The Complete Library Technology Planner: A Guidebook with Sample Technology Plans and RFPs on CD-ROM

Abstract

Any librarian who has been employed in any type of library for a number of years can relate to the famous quote, “The only thing constant in life is change,” coined by the Francois de la Rochefoucauld. This quote and all its derivates could not be more true, especially in regard to technology in libraries. Not only in the most recent decade, but reaching back to the advent of telecommunications, to the use of fax machines for interlibrary loan, early computer searching, and early library systems based on “dumb terminals,” followed by Internet, HTML, XML, and so much more. It is no wonder that librarians are always involved in technology planning. If librarians are not planning, but instead are simply responding to the technology changes as they arise, they would always be one step behind, reacting and not acting in a proactive manner. So the authors enter into an arena where the need is always present, making this book relevant to librarians of all types. Starting exactly where they should, by considering the users' needs in a discussion of integrated library systems, the authors examine what users want today versus what vendors currently provide and how librarians can sift through this disconnect to evaluate an integrated library system. The discussion of the importance of strategic planning that begins with a vision of what services are needed, rather than what technology is needed, is a wise approach. Technology will change, but the vision of services that librarians want to offer patrons often remains more constant. The eight steps of writing a plan are defined early in the book, and each step is expanded more fully as the chapters evolve. This step-by-step approach to planning is logical and applicable to many library settings. In hospital libraries where the network and technology are closely controlled, librarians may find that some of the advice does not apply. However, this book still has areas where it is helpful to library staff working in a hospital setting. For example, the authors propose that the planning process can help to define and communicate the needs of the library to the information technology department in order to develop an alliance. Further discussion of the purposes of technology planning include the use of such plans to improve library funding, demonstrate librarian knowledge, present a proactive approach, and relate the technology needs to services. Recognizing that no two technology plans will be identical, the book explains the elements by breaking them down into categories. The five basic elements are described as executive summary, background information, current state of technology, library technology plan or budget, and evaluation plan. These five elements are well defined and elaborated on in the text of the book and in conjunction with the sample technology plans and requests for proposals (RFPs) that are included with this book. Readers, regardless of library type, will be well prepared to begin writing a plan for their libraries. A full chapter is dedicated to the special funding made available to school libraries through several government legislative acts. Applying for these funds, commonly called E-Rate funds, requires a written technology plan. Basic information about these requirements is included, but because of the complexities of the E-Rate program and the availability of assistance from public agencies to meet this requirement, the authors refer readers to those sources for more information. Time is an important and scarce commodity in most library settings, and so it is particularly helpful that the steps for assessing the existing conditions, gathering data, and identifying stakeholders precedes an outline for a model two-day process that can be followed to actually complete the task efficiently. Reviewing the five-step, two-day model, it seems conceivable that a library could complete the task, if the advised preparation was done ahead of time. Creating a technology plan is not the end of the process, and the authors recognize this by including chapters on implementation that include an overview of the procurement process and creation of RFPs. An RFP is needed so that vendors know specific expectations and needs. This detailed information, coupled with the RFPs that come as supplemental material with the book, will help to demystify the process. A discussion of best practices for staff training on new technology and the ongoing review and assessment of the effectiveness of a technology plan round out the final sections of the book. These two final chapters are helpful reminders that the plan and the technology have a human side and a life cycle, and careful considerations of both these issues are given. The supplemental material included at the end of each chapter as “Sources” is a combination of books, white papers, and web pages. These resources are helpful additions to the authors' words, but because the Internet is always changing, many will not be available in their current form for future readers. Nevertheless, the authors compiled thirty-eight technology plans and requests for proposals from thirty-two academic, research, public, school, and special libraries and made these available in portable document format on a supplemental CD-ROM. Although no medical libraries are included in the list, the research and academic libraries provide very comprehensive plans and RFPs that will provide a helpful reference tool for the health sciences librarian.