Portage County Public Library Technology Plan 2009 – 2011

1. Introduction

The Portage County Public Library seeks to ensure a future which will provide its users with all needed formats of information, whether print or electronic.

The Portage County Public Library uses information technology to provide technologically advanced information and independent learning resources for the use of County residents. The Library strives to provide expertise in using those resources, and an environment that enhances study, supports lifelong learning, provides needed information and supports acquisition of knowledge. Technology expands the services that Portage County Public Library delivers to its users and extends the capacity of the library beyond its walls.

Both the Library staff and Board recognize that planning is complicated by rapid changes in technology. This plan is intended to be continuously reviewed and revised as necessary in response to emerging trends in information technology, changing community needs, new partnership opportunities, and changes in funding available to the Library. It sets out overall goals and general direction for the library.

2. Institutional Background

The Portage County Public Library (PCPL) was formed under the laws of Wisconsin in 1982. It traces its roots to the first municipal library in the county, founded in 1897 in Stevens Point. When the county agreed to finance the day-to-day operations of a consolidated countywide public library, and the Villages of Almond and Rosholt and the city of Stevens Point agreed to relinquish their municipal jurisdiction, the county library was born, one of only a few consolidated county libraries in Wisconsin. The creation of the consolidated county library opened the door to library development throughout the county. The county system grew in 1983 when the Village of Plover initiated library service, in 1991 when the Village of Plover moved to a larger building, and again in 1992 with the opening of the new building in Stevens Point.

The consolidated county library has a service population of over 70,000. Approximately 37,900 live in the City of Stevens Point and the Village of Plover and the balance of 32,606 live in smaller villages, towns and other rural locations.

A summary of the Portage County Public Library’s mission statement is:

Our mission is to provide information, support lifelong learning,
and promote reading and literacy

Rapid changes in the automation field continue to challenge the library's ability to keep up. Still, in the last 3 years, the PCPL achieved many of the objectives stated in the earlier technology plan.

These achievements include, but are not limited to:

• Added wireless access points for public use at Stevens Point, Plover, Almond and Rosholt.
• Purchased four laptops for in-house public use.
• Added an additional internet service provider for Stevens Point and Plover.
• Upgraded video conference equipment from ISDN to IP.
• Continued to provide instructional brochures and handouts to the public on how to use electronic resources.
• Upgraded 10 public Internet station and added six additional public internet workstations (in the children’s area) at Main.
• Cooperated with other libraries and systems to provide greater access to online databases
• Added OCLC to streamline and standardize cataloging procedures.
• Purchased software for online meeting room reservations, thus allowing the public to book meeting rooms 24/7 and providing a Web view of meeting schedules.
• Purchased digital microfilm reader printer and scanner for enhanced use of historical resources.
• Purchased a scanner for use with the public computer.

Vision for Technology at Portage County Public Library

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.

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.

3. State of Current Technology

Portage County Public Library uses the Endeavor Voyager integrated library management system. This system provides all of the basic library operations, including check in / check out, access to the online catalog, electronic ordering of library materials, etc. This was done in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. We are the only public library in Wisconsin that has strong collaborative relationship with the University of Wisconsin, specifically, UW-Stevens Point. It is rare and unique for a public library and a university library to collaborate to the degree these two local libraries do. There are four major areas of cooperation: web services, development of historical databases and indexes, a shared on-line catalog platform and wireless connectivity. These libraries deliver more bang for the buck to area taxpayers.

The Plover Branch Library connects to the online system via wireless technology. The Almond branch and Rosholt branch circulate on-line using standard telephone Internet access.

Library users may also connect to Portage County Library's Voyager system via the Internet.

All branches of the Portage County Public Library have Internet access. The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point through wireless technology provides Internet access at the 1001 Main Street, Stevens Point and the Plover Branch. In addition to providing access to the public, library staff uses the link for accessing remote information resources and for electronic mail. Internet access at Almond and Rosholt is provided by the local telephone company through a DSL line.

Telecommunications systems provide the infrastructure for communication of electronic data. Portage County Public Library currently depends on both wireless technology and standard telephone service for its access to the Internet and to enable its branches to take advantage of the on-line catalog.

4. Program Goals

Goal: To provide all residents of Portage County access to worldwide resources in each Portage County Public Library location.

OBJECTIVES:

Explore new methods of networking and resource sharing with other libraries, the University, the County and SCLS using advanced telecommunication capabilities and the Internet. Timetable -- continual effort.

Continue to collaborate with University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point to use wireless technology to gain access to the Internet. Timetable -- continual effort.

Investigate the need for and increase bandwidth at Almond and Rosholt as feasible.  Timetable – January 2011.

Goal: To provide training for the public by the Portage County Library staff in order to develop self-reliant library users.

OBJECTIVES:

Instruct users on how to use the computers to access electronic resources. Timetable -- Continual effort.

Provide instruction for the public on skills and techniques for accessing electronic information. Timetable -- Continual effort.

