Southeast Library System
Technology Plan July 1, 2007-June 30, 2010
1.
Southeast
Library System’s (SELS) vision statement challenges us to achieve a world where
libraries and individuals have direct and equal access to diverse resources for
education, work and leisure. A tremendous aid in achieving equal access to
those resources will be the use of technology and electronically formatted
information. Technology is an important tool utilized in each of the 4 Service
Roles of the SELS Plan:
Service Role 1: Training
and Consulting: to provide
continuing education opportunities and technology training, and to coordinate
efforts and activities with Nebraska Library Commission.
Service Role 2:
Service Role 3: Promotion: Of librarians, libraries and systems and the
vital service they provide to
Service Role 4: Management
of SELS Resources: To carry out the
duties and goals of a regional library system, serving SELS members efficiently
and effectively.
(The SELS Technology Plan
is a part of the SELS System Plan for 2006-2007and
details of the specific goals and objectives within each Service Role can be
found on the SELS web page: www.selsne.org)
Southeast Library System is a multi-type
library network with 248 members offering a wide range of service in public,
school, academic, institutional and private libraries (Membership list with
populations from 2000 Census are on the SELS web page: www.selsne.org.)
Membership includes 12 academic institutions, including the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln, four private colleges, three community college campuses, a
state college and a technical school.
Fifty-four public libraries are system members. The majority of these libraries (34) serve
populations fewer than 1,000. The system
counts 154 school media centers among its members, 66 that are Lincoln Public
Schools, with most of those belonging to Class 3 schools (population areas
between 1,000 and 100,000). Fourteen of
the school media centers are parochial.
The system has 28 special and institutional members, most of which are
located in
SELS covers a 15-county area in
southeast Nebraska, including the counties of Cass, Fillmore, Gage, Hamilton,
Jefferson, Johnson, Lancaster, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson, Saline,
Seward, Thayer and York.
2.
Technology Strategic Plan
The technology strategy for
SELS will be to meet the following objectives using measurable criteria to
evaluate our success in implementation:
·
Increase system
office communications capabilities and efficiency. Consider for purchase
technology that could benefit system members, but which is cost-prohibitive for
individual libraries.
·
Investigate
methods of tech support for regional library staff, such as: phone support; contract support; Follett
trained staff support; and possible collaborative contracts with ESU’s
(Educational Service Units), Academics, Nebraska Library Association ITART
(Information Technology and Access Round Table), Nebraska Library Commission, and Nebraska Regional Library Systems. Collaborative efforts would aim for
communication and support among all types of libraries.
·
The
SELS web page continues to be a resource for information, and is updated in an
ongoing manner. During 2007 the website
was moved to an independent host, so that we could establish a web address
perhaps more easily remembered and accessed:
www.selsne.org.
·
SELS
will establish a wiki and blog to utilize in sharing information and feedback
concerning library issues and system services.
SELS staff and board will evaluate the effectiveness of those tools at
annual planning and board meetings, and consider value, including additional
time required or time saved in performance of system activities.
·
System
staff will remain proficient and informed in the use of the Internet and
electronic resources. Included within
the SELS budget are funds for staff training that include conferences and other
types of training offered, which would, of course, include Nebraska Library
Commission and Regional Library Systems continuing education programs. We are also investigating attendance at
national technology training programs, such as Pop!Tech in
·
Strive
to remain informed and active in state and legislative efforts that manage and
plan for the use of technology throughout
·
The
system will promote electronic resources, their capabilities and their
effective use to libraries within the southeast
·
The
system will be alert for funding opportunities that may assist in acquisition
of technology, and promote and enable those opportunities to member libraries.
·
The system
will assist and support member libraries with technology planning and
development.
·
The
system will provide extensive consultation services to aid member libraries in
improving staff effectiveness and supporting collection analysis and
development in all formats, including electronic.
·
The
system will continue to promote electronic tools that encourage and accommodate
interlibrary loan, cataloging and reference services.
3.
Plan Justification
The Southeast
Library System is one of six multi-type Regional Library Systems in
One of the System’s goals
is to provide continuing opportunities for training and consulting, including
effective use of information technology. Thus, the system staff must be skilled
and literate in the area of library technology. SELS staff and board have
negotiated cooperative arrangements in utilizing computer labs within the
regions, which have included Seward Public Library, Lincoln City Libraries,
As demands on the system
staff increase, the Internet and electronic resources provide a time- and
cost-saving method of responding to member’s needs. For example, the system web
page can inform members of upcoming training and grant opportunities, basic
policies and services of the system, and link to other sites of interest to
librarians. The SELS and CASTL mailing
lists are routinely used for sharing information, whether from the SELS office
or from member libraries. SELS Board
members are required to have e-mail access to facilitate communication on
System issues and business. The SELS web
page, e-mail and telephone are the primary modes of communication with system
members, outside face-to-face meetings, making the e-rate discounts received
through the Universal Service Fund Schools & Libraries Division extremely
valuable in cost savings within our budget.
