Wireless Libraries

No longer active

2008-05-12T11:51:00.001-04:00

I am no longer actively posting to this blog. However, I will keep it open so that the content is maintained.

MaintainIT Cookbook 2 focuses on Wireless

2008-01-30T13:13:00.000-05:00

TechSoup's MaintainIT Project is pleased to announce the latest Cookbook, packed with tips, techniques, and stories about supporting public computers from libraries across the country! Find out what libraries and library supporters had to say about wireless, time and print management, and laptop checkout programs. Download this practical, handy and FREE resource worth adding to your collection "Joy of Computing: Recipes for a 5-Star Library" here: http://maintainitproject.org/cookbooks The MaintainIT Project continues to craft guides focused on supporting public computers. Please get in touch and share your challenges and successes so libraries can learn from *your* experiences. Remember, what may be, "that's nothing!" to you, may be an "aha" to someone else! Email them: maintainit@techsoup.org

Missing the boat!!

2007-11-29T11:53:00.000-05:00

I got this quote from Bill Austin in a message he sent to LibWireless: "That is a really interesting idea about wireless home networking ... but we have to concentrate on ideas that will actually make money." - Letter to Bill Austin from Motorola Vice President dated April 12, 1992 I think it stands on its own.

LibWireless: This list going offline on Friday

2007-11-29T10:36:00.001-05:00

I posted this to LibWireless today. It has been a great time here for me in setting up and running this list, LibWireless. The community that developed and the growth of WiFi installations in all types of libraries has been very gratifying to me. It has gotten to the point that WiFi in libraries is almost a given. This list is no longer needed and given my new job and new duties, it is time to close it down. Thanks to all 750 of you for your support and interest over the last few years. Go out and go wireless. Spread the word about ubiquitous computing. Wilfred (Bill) Drew Interim Library Director Librarian, Systems and Tech Services Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3) Library: http://www.tc3.edu/library/ Dryden, N.Y. 13053-0139 E-mail: dreww@tc3.edu Phone: 607-844-8222 ext.4406 AOL Instant Messenger:BillDrew4 StrengthsQuest: Ideation, Input, Learner, Activator, Communication

SUNY-wide Shared Search & Discovery Services Committee named

2007-08-23T16:22:00.000-04:00

This was released by SUNY Office of Library and Information Services this afternoon. I am serving on this committee. SUNY-wide Shared Search & Discovery Services Committee named:

A SUNY-wide library committee has been formed to evaluate and recommend to the SUNYConnect Advisory Council approaches for improving the discovery of library resources. As an off-shoot of the Shared Services Task Force, the Shared Search & Discovery Services Committee will be a future-looking group seeking 21st century tools for finding and enhancing the use of library resources.

The committee’s charge is available.

Membership -

From the Shared Services group - Robert Cushman (Brockport), Pamela Flinton (Oneonta)

Kate Bouman (Binghamton)

Bill Drew (Tompkins-Cortland, SUNYLA Information Technology Committee)

Ken Fujiuchi (Buffalo State)

Maggie Horn (OLIS, ex officio)

Mark Ludwig (Buffalo)

Stephan Macaluso (New Paltz)

John Schumacher (OLIS, ex officio, Project Coordinator)

Feel free to get in touch with committee members to express your views on new search tools for SUNY-wide library resources.

John Schumacher Office of Library and Information Services SUNY System Administration SUNY Plaza Albany, NY 12246 518-443-5577 john.schumacher@suny.edu SUNYConnect database trials and offers are listed at http://www.sunyconnect.suny.edu/dbtrials.htm

Open Source Wifi Hotspot Implemntation

2007-08-17T13:21:00.000-04:00

The current issue of Information Technology and Libraries (ITAL) published by LITA (Library and information Technology Association) has an excellent article on setting up a wifi hotspot using entirely open source software. I tis a must read for all with any interest in the topic. Feher, Jim and Tyler Sondag. "Open Source Wifi Hotspot Implementation." Information Technology and Libraries (ITAL) (ISSN 0730-9295). v.26, no. 2, June 2007. pages 35 -43.

