Technology Plan FY1998-2000

This technology plan was adopted by the Gustavus Public Library Board on 1/22/98.

Submitted for approval to the Alaska Technology Plan Certifying Committee 2/16/98.

This first Technology Plan is now outdated. It was replaced with the 2001-2003 Technology Plan 4/24/00. 

Gustavus Public Library Technology Plan

Mission

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.

Vision

We envision becoming the educational and informational hub of the Icy Strait region. By using current technology and continuing to form local partnerships we can establish our position as a regional information center. This exchange will not only give our patrons access to information but will provide the world community valuable knowledge and expertise from our area. The library will continue to provide a variety of library programs, training sessions, and Internet access so that all patrons can take full advantage of these many educational opportunities regardless of affluence or technical savvy.

Technology Goals and Objectives

In order to carry out its mission, the library needs to pursue certain actions. Given adequate funding, the library adopts the following goals and commits itself to meeting the following measurable objectives before the year 2000.

Goal: Upgrade library building to provide network wiring and space to work.

At the old library (soon to be vacated) there is little space for computers or for people to use them. There is no network wiring to connect the computers together. Before technology can play a role in fulfilling the library's mission, there needs to be a physical space to accommodate the equipment and for people to be able to use it. For example, a group needs to be able to gather around a computer for training to work.

• Six years of planning, fundraising, negotiating, and securing various sources of financing have led to the near completion of our new 2,700 square foot library facility.
• The new facility is engineered from the ground up to support current and future technology needs. An electrical engineer designed the electrical supply. Computer and telecommunications consultants designed and installed the local area network wiring.
• All but one room at the library is fully wired with phone and data jacks. In addition, the conference room has a video circuit. All wiring is CAT5 in conduit with modular jacks for maximum flexibility in the face of changing technology.
• There is conduit laid to the outside of the building, allowing for the possibility of laying a circuit to the nearby Gustavus School for a high-speed link.

Objective: The building structurally completed as of January 1998. Put the finishing touches on the building, furnish it, and move in by Spring, 1998.

Goal: Install local area network and connect to Internet

• LAN - Install Local Area Network with jacks throughout the building for easy connection of workstations, servers, and other network devices such as printers. The wiring and jacks are in place now. We need a hub and router and connection to an Internet Service Provider.
• Server - Procure, install, and set up a machine with a network operating system and software suitable for providing both basic file and printer sharing and Internet services including web server and e-mail for librarians. Needs to meet standards for compatibility, security, reliability, manageability, and cost.
• Workstations - Upgrade and connect to network the two existing marginal machines that the library has. Procure, install, and set up three new workstations with basic productivity software for use by staff and patrons. Capital improvement grants for this equipment have been approved.
• Printers - One high-capacity laser printer and one color inkjet printer.
• Scanner - Flat bed scanner for capturing local historical information and producing multi-media products for library programming.
• Internet connection - Replace the existing stand-alone dial-up connection with a dedicated circuit to an Internet Service Provider so that all the machines on the network are connected to the Internet. Investigate feasibility of sharing bandwidth with other entities such as the Gustavus School to reduce costs and improve access for everyone.

Objective: Network wiring is complete. By August 1998: Use FY98 and potential FY99 CIP and USF funds to purchase and install the network and server equipment, upgrade the existing workstations, and set up the Internet connection. By December 1998: Use remaining FY99 CIP funds and other funds (see next goal) to purchase additional workstations, printers, and software.

Goal: Obtain Additional Funding

Seek revenue sources such as grants and USF discounts to implement this plan.

Objective: Already have CIP funds for FY98. Continue ongoing grant application processes for funding technology. We have been successful in the past and are constantly looking for financial sources to upgrade equipment and services to our patrons.

Goal: Expand Training

The technology plan cannot succeed unless library staff and patrons have training to make use of the new capabilities; the machines and wires by themselves will do nothing to further our mission.

