Dave Winer a

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New Technology Challenges Successes

• A look at technologies that are being utilized in
  our newest branch library, with emphasis given to
  the role that RFID, wireless access, blogs and
  wikis all play in daily library operations,
  including the real world benefits that such
  technologies can provide.
• Michael Casey, Branch Manager, Gwinnett County
  Public Library
• Chris Hall, IT Coordinator, Gwinnett County
  Public Library
• Computers In Libraries
• 22 March 2006

Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006
2
UnConference
Fundamental Law of Conventional Conferences
The sum of the expertise of the people in the
audience is greater than the sum of expertise of
the people on stage. Dave Winer at
http//scripting.wordpress.com/2006/03/05/what-is-
an-unconference/ Soplease participate, ask
questions!.
Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006
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Building a New Library
From the ground up
July 2005
Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006
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Choosing Technologies to Advance the Library

• So many factors to consider
• Community needs
• Library needs for service delivery
• How do you deliver your materials and services?

Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006
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Decision Making Considerations

• Librarys strategic plan
• Organizational culture
• Librarys budget
• Size of building
• Expected return on investment

Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006
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Decision Making Considerations

• Librarys Strategic Plan
• What are your strategic goals?
• If technology serves no goal then it serves no
  purpose
• Must operate within the framework of your
  mission and vision
• What tools serve those goals?
• Input from all parties required
• Bleeding Edge vs. Leading Edge vs. Close
  Follower
• Always looking, always alert
• Emerging Technology Team or some outward
  looking group that matches technology with
  library needs

Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006
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Decision Making Considerations

• Questions?
• Comments?

Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006
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Decision Making Considerations

• Organizational Culture
• What is your librarys technology culture?
• Buy it off the rack?
• Build it yourself?
• Piece it together using existing parts?
• What place does IT have in the organization?
• Do they play a part in all levels of planning
  and decision making?
• Are they brought in early or only after the
  idea has been decided upon?
• Or, worse, are they only brought in after the
  product has been purchased?
• What is your librarys comfort level?
• Single vendor versus best of breed
• Weve bought from them before, were buying
  from them again.

Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006
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Decision Making Considerations

• Questions?
• Comments?

Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006
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Decision Making Considerations

• Budget
• Finite resources
• Firm ROI expectations
• Size of Building
• Finite amount of space
• Community needs should take priority

Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006
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Decision Making Considerations

• Return on Investment
• How does this technology impact your library
• customer service
• staff efficiency
• bottom line numbers
• circulation
• library visits (real or virtual)
• votes in the upcoming election
• Set your expectations before implementation and
  stick to them during the review!
• Be willing to change or discard anything thats
  not giving you what you need.
• Its easier to change now than later!

Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006
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Decision Making Considerations

• Questions?
• Comments?

Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006
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Technolust
No discussion of new technologies would be
complete without mentioning
Technolust - an irrational love for new
technology combined with unrealistic expectations
for the solutions it brings. Technoplans vs.
Technolust by Michael Stephens Library Journal,
November 1, 2004
How to avoid this?
Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006
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Technolust
Keep it grounded Always ask How can it allow
us to best serve our customers?
Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006
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Good Use of Technology
How Do We Serve More With Less? Efficiency Does
it make better use of staff energy and
time? Effectiveness Does it reach more users
with equal or less effort?
Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006
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What Tools Did We Choose?
RFID Radio Frequency Identification WiFi
both staff and public wireless network
access Blogs internal and external
communications Wikis knowledge management
Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006
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What Tools Did We Choose?

• Two Views
• Internal and External Benefits of the technology
• Actual Implementation
• Installation
• Maintenance

Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006
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RFID

• Internal Benefits
• Efficiency
• Role in new branch opening
• more work upfront with tagging
• mobile tagging taking it to the shelves
• Check-out and Check-in time reduced
• Less material handling
• Material quickly placed back into the stream
• Self-service customer use
• Greatly improved inventory control
• and more..
• RFID is new! There will be growing pains! Long
  term savings will be there!

Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006
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RFID

• External Benefits
• Staff have time for direct customer service to
  more users
• Customers more independent when completing
  simple tasks
• Customer satisfaction and empowerment
• RFID is new! There will be growing pains! Long
  term savings will be there!

Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006
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RFID
Implementing Test, test, retest
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2006
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RFID

• Questions?
• Comments?

Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006
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WiFi

• Internal Benefits
• Un-tethered network access to serve anyone
  anywhere with the right tool
• Going to the customer
• Expansion or remodeling freedom only power
  and space are required to move computers
• Customers utilize own equipment, not librarys
  hardware or software

Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006
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WiFi

• External Benefits
• Customers more independent when completing
  simple tasks
• Their hardware, their software, our data
• Access to WiFi in surrounding parks or seating
  areas

Town or citywide WiFi?
Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006
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WiFi

• Implementation
• Staff WiFi
• security
• Customer WiFi
• coverage
• maintenance
• simplicity for user

Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006
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WiFi

• Questions?
• Comments?

Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006
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Blogs

• Internal Benefits
• Communications in general speaking to
  different people about different issues
• Horizontal and vertical communications
• Horizontal
• Staff Staff
• Vertical
• Management
• Staff
• Trust issue should names be used on posts? We
  do.

New staff New branch Stressed management
?
Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006
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Blogs

• External
• Board
• Customers Administration
• Staff

• Library news that allows for easy feedback
• Public / open communications
• Direct communication with board
• Get your message out

Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006
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Blogs

• Implementation
• WordPress
• Movable Type
• Blogger
• WordPress.com
• TypePad

Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006
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Blogs

• Questions?
• Comments?

Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006
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Wikis

• Internal Benefits
• Knowledge management
• Captures valuable and fleeting information
• reference desk questions
• Reduces the excuse of the guy who knew that is
  gone
• Digital repository for library documents
• Improves staff comfort with library history and
  philosophy
• policies and guidelines history behind their
  creation
• mission and vision what was the thought
  process

Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006
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Wikis

• External Benefits
• Community knowledge management
• local history
• geneology
• shared user knowledge

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2006
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Wikis

• Implementation
• MediaWiki
• TWiki
• Kwiki
• PBWiki
• JotSpot
• Socialtext

Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006
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Wikis

• Questions?
• Comments?

Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006
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Review
RFID Radio Frequency Identification WiFi
both staff and public wireless network
access Blogs internal and external
communications Wikis knowledge management
Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006
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Review
Only one way to do more with less Efficiency D
oes it make better use of staff energy and
time? Effectiveness Does it reach more users
with equal or less effort?
Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006
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Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006
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2006
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New Technology Challenges Successes

• Contact Info

Michael Casey http//www.librarycrunch.com michael
_at_librarycrunch.com AIM librarycrunch Skype
michaelcasey
Chris Hall chall_at_gwinnettpl.org
Thank you
Casey Hall, Computers In Libraries. 22 March
2006