Case study: N.Y. college plans 11n WLAN rollout

2007-06-25T13:47:00.000-04:00

This story is about my current place of work and its new 802.11n networking project. It is a great story. Case study: N.Y. college plans 11n WLAN rollout: "June 22, 2007 (Network World) -- A small New York state college will be the site of the first large-scale wireless LAN based on the draft 802.11n high-throughput standard. Within the next two weeks, Morrisville State College will start initial testing of thin access points from Meru Networks, plus the vendor's existing 802.11abg devices and early models of its recently announced 11n device, the AP300. Even at this stage, the net is posing intriguing new challenges for Morrisville, Meru andPublish IBM Global Technology Services, the systems integrator for the project."

Virtual Communities and Libraries - ALA MIG Petition

2007-05-16T09:42:00.001-04:00

John Chrastka sent me this message via my Facebook profile:

"There is a proposal for an ALA Member Initiative Group (MIG) called 'Virtual Communities and Libraries' that could use your review and possible signature.

http://www.ala.org/ala/ourassociation/membership/memberstories/filesformembership.htm has the link to the .pdf of the petition. The hope is to get 100 signatures together by Annual Conference asking COO to create this Member group. It would be able to do programming and discussion groups within ALA. And it might lead to other institutional structures like round tables, etc….

Tom Peters, Lori Bell, Matt Gullett and Kitty Pope are the 'designated organizers'.

Thanks for considering.

John"

I am printing it, signing it, and sending it back to John today.

Wilfred (Bill) Drew

ALA and LITA Member

Registration Reminder: ENYACRL Spring 2007 Conference

2007-05-09T21:12:00.001-04:00

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: May 14

ENYACRL Spring 2007 Conference
Who’s Driving the Technology Bus?
Monday, May 21, 2007
State University of New York Institute of Technology
Utica, New York

Cost: $35 for chapter members; $50 non-members (includes a one year
membership)

For more conference details :
http://www.enyacrl.org/conf_Spring07.php

To register please see:
http://www.enyacrl.org/registration_spring2007.php

Why Wi-Fi Isn't the New Asbestos

2007-04-30T15:46:00.001-04:00

This is an important article to read in its entirety. As Fleishman notes in his article, the UK has seen a bunch of articles in several major British papers. Wi-Fi Networking News: Why Wi-Fi Isn't the New Asbestos

A spate of articles, mostly in the UK, are trying to use bad science and anecdote to freak us out: I am from Missouri, as the saying goes, and I say: show me. The reports that Wi-Fi in specific and wireless data networks in general can make people sick seem to rely entirely on a rickety framework. Despite the focus of this site on Wi-Fi, I will be the first to trumpet the news loudly and continuously if Wi-Fi turned out to be dangerous to use, or if clinical proof in peer-reviewed journals appeared about electrosensitive individuals.

Technorati Tags: wifi

WiFi interfering with 3M security gates?

2007-04-26T09:28:00.001-04:00

This was posted on the Wireless Forum I moderate on WebJunction. I
will send any suggestions to the forum.
It seems ludicrous to me.

Bill Drew
drewwe@morrisville.edu
-----Original Message-----
From: WebJunction Community [mailto:community@webjunction.org]
Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2007 9:20 AM
To: Drew, Bill
Subject: WebJunction's "Wireless" has been updated by EricaC

Bill_Drew,

You are watching the forum "Wireless", which was updated Apr 26, 2007
9:20:08 AM by EricaC.

To view the forum, visit:
http://webjunction.org/forums/forum.jspa?forumID=44.

To view the thread, visit:
http://webjunction.org/forums/thread.jspa?forumID=44&threadID=6152

Here's the full text of this post:
We're having sporadic trouble with our 3M security gates. The repair guy
is here, and I can hear him trying to tell our director that the
radiation from our WiFi system might be interfering with the
magnetic-based security system. Has anyone heard of this happening, or
does is sound fishy?

Thanks!

Thanks for being a part of the community at WebJunction.org!

