Details components of a technology plan and provides examples.

1. Creating a Technology Plan
IST523, March 19, 2008
Denise A. Garofalo

2. Overview
What is a vision?
Why do you have to conduct a
systems study and system analysis?
How to determine the library’s
system requirements?
What is a technology plan?
How to write a technology plan?

3. What is a vision?
a dream
a vivid picture of what you would like
your library to become in the near future
based on:
the mission of your library
the needs of your users
the trends in library service
provides direction and a philosophy for
the library

4. Vision guiding questions
What roles do we desire and see for the
future of technology and education in our
libraries and community?
What will the library of the future look like
and include?
How will services be delivered?
How will the community be involved?
What services do we envision for our clients
in the future?

5. Sample vision statements
The people of Portage County, in and
through their Portage County
Public Library, will have
convenient access to electronic
information resources through
dependable technology and
reliable telecommunications.

6. Portage County Public Library
Our role will be: 1) to provide access to
information by providing the necessary in-
house hardware and affordable products and
services, and 2) to guide library users in their
use of electronic information. Library users
will be assisted as needed by a sufficient
number of knowledgeable, trained staff who
can help them make the best use of both new
and traditional information resources.

7. Bedford (IN) Public Library
The Bedford Public Library will
be a highly valued resource that
establishes and promotes long-
term relationships with the
community.

8. St. Charles (IL) Public Library
This Technology Plan is an effort to
plan for the effective and efficient use
of resources to meet the automation
and telephone needs of the users and
staff of the St. Charles Public Library
District for the foreseeable future. This
plan is in support of Library goals and
objectives detailed in the Library’s
Strategic Plan.

9. Ventura County (CA) Libraries
We see Ventura County libraries
as the gateway to the world of
information and ideas, open to
all, and a source of community
pride.

10. Mission statement
a brief, general description of the
library’s plans for promoting the
effective use of technology to improve
service performance
describes the steps that will need to be
taken in order to achieve the library’s
vision
May be included as a part of the intro
or the vision

11. Gustavus Public Library (AK)
Technology Plan Mission Statement
To provide the community of Gustavus-
Glacier Bay with a broad choice in
library materials and information using
both traditional media and new
technology to enable full access to
information for all citizens regardless of
age, education, ethnicity, economic
status, or geographical disadvantage.

12. Holdridge (NE)
Public Library System
Our mission is to provide
resources and opportunities to
enhance and enrich the quality
of life for residents in our
community

13. Introduction
Provide a brief introduction to the
library and community
Helpful for non-local funding agencies
Can include graphical
representations, but best left in the
appendix of the plan

14. Determining library status
Conduct a system study to assess the library’s
status and needs
involves gathering data about
library’s operations
facilities
collections, procedures, staff expertise, etc.
assessment should involve
gathering information about user needs and wants
matching these with what the library can presently
offer

15. Technology Assessment
List and describe hardware, software,
telecommunications and Internet
services, staff skill levels and
professional development needs
Include technology used for
administrative purposes, serving
patrons, and for patron use

16. Examples
Assessment
http://www.olis.ri.gov/network/standards/t
passess.php
Network diagram
http://www.more.net/technical/netserv/dia
grams/documenting/index.html

17. Sources of data
Statistics
Staff profile
Patron profile
Policies and procedures
Functional specifications

18. Statistics
Usage statistics
Circulation
Reference questions
Program attendance
Population statistics
Diversity
Age
Gender, etc.

19. Staff profile
Total number
Breakdown by professionals,
nonprofessionals, technical staff, volunteers,
etc.
Organization
Administration/management
Public services (circ, ref, children’s, reader’s
advisor, programming)
Technical services (cataloging, data entry,
acquisitions, Internet, tech support, etc.)

20. Patron profile
“Typical” patron based on usage stats
Breakdown by age, gender, and any
other categories available (residence,
school, etc.)
May include description of those who
attend programs vs. those who use PCs
vs. those who check out materials, etc.

21. Policies and procedures
Mention those that are applicable to this
planning process
Administrative
Technology-related
Board or District-mandated
Project-specific
For example, Internet Usage policy

22. Functional specifications
to start with the functionality needed
then state what technology will be
needed to reach the functionality
Can include furniture and space needs
Handicapped accessibility
Young children
Vision-impaired users

23. Goals, objectives and activities
Goals should be general and
related to the Vision Statement
Each goal will have one or more
objectives

24. Goals, objectives and activities
objectives do not have to span the
entire length of the plan
may start and/or be completed in one,
two, or more years
each should have
a measurable output
a target date of completion
must be evaluated at a specified time
will have one or more activity

25. Goals, objectives and activities
Activities
specify the steps and task taken to reach
the objective

26. Examples
GOAL ONE: RESOURCES. To provide the best
information resources possible to support
academic excellence in teaching, learning,
and research
Objective I. Select and acquire library materials in
varied formats to support academic instructional,
learning, and research needs
Activity 1: Identify, select, and provide access to online
electronic databases which provide indexing, abstracting,
and/or full text access

27. Examples
GOAL FOR HUMAN RESOURCES
DEVELOPMENT: Fulfill service objectives
through effective human resources
planning and development.
Objective 1: Improve both internal and
external customer support.
Activity: Investigate acquiring Help-Desk software.

28. Examples
Goal: The Library will become a bridge
to technology for our community
Objective 2: Add new technology-based
services
Activity: Create and maintain an index of the
local newspaper, The Observer-Tribune, by
March 2006

29. Questions?

30. Take a short break

31. Budget
Necessary component
Base it on best estimates
Use assessment as baseline
Relate purchases to goals and objectives
Include initial and reoccuring costs
Could include equipment, software, furniture,
training, staff, advertising, telecom, electronic
db subscriptions, wiring, security, tech
support,, etc.