(Details on technology costs are outlined with the attached SELS
Budget.) Monthly figures vary, but on average the
System office receives 200 emails and 40 telephone calls weekly that are
integral to the System’s objectives and plan.
Technology provides the
option of creating links between system libraries within the region as well as
globally. The ability to share and access resources on such a vast scale
assists in meeting the information needs of a diverse community with varying
geographic, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
The SELS Staff and Board
work jointly on preparation and evaluation of the Technology Plan. Board members represent various regions of
the System, and multiple library types.
(The list of Board members is included at the end of this document.) The technology plan is reviewed annually as a
piece of the SELS Plan at the August Board Meeting and Retreat. At that time, recommendations for changes,
recognition of successes and identification of future challenges are
discussed. Input from system members
through formal workshop evaluations, surveys and informal communication to the
staff and/or board are also considered.
SELS also works to coordinate plans with statewide objectives
highlighted through the Nebraska Library Commission. The SELS Board, as an administrative board,
approves changes and/or revisions in SELS plans.
4.
Technology: SELS Staff
and Board are responsible for maintenance of equipment within the office,
including computers. Primarily the
Administrative Assistant performs upgrades and troubleshooting with informal
support from technology staff at Lincoln City Libraries and Nebraska Library
Commission, as well as SELS Board members.
When appropriate, service contracts and warranties (i.e. Ricoh Printer)
offer additional support in ensuring that equipment is in good operating order
and functions are being used appropriately and efficiently. Service providers, such as Alltel, are
contacted for assistance with telecommunication services. The SELS plan
includes direction to evaluate computers, printers, fax and software for
upgrade at least every 2 years. That evaluation
is done cooperatively between SELS Staff and Board Members.
SELS Administrative
Assistant installed the filter WeBlocker July 2004 to comply with CIPA
requirements in receiving Internet discounts through the Universal Service
Fund. We’ll be investigating
installing a different filter that does not impair speed of Internet access
when disabled.
Technology
Inventory: SELS inventory is used as a report for insurance
purposes, as well as a method of highlighting upgrade needs. It is also an avenue to investigate for
methods of cutting expenses and to compare provider and software/hardware
costs. Current inventory is listed
below:
1 Ricoh Aficio Ap3800C Color Laser Printer
2 laser printers (Xerox,
Dell)
1 dot-matrix printer
(Epson)
1 FAX machine (Brother)
1 Minolta copier
1 LCD projector for use
with the laptop (NEC)
1 digital camera (
1 scanner (Epson)
1 Dell Dimension 4600C
Computer
1 Dell Dimension 5100C
Computer
1 Dell Inspiron 9300 Laptop
1 Apollo portable Wireless
PA System
1 iPod player
1 MP3 player
5.
Internal Connections
2 phone lines:
1
phone/WATS line
1
FAX/DSL line
Communications Software:
Microsoft Internet Explorer
/ Outlook
Future planned equipment: Prior to purchase of new equipment, staff will consult
the Nebraska Library Commission’s computer purchasing requirements, along with recommendations from technology staff at
Lincoln City Libraries and Nebraska Library Commission, as well as SELS Board
members.
Summary of Services to Be
Discounted with E-rate
Discount savings = (Avg. x
12) x 50% *
·
Local Telephone
Service at $99.11/month average
(Discounted savings to system in 2007/2008 is $594.66) Service Provider:
Alltel Communications
·
Long Distance
Service at $33.85/month average (Discounted savings to system in 2007/2008 is
$203.10) Service Provider: AT&T
·
WATS phone
service at $75.13/month average (Discounted savings to system in 2007/2008 is
$450.78) Service Provider: Verizon Business
·
Internet access
at $29.95/month (Discounted savings to
system in 2007/2008 is $179.10) Service Provider: Alltel Communications
*
Non-discounted amount to be paid with budgeted System’s funds
Submitted By:
Southeast Library System
Brenda Ealey, Administrator
Jenni Puchalla,
Administrative Assistant
(402)467-6188
(800)288-6063
Fax: (402)467-6196
SELS Web page: www.selsne.org
Southeast
Library System Board of Directors:
Sandy Elton, President,
Rebecca Bernthal,
Secretary/Treasurer, UNL-Love Library
Scott Childers, UNL-Love Library
Karen Frank,
Ken Gunselman,
Wanda Marget,
Lisa Olivigni,
Kris Rogge, Johnson
Tom Schmitz,
Glenda Willnerd,
Revised draft of SELS Technology plan reviewed
with suggested revisions at the August 11th, 2006 board planning
retreat.