RE: [libwireless] New Wiki pages but little response

2007-04-23T14:17:00.001-04:00

I meant to say only 3 librarians in the last 3 days. There have been a total of 24 edits by others besides my self. Sorry for that lack of information. Considering I get at least 3 or 4 requests every day to add or update information, the response is still quite low. There are over 800 libraries represented in the list from the last count I made last year.

I do appreciate the edits made so far.

Bill Drew

From: Drew, Bill [mailto:drewwe@MORRISVILLE.EDU]
Sent: Monday, April 23, 2007 2:08 PM
To: LibWireless Discussion Group
Subject: [libwireless] New Wiki pages but little response

I am extremely disappointed with the lack of response from librarians on this list and also from those that read my Wireless Libraries' blog.I moved all of my Wireless Librarian website to http://wiki.webjunctionworks.org/index.php/Wireless_Networking_in_Libraries. Only 3 librarians have bothered at all to add or update the entries for their libraries. I do not understand that. I put the entries I had from my old website back up because I got so many requests to make them available again so that people would have a place to locate libraries with WiFi networks. Now individual librarians can add their library and update their entry. The only requirement is that you register so you can edit. If this continues to be the kind of response and support for the efforts I put forth I wonder if it is worth doing anymore.

Wilfred (Bill) Drew
Associate Librarian, Systems and Reference
Morrisville State College Library
E-mail: mailto:drewwe@morrisville.edu
AOL Instant Messenger: BillDrew4
http://claimid.com/billdrew
Facebook me
Bill Drew's Wiki: http://billdrew.pbwiki.com/
Library: http://library.morrisville.edu/
SUNYConnect: http://www.sunyconnect.suny.edu/
My Blog: http://babyboomerlibrarian.blogspot.com
"They that can give up essential liberty for a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." Ben Franklin, 1759

--- You are currently subscribed to libwireless as: drewwe@morrisville.edu. The purpose of this group is to discuss libraries and all types of wireless technologies.   This includes but is not limited to wireless LANs in libraries, accessing library resources via wireless devices, and related issues such as WLANs, wireless bookmobiles, etc.     PLEASE LIMIT DISCUSSION TO LIBRARY AND INFORMATION CENTER TOPICS.

New Wiki pages but little response

2007-04-23T14:08:00.001-04:00

Cites & Insights 7:5 available

2007-04-17T09:47:00.001-04:00

Cites & Insights: Crawford at Large 7:5 (May 2007) is now available for downloading at
http://citesandinsights.info/civ7i5.pdf

The 26-page issue is PDF as usual, but you can get HTML separates of
most essays from the home page, http://citesandinsights.info/

NOTE: If you have any websites with links to the old C&I site, please
change them. That site will disappear fairly soon.

This issue includes:

* Bibs & Blather: On being cited, introducing a new section, and a belated follow-up from Richard Entlich (with apology)

* Old Media/New Media: Updates on the health of four old media

* Off topic Perspective: 50-Movie Classic Musicals, Part 1 - no West Side Story, but Reet, Petite and Gone is hot stuff.

* Interesting & Peculiar Products - four segments plus 15 roundups in seven categories in the new "Editors Choices and Best Buys" segment
(replacing "PC Progress")

* Making it Work - A new section, continuing the conversations about libraries, social software in libraries, balance... (and incorporating
The Library Stuff)

* Net Media: The High-Def Disc Saga Continues - still not time for most libraries to start buying Blu-ray or HD DVD, but lots of news.

* My Back Pages - six grumpy little essays.

And don't forget to visit Cites & Insights Books at
http://lulu.com/waltcrawford/

802.11n Woes - The Router Diaries

2007-04-12T12:47:00.001-04:00

David Pogue's latest video should be viewed by all of you that are even considering purchasing and installing 802.11n wireless. The news is not good! - Bill Drew

New York Times Video: Technology | David Pogue
David Pogue, The Times's personal-technology columnist, reports weekly on new technology in this video feature.

The Router Diaries

David Pogue's horror story behind the installation of four 802.11n wireless routers.

Wiki Ready to Go!

2007-04-06T15:55:00.001-04:00

The new wiki is now ready to go to replace my old webpage, Wireless Librarian.  Click on the link below.  I have also ported over the list of libraries with wireless networks.  Please add your library to the appropriate page. If your library is already there, check your entry.