32. Examples
Item Year 1 Year 2
Database/CD-ROM $70 $90
products
Online Database $520 $1250
Subscriptions
Annual Telephone $760 $800
Bill

33. Examples
Item Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4
Cat5 wiring $170,325 $1,969 $2,067 $2,171
Routers $134,996 $7,000 $0 $0
Network $1,825 $2,950 $4,075
Maintenance

34. Examples
Item Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
PCs $587,874 $352,636 $382,036
Servers $203,275 $184,000 $140,998
DBs $80,200 $199,500 $255,900

35. Evaluation
How are you going to determine
whether your plan, goals, objectives
and/or activities are successful?
Are you on task with your plan?
Will you need to re-evaluate your
timeline?

36. Process
1. How will this library evaluate the
success of this plan?
2. How will you determine if the
technology plan was successful in
meeting the goals of your institutional
plans?
3. How frequently will you update the
plan?

37. Examples
To ensure excellent library services for the
community of Wasatch County the library
staff and board constantly evaluate existing
services through suggestions, patron request
forms and internet surveys. Patron input and
satisfaction are essential to a thriving library
environment. The library service must keep
pace with the demands from the community
and be of high quality and standards.

38. Examples
Methods of evaluation:
Interviews of department heads to determine
perceived needs and opportunities for better
service.
Usage statistics for computers, Internet, software,
circulating CD-ROMs, and other technology as
available
Requests for new technology and software
Patrons’ comments and surveys
Consideration of library space, cost-effectiveness,
and emerging technologies

39. Examples
We will maintain those statistics that can be captured
electronically to provide a quantitative measure.
Gathering statistics will be easier than interpreting
them. For example, will a decrease in the number of
interlibrary loan requests reflect increased rates of
request fulfillment in-house through the use of full-
text databases? We will survey patrons to measure
their satisfaction with technology-based services to
provide a qualitative measure. Due to constraints on
staff time, it will be possible to do this only on a
sampling basis at the end of each year of the
plan.The Library Trustees and Director will review the
plan annually to assess progress

40. Evaluation type
Consider OBE (outcome-based evaluation)
measurement
An outcome is a benefit that occurs to participants
in a program
Outcomes represent an achievement or change in
behavior, skills, knowledge, attitude, status or life
condition
For more information, access
http://www.imls.gov/applicants/resources.shtm

41. Apply the process
Choose one library subsystem
cataloging
reference
serials, etc.
Study the different aspects
note facilities, procedures and policies,
problems, etc.
Note findings

42. Examination of process
For an example, how to convert a card
catalog into an electronic catalog?
What will you need?
What is target date for completion?
Develop specifications for
hardware
software
staff

43. Determine requirements
Compare
the actual status
with the objectives of the project
systems requirements can then be
determined

44. Feasibility study
First the analysis and design for the system
is completed
Then a feasibility study must be conducted
that will answer:
Is the proposed system possible?
Is it necessary?
What other options are available?
Is it affordable?
The end product of a feasibility study is a
report

45. Data conversion feasibility study
Set target date
Determine how much time is needed to
convert all your catalog records
Adjust the number of staff, hardware,
software, to meet target
Calculate the cost.
Bottom line: Is it feasible?

46. Appendix
Include relevant documents
Existing strategic plan
State or district requirements/strictures
Any graphics
Diagrams
Photos
Definitions of terms, abbreviations,
acronyms, etc.

47. Technical and Support Services
Reports/tools Public Services
Computer Services
New Circulation
acquisitions
List/ Other Acquisitions
lists and Programs
reports
OPAC Children’s
Cataloging
Indexes and
other lists Serials
Indexing/Listing
Web
Reference
OPAC/Index
Users

48. How to prepare a tech plan
the document will put
the vision
goals and objectives in writing
spells out the components of the project in terms of
needs to achieve the vision
an overall plan for all the components of the project
includes the specifications for system requirements,
financial estimates, the action plan and timetable for
the project

49. What’s after the tech plan?
Project proposals are based on the technology
plan
prepared for presentation to funding agencies
must be affordable for the funding agency
must follow the format of the funding agency
must be within the thrust of the funding agency
for the example data conversion project, the
technology plan will serve as the basis for the
project proposal

50. Samples
http://www.jamestownri.com/
school/tech/Tech%20Plan%20
2003%20Appendix%20C.pdf
http://www.buffalolib.org/abo
utthelibrary/technologyplan/BE
CPL_Technology_Plan.pdf
http://www.library.state.ak.us/
usf/nomeplan.pdf

51. Re-cap
develop a vision
conduct systems studies
conduct feasibility studies
determine the library’s
technology requirements
complete a technology plan

52. Sites to check out
http://www.kiel.k12.wi.us/TechnologyDepart
ment/3YRCombinedComprehensiveInformatio
n(LibraryMedia)andTechnologyPlan.pdf
http://webjunction.org/do/Navigation?categor
y=391
http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/univsvc/tch
plnqu.htm
http://www.e-
ratecentral.com/applicationTips/techPlan/defa
ult.asp

53. Strategic Plan examples
http://oceancounty.lib.nj.us/Strategic/St
rategicPlan.htm
http://www.sonoma.lib.ca.us/stratplan0
.html
http://www.dvc.edu/library/strategic_pl
an.htm

54. Questions?

55. Technology Plan due date
Complete plan and be ready to present
it on April 30
Recommendation
complete Plan by April 23
work on presentation after Plan is done