to the database and to develop statistical reports to aid in collection development and production of bibliographies.
· Administration and Support Services. Word Processing, spreadsheet, database, and graphics software facilitate administrative and clerical activities.
· Inventory. Simple, efficient and accurate tracing of library materials assists staff in collection development.
· Content Filtering. All library computers with access to the Internet are filtered for content to comply with Federal Legislation, specifically the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA).
· 24/7 Reference service. Neill Public Library along with other local libraries participate in a cooperative grant to provide online reference to our patrons. This service is available any time day or night.
· Online ordering of Materials . Library Staff orders the majority of print and AV materials via the Internet.
· Network connections. Library computers are networked providing effective and efficient access to a variety of local and remote resources. There is a wireless Network available in the library that allows patrons to access the Internet from anywhere in the library.
· Active Learning Center. The Active Learning Center is an interactive computer that patrons can use to learn about local history. Current programs include “Library Corner – A Little History,” “Tracking Trains Through Time,” and “Who was Ivan Shirrod- A Short Biography.”
Technological Trends and Observations
· Technology continues to be more complex and powerful and increasingly more fundamental to daily library procedures.
· The Internet and World Wide Web will continue to grow in importance and activity. · To effectively serve the local community of users Neill Public Library must be a visible and productive presence on the Web.
· Interactive multimedia access is becoming an increasingly essential and fundamental service.
· A common graphical interface to electronic resources will facilitate access to a wide variety of resources and formats.
· Networking is an efficient and effective way to distribute services to many.
· The library seeks to provide equal access for its users to technology and the valuable resources available through technology.
· Learning about new technologies and software is an ongoing challenge for library staff and users. Staff training and expertise is critical in providing quality assistance to patrons using technology and technological resources.
· The amount of information available through technology resources continues to increase exponentially.
· Some types of information will increasingly be available only in electronic format.
· The rapid pace of hardware, network and software development will continue. The library must be adaptable and flexible, and must anticipate and budget for needed replacements and upgrades.
· As the library’s electronic services, equipment and databases become more valuable, security of these resources will be critical.
· Library users are becoming increasingly technologically sophisticated with high expectations.
· Some library users may still be apprehensive about technology and lack in technological skills.
· New technologies, services, and resources must be effectively communicated to the public to increase awareness, usage and support of the library.
· Technology provides new opportunities for cooperation with other libraries, multiple consortiums, governmental departments, educational institutions, community organizations and service agencies. The library needs to cooperate with these institutions and groups to remove any barriers to resource sharing and to leverage dollars spent by all of these institutions.
· Technology can be a cost-effective strategy to enhance the efficiency of library operations.
· As the diversity and complexity of computers, network and telecommunications equipment, software, and security increase, so does the need for better technical training and assistance to manage, troubleshoot and maintain the systems and insure reliability and maximum productivity.
· As cumulative data and emerging research becomes available, the impact and effects of technology on early brain development and the learning process of children will affect the library’s providing access to, and use of, technology resources for children.
· Thompson-Gale magazine and newspaper index will be included into google.com. This means if a magazine or newspaper article is part of a google search result the gale index will provide information on which local libraries have access to the article.
· The growth of music databases will affect the circulation of music compact disks. Its possible that in the future the library will acquire Solid State recording devices that could be loaded with thousands of songs offering patrons the ability to explore wide ranges of music in one compact unit.
· Satellite radio offers an inexpensive access to a diverse range of music and news programming almost anywhere. It’s possible in the coming years that we could circulate Satellite Radios to give patrons access to this programming.
· The library’s access to unique and valuable local resources, such as historical photographs and documents, will grow through cooperation with other archival organizations, including the Whitman County Historical Society and the Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections (MASC) department of the WSU Libraries.
Other Non-Technological Trends and Observations
· The budget for the City of Pullman affects the ability of the library to maintain technological efficiency.
· Neill Public Library’s circulation continues to increase annually.
· Service to youth and children and support for formal and informal education are priority service roles for the library which technology must continue to support.
· An adequate number of workstations contributes to staff completion of priority activities in a timely and efficient manner.
· Adequate ergonomic and physical space must be provided for new technologies and workstations.
· Legislation affects the technology the library implements and uses.
Goals and Objectives
Public Services
Goal: Enhance and integrate electronic services to provide ease of use and access to library and community resources and information for a diverse public.