Provide instruction for the public on using the Web-based computer system public catalog to search for materials, to place holds, to renew items, and to place purchase and interlibrary loan requests. Timetable -- Continual effort.

Continue to offer computer instruction and assistance to the public though instructional brochures and handouts and individual instruction sessions. Timetable -- continual effort

Make videoconferencing equipment available to the public. Timetable – September 2009.

Establish a computer-training laboratory for joint use by staff and public. Timetable – July 2010.

Investigate working with SCLS to develop a “tech corner on web page” accessible by the public to review gadgets, trends, formats, etc.  Timetable – July 2010.

Goal: To provide continual training for the staff

OBJECTIVES:

Provide staff with appropriate, ongoing job related training in order to use the integrated library computer system at its optimal level. Timetable -- continual effort

Provide staff with appropriate, ongoing job-related training necessary to use Internet and other electronic resources to their greatest potential. Timetable -- continual effort

Provide staff with appropriate ongoing job-related training necessary to perform routine PC and printer maintenance. Timetable -- Continual effort.

Provide staff with appropriate ongoing job-related training necessary to use miscellaneous equipment such as scanners and AV items. Timetable -- Continual effort.

Continue to use videoconferencing equipment to provide staff with training and continuing education possibilities. Timetable -- Continual effort.

Offer Staff training on Microsoft publisher, Office via the Wisconsin Learning Center at the Portage County Business Council and MSTC when available. Timetable -- Continual effort.

5. Technology software, hardware and telecommunications

Goal: To insure that the library's integrated computer system is satisfactory to meet the growing customer population and use, the growth of the Library System, and management needs.

OBJECTIVES:

Upgrade the software for the integrated computer system when appropriate to make the best possible use of the system.  Timetable -- Continual effort.

Develop implementation plan for self check @ 1001 Main Street Stevens Point using self-check equipment recommended by SCLS.   Timetable – December 2009.

Investigate costs and benefits of joining LINK Consortium (initial costs, annual costs including cataloging, telecommunication costs at four branches, and impact on delivery costs).  Timetable – July 2010.

Work with Portage County IT department to investigate upgrading to a fiber optic line between the library and the county.  Timetable – December  2009.

Goal: To provide adequate technology infrastructure (computer and web) to support individual development, lifelong learning and 21st century literacy skills [1] to succeed in today's knowledge-based economy.

OBJECTIVES:

Complete laptop deployment for public use.  Timetable – January 2009.

Investigate adding equipment such as a PrimeArray ServStation 2002 XR CD/DVD server in order to streamline children’s game PCs at 1001 Main Street, Stevens Point thereby saving staff time and preventing damage to software. Timetable – January 2009.

Upgrade software on computer workstations to maintain current applications and add new software when appropriate. Timetable -- Continual effort.

Explore cost and benefit of adding computers to the library that use other operating systems besides Windows. Timetable – July 2010.

Work with SCLS to obtain Gates Foundation grants.   Timetable – July 2009.

Investigate social networking software and Library 2.0 technologies and implement if feasible.  Timetable – July 2010.

Investigate the need for a Social Software policy to submit to library Board.  Timetable – July 2010.

Discuss and investigate cost – benefit of developing a Teen web page and a web page for branches.  Timetable – July 2010.

Replace and upgrade older telecommunications equipment and software at all library locations. Timetable -- Continual effort

Investigate RFID (radio frequency identification) in conjunction with any move to the LINK consortium.  Timetable – July 2010.

Goal: Develop an electronic reference service network for all library locations.

OBJECTIVES: 

Promote the E-mail reference service, Ask?Away Consortium, and other forms of reference service. Timetable -- Continual effort.

Review and augment existing subscriptions and services to online databases. Timetable -- Continual effort.

Cooperate with other libraries and SCLS for greater access to online databases. Timetable -- Continual effort.

Goal: To develop a technology-based internal communications structure for all staff of Portage County Public Library.

OBJECTIVES:

Make the transition from paper communications to electronic communications within the Library. Timetable – June 2011.

Train each staff member to use e-mail and word processing. Timetable -- Continual effort.

Develop guidelines for the appropriate use of electronic communications. Timetable -- Continual effort.

Upgrade all staff stations to Office 2007.  Timetable – September 2009.

6. Budget

Goal: Secure adequate funding to finance staff training, personal computer repair, telecommunication expense, and automated system maintenance.

Maintain current budgets for computer support, training, etc. Timetable -- Continual effort.

Investigate fund-raising and grants to support new technology initiatives and sustain needed state-of-the-art technology.

• Apply for capital projects funding for technology needs
• Identify likely sources of funding for select technological projects

Timetable – Continual effort.

7. Evaluation

Conduct periodic needs assessments to determine whether library resources and programs are satisfying the needs of the users.

Overall success of the program will be judged by the use of circulation data, the number of residents served, a measure of the in-library use of electronic resources, a measure of the out-of-library use of electronic resources, and surveys as appropriate.