Library Special Interest Groups

At the 2014 Tech Boot Camp, the attendees were divided into three groups based on the population their system served. The conversations were moderated by Keith Schuermann, Director of Troup-Harris Regional Library, Gary McNeely, Director of Kinchafoonee Regional Library and Tamika Strong, IT Program Manager at GPLS.

The goal of the session was to gather together to IT representatives of comparable size libraries to allow them an opportunity to talk about some of the technological concerns they have. Each group was asked to answer three questions:

What was one successful initiative that your library launched within the last year?

What keeps you up at night?

If money was no object, what types of technology/technological services would you like to offer your staff and/or patrons?

Question 1: What was one successful initiative that your library launched within the last year?

• Attached to Fiber
• Automated Materials Handling at 2 Locations
• AVAST antivirus installation
• AWE Computers
• Bi-monthly updates of PACs
• Bookmyne online sharing app
• Children Tablets
• Chrome OPACs, Teen, and Child
• Cost savings with cheaper antivirus
• Created Regional tech kits to share between branches, for staff and public training
• Deep Freeze, Deep Freese Enterprise, PC Res
• Early learning centers in all branches
• GADD
• Gadget Overload Day
• GED testing onine and in the library
• Google Chrome
• Hired New IT staff
• Hotspot Gateway
• Increase Bandwidth
• Info Kiosk – Computer with specific links
• IT Questions now being tallied
• Laptops for public use
• Laptops out into the community for public
• Launched e-materials
• Launched Freegal (didn’t offer music and DVDs)
• Launched Overdrive
• Launched Zinio
• Loaned laptops to community centers (outreach)
• Makerbot up and running
• Mobile computer lab – bringing tech to the community
• New A[ccess] P[oint]
• New Computer Lab
• New Computers
• New Wireless Setup
• New WordPress Website
• Offering public computer classes (email, basic skills, office)
• OS Ticket
• Partnered with Parks to open an adult services special needs satellite branch
• Redesigned Website
• Reimaged with Clonezilla
• RFID in 2 branches
• Roving/Mobile Ref and Circ
• Sharepoint for Staff
• SRD Database
• Study Rooms with online reservation
• Tech & Maker Programs – willing to improve; mobile space
• Touch Screens Info/Form Kiosk
• Tumble Books 0 Games, Read alonga for kida
• Untangled for captive portal wireless (free & awesome)
• Upgraded from XP to Windows 7
• Went from T1s/Fiber MetroE

Question 2: What keeps you up at night?

• 0 Tech Staff
• 17 libraries to keep up with
• Adobe Flash Player
• Back Ups
• Bad Attitudes
• Balance (cloud & local)
• Bandwidth
• Classes and Updates
• Contractor (IT) with grandiose ideas
• Deploying Software and Operating systems
• Digital Divide between Windows and Mac – people still stuck on Windows
• Documentation
• Dwindling Funds
• E-Rate – missing deadline/form/not receiving funding
• Funding for personnel, FT & PT
• Funding, specifically for IT Support
• Grants
• Growth of wireless users – demand
• Internet Upgrade / Network Changeover
• IP nightmares (literal)
• Knowledge Management
• Library Budget Cuts
• Money (lack of)
• More people tech savvy
• MRR Purchasing decisions/approval
• Multitasking – on the desk and dealing with glitchy tech)
• Need to be nimble; keep up with tech trends
• New things that I don’t understand
• No follow through
• Not my conscience
• Old hardware
• Old tech not working
• Pines/Evergreen – “holds” response time
• Printer
• Programming
• Staff that can’t/don’t want to learn new tech
• Staff Training / Turnover
• Subcontractors (IT) don’t understand library environment
• Threat of bad weather
• Unstable, unexplainable network issues, “telnet and wireless”
• Weekend Print Release Support
• Windows 8
• Writing and Implementing Policy and Procedures
• Windows XP

Question 3: If money was no object, what types of technology/technological services would you like to offer your staff and/or patrons?

• 3D scanner printer/printing
• Apps for PINES/Evergreen
• Auto Doors
• Better 3rd Party Vendors
• Better salaries
• better WiFi
• Business innovation/printing center
• Check out laptops/devices
• Check out wireless hotspots
• Color Copier
• Consulting services
• Database for Accelerated Readers list integrate/included/marked in the Evergreen
• Dedicated Geek Squad
• Dedicated teen computer lab
• Department of the future -have the funding services, and staff to meet ongoing needs
• Digital signboard
• Drone for deliveries
• E-devices to loan/circ
• Enough Computers
• Enough full time staff (trained)
• Every staff has smart phone and tablets
• Everything digital and audio
• Extended tech training for the community
• Full blown digital production lab/facility
• Full-blown makerspace
• Fully staffed IT department
• Functional wireless
• Giga switch
• Have In house IT with library background
• Helicopter
• Increase Digital Resources
• Indepth Tech Training
• Kiosk (red box) off site
• Labels for cables
• Laptops & Tablets – New
• Marketing department
• Mobile devices
• More AWE computers
• More databases such as legal forms
• More downloadable materials (freegal, hoopla, etc.)
• More IT marketing
• More Library Hours
• More physical space
• More Staff
• More time for training
• More travel & conference attendance/funding fo
• Network infrastructure
• New Phone system – VOIP possibly
• New Website
• Off desk time for staff development
• Paid Support
• Pines App (& ACQ module)
• Playtime with New Tech
• Replace all XP systems
• RFID
• Scanning for public
• Security System
• Self Check
• Small mobile computer lab
• Smart Board
• Staff Raises
• Streaming video
• Take credit cards
• Tech Petting Zoo – II
• Tech spa?
• Teleporter
• Training Department
• Unlimited Bandwidth
• Unlimited usage models on all electronic content
• Up to date software
• Virtual Classroom
• VLOB Studio
• We would clone ourselves to be like FPL