Strategy: Offer remote patron authentication to patrons.
Strategy: Offer alternative computer profiles on patron workstations to accommodate foreign languages and disabilities as well as no internet access to children upon request.
Strategy: Participate in evaluations and trials of new database products.
Strategy: Investigate and possibly offer patrons music and other entertainment in alternative formats, such as on Satellite Radio or Solid State Recording Devices.
Strategy: Explore the possibility of providing audio music and books via a paid online database.
Strategy: Become a member of the Statewide Collaborative for virtual reference (24/7)
Goal: Keep patron workstations current with the latest software and hardware.
Strategy: Upgrade all existing patron workstations on a three-year cycle, each year replacing 1/3 of patron workstations.
Strategy: Evaluate using annual surveys and specific software requests the types of software best suited to patron needs.
Strategy: Allocate 2 or 3 more Internet Stations – explore the possibility of remote sign-ups and unlocking of stations
Goal: Expand and enhance the functionality and scope of the electronic catalog and associated databases and files for ease of access to information for customers and staff.
Strategy: Reference librarians and the Systems Administrator will work as a team to configure the patron interface to best fit the needs of patrons.
Strategy: Continue to do software upgrades to the catalog as they are released. These upgrades are part of the services included in the annual maintenance contract.
Goal: Explore potential for interactive web pages for patron registration, patron suggestions, paying fines online.
Strategy: Evaluate new software functionality that becomes available in a test environment
Goal: Educate the public on how to use technology to retrieve the information needed.
Strategy: Offer classes to the public on technology related topics.
Strategy: Develop web-based tutorials for the public.
Goal: Work with staff to develop documentation, training and other instructional materials for the public.
Strategy: Form working group or committee to determine patron needs and develop necessary documentation.
Goal: Streamline the Inter Library Loan (ILL) process.
Strategy: Evaluate OCLC Worldcat software and determine its cost effectiveness as a solution to handle ILL’s and obtain cataloging records.
Collection Development
Goal: Continue to maintain and evaluate appropriate links to reference resources.
Strategy: Include discussion of reference sources in regular meetings of reference staff.
Goal: Refresh links to web resources for children, young adults and families.
Strategy: Form a working group within Youth Services to evaluate new web resources.
Goal: Improve the efficiency of the acquisitions process.
Strategy: In a test environment, test the acquisitions module in Horizon and implement if appropriate.
Human Resources Development
Goal: Enhance the use of technology by staff in their daily work roles.
Strategy: Use Instant Messenger or similar software to enable instant communication between staff.
Strategy: Use a shared file server to store electronic files for staff.
Strategy: Use Outlook’s calendar feature to book meeting rooms.
Goal: Provide training and work-release time needed for appropriate staff to be proficient in the use of electronic services.
Strategy: Attend annual regional CODI meetings.
Strategy: Send technical services staff to technology related professional development workshops and meetings.
Facilities, Equipment, and Technical Support
Goal: Implement a regular replacement cycle and budget for replacement of most equipment, including computers that are older than 3 years.
Strategy: Continue to work with city administration to provide adequate technical support for computers and networks.
Strategy: Replace wireless network link to City Hall with a fiber connection.
Budgeting
LSTA grants have been used to fund such projects as Internet access in the library and this funding will be sought for efforts in the future such as the possible consortium sharing a computer system with Whitman County Library, and for further sharing with public, school and academic library systems in eastern Washington and north Idaho. Citizens and organizations in the Pullman area contribute generously to their community. Gifts from private individuals and companies and grants (GIFT) from locally-funded foundations, such as the Pullman Community Foundation and Foundation Northwest, have funded personal computers in the library and may be able to fund future technological needs. The City of Pullman has an annual Capital Improvement Project Fund (CIP), which can be requested in the future for various projects and improvements to the library automation system.
The city has a citywide networking (NET) project, which is used to upgrade all the computers in city departments, maintain and upgrade network components, and pay personnel to manage and maintain the network and its components.
The annual budget allotted to the library (NPL) finances many technological components. Operational and maintenance costs for technological advances funded from other sources have consistently been absorbed into expanded budgets for the library. An agreement has been reached with the Whitman County Library District (WCL) to share costs of hiring, salary and benefits of a library systems administrator and costs to implement and maintain a shared automated library system. (E) indicates E-rate re-imbursement.
Implementation Timeline, Estimated Costs & Funding