Objective:

• Continue Monday night community training sessions at the school. Trainer Nathan Borson was the first Gustavus SEAKnet representative and is the computer specialist for Glacier Bay National Park. He was on a "community networks" panel at ComTech 97 in Juneau.
• Starting in September 1998, we will have training sessions for our volunteers so they can direct patrons on how to access the Internet, perform basic on-line and bibliographic searches.
• More knowledgeable staff will work with the technician who configures the server and installs the network in order to learn how to administer the system. Administrators will take more in-depth training for system administration.

Goal: Become on-line information provider

Is a library mainly a building with a collection of books? We think it is far more: a library is really a team of talented people with a mission to provide information access and education to the public. Once the infrastructure is in place and people are trained to use it, the library will be positioned to lead the way in connecting its patrons to the information they are looking for. Some projects we have already thought of are:

• Unified on-line card catalog for the school, library, and Glacier Bay National Park
• Put Gustavus Community Association files on-line for public access.
• Expand the local history project to put it on-line in partnership with student learning activities.
• Expand the library home page with links of interest to Gustavus residents and community calendar.
• Work with the local newspaper to archive past issues on-line.

Inventory

Current Inventory

As of January 1, 1997, the Gustavus Library had the following technology infrastructure:

Two personal computers: one Gateway 486 with 20 MB RAM running Windows 95, and one slower 486 with 4 MB RAM. It runs Windows 3.1. This latter machine has a four-bank CD-ROM player and is mainly used for Inter-Library Loans and cataloging using LaserCat.

Two dot-matrix printers: One 16-pin and one 9-pin.

Dial-up Internet connection: The Gateway computer has a 33.6 Kbps modem and is connected to a telephone line so that users can connect to the Internet using the library's account with SEAKnet (the local Internet Service Provider).

One telephone line: The library has only one phone line. It is currently using the Gustavus Community Association's phone line for faxes and Internet access. This will not be available after the library moves out of the GCA offices to its new facility.

SEAKnet equipment: There is a terminal server, router, modem bank, and associated peripherals at the Gustavus School purchased with an NTIA grant written by the Alaska State Library for the purpose of providing public Internet access through local libraries in Southeast Alaska. This equipment is most likely available for the library to use although its disposition will probably be determined by a regional advisory board.

Communications Software: We use the networking and Internet software that is included with the Windows operating systems or freely available for downloading, as follows: Dial-up networking, Microsoft Telnet, Netscape Navigator and Mozilla, etc.

Budgeted for purchase

Subject to available funds, the Gustavus Library plans to acquire or is in the process of procuring the additional technology infrastructure described in Goal: Install local area network and connect to Internet, above.

Each year the community must prioritize its capital funding request. For the past three years the community has included telecommunications needs as a priority for the library in its capital funding request. Its members decide this at the Gustavus Community Association public meetings.

Staffing

Gustavus Public Library has a large dedicated and highly motivated volunteer staff. We have two years of ongoing computer classes sponsored by both the library and our local Seaknet group. We have encouraged our staff to attend these trainings and have also had library specific training sessions. Our computer volunteers include

• Jeff Williams, Jeffus and Williams telecommunications professional
• Nathan Borson, Glacier Bay National Park Computer Specialist
• Kathy Leary, Staff Librarian
• Judith Challoner-Wood, onsite Internet Trainer and web designer
• John Rock, computer repairman
• Bruce Paige, SEAKnet coordinator
• Several computer literate librarians are scheduled to staff the desk on a weekly basis.

At least two volunteer librarians over seventy five years old have gone from refusing to touch a computer to owning and using Internet-connected machines regularly. With the opening of our new facility we will continue to upgrade the computer literacy of our entire volunteer staff.

Maintenance

Nathan Borson has agreed to provide limited technical consulting, troubleshooting, repair services, and training to help the library maintain the network. He has committed to volunteering 20 hours of service between January and April 1998, including assistance with preparation of this technology plan. Additional network setup and training will be billed at his regular $80/hour rate.