The Technology Plan directs that "The Library Technology Advisory Committee (LTAC) will meet at least once a year to evaluate the results of each action in the Technology Goals section of this plan and draft an annual technology work plan." This is the Annual Technology Work Plan for FY2003.

Goal A: Provide public access to electronic materials

The library's mission is "To provide the community of Gustavus-Glacier Bay with a broad choice in library materials and information..." An increasing proportion of materials and information is electronic. The Gustavus Public Library treats electronic materials like other materials such as printed matter. This means adding electronic materials to its collection and providing access to others' collections of electronic materials, such as the world-wide web and databases for Alaskans.

Goal B: Foster patron use of technology

Electronic materials are inaccessible to those who do not have basic computer skills, just as printed materials are not accessible to those who cannot read. The Gustavus Public Library supports its patrons and staff in their pursuit of knowledge by lowering the barrier of technological illiteracy.

Goal C: Improve library efficiency and effectiveness

Labor is in very short supply in our under-funded institution, so administration and operation must be as efficient as possible in order to maximize our organizational effectiveness. The Library uses appropriate technology to leverage scant volunteer and staff time, thereby providing the best possible service to our patrons. 

3. Itemized Technology Budget

As noted in the Introduction, the Gustavus Public Library is primarily staffed and advised by a group of dedicated volunteers who possess varying degrees of technological expertise. With help from a state library ILC grant, capital grant, and the e-rate, our basic technology infrastructure is now complete and our core volunteers have received initial technology training. Since we must be cautious not to overtax our volunteer resources, and with ever dwindling operational funds, this budget reflects a modest approach to maintaining and upgrading our network over the next three years. We already have state-of-the-art technology infrastructure and provide excellent technology services. Note that while we may choose to take on other projects or provide a major training component as human and financial resources become available, we will only commit to funding and evaluating goals and objectives that we can realistically afford and which are priorities as described in this plan. We have not entered any costs for goals B and C since we anticipate volunteers will continue to fill that role. We expect to continue to receive donated and excess equipment from local and state sources suitable to our technology needs.

"We who have done so much with so little for so long have reached a plateau where we can now accomplish almost anything with almost nothing."

The Our Cost rows reflect academic and/or e-rate discounts for which the library is eligible.