Wireless Networking in Libraries - WebJunction Works

Wireless Networking in Libraries From WebJunction Works  The purpose of this project is to serve as the home for information originally posted by Bill Drew (the original editor of this page) on the Wireless Librarian website. It is a work in progress and will take time. Please feel free to update information and to add your own resources. One hope is that individual libraries will provide links to stories about their efforts and also links to any documentation they created.

Technorati Tags: WebJunction, Wireless Librarian, Wireless Libraries, wiki

Wireless Librarian Website is going away.

2007-03-28T16:57:00.001-04:00

I hope the subject line caught your attention. The Wireless Librarian website now in my personal account at http://people.morrisville.edu/~drewwe/wireless/ is being decommissioned by me. The information on that site is moving to http://wiki.webjunctionworks.org/index.php/Wireless_Networking_in_Libraries which is part of WebJunction Works wiki. I am moving it to a WebJunction site because I already am a moderator on the WebJunction Wireless Networking Forum. The e-mail discussion group, LibWireless, and the Wireless Libraries blog will continue for the foreseeable future. Here is what I wrote as an introduction on the new wiki page:

The purpose of this project is to serve as the home for information originally posted by Bill Drew (the original editor of this page) on the Wireless Librarian website. It is a work in progress and will take time. Please feel free to update information and to add your own resources. One hope is that individual libraries will provide links to stories about their efforts and also links to any documentation they created.

I will be moving content over to it over the next few weeks. I have put it on a wiki in order to make it a resource owned the all libraries that have wireless networks. I will also be moving over the page that lists libraries with wireless networks. My hope is that libraries will update their entries and add new ones. I will break it down into separate pages for each state in the United States and a page for each country for the rest of the world. It does have a North American - US focus but that is where I live.

Thank you.

Wireless Librarian: http://people.morrisville.edu/~drewwe/wireless/
Library: http://library.morrisville.edu/
SUNYConnect: http://www.sunyconnect.suny.edu/
My Blog:http://babyboomerlibrarian.blogspot.com

"They that can give up essential liberty for a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." Ben Franklin, 1759

Online community for Wireless Libraries and Librarians?

2007-03-27T12:10:00.001-04:00

I am thinking of creating a Ning community focused on Wireless Networks in Libraries, similar to the one I created a couple of weeks ago. Is there any interest in having such a place? I would port over the Wireless Libraries blog and Wireless Librarian website over to it. It would be a new central place for issues related to wireless. Any thoughts?

"They that can give up essential liberty for a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." Ben Franklin, 1759

Wireless LAN security myths that won’t die | George Ou | ZDNet.com

2007-03-27T10:55:00.000-04:00

This is an important item. Read the full text by clicking on the link below to see the list and detailed explanations.
Wireless LAN security myths that won’t die | George Ou | ZDNet.com:
"It's been two years since I wrote 'The six dumbest ways to secure a wireless LAN,' and it's probably been one of my more successful blog entries ever, with two flashes on Digg. Since that time, I've written a free electronic book on enterprise wireless LAN security for anyone to use and download from TechRepublic. Since it has been two years, I'm going to update the information with more defined categories and better explain why they're so bad from an ROI (return on investment) and security perspective."

Technorati tags:
security, wi-fi

New York State: THRUWAY AUTHORITY ANNOUNCES WI-FI AVAILABILITY AT TRAVEL PLAZAS

2007-03-01T16:46:00.001-05:00

For Immediate Release: March 1, 2007

THRUWAY AUTHORITY ANNOUNCES WI-FI AVAILABILITY AT
TRAVEL PLAZAS
Free Wireless Internet Access At Thruway’s 27 Travel Plazas

The New York State Thruway Authority has announced today that free Wireless Internet Service (Wi-Fi) access is now available to motorists at all 27 Thruway Travel Plazas conveniently located along the 641 mile superhighway. The Wi-Fi system provides free Internet access to customers who visit the Travel Plazas with Wi-Fi enabled devices.

“The implementation of Wi-Fi at Thruway Travel Plazas will enhance the ability of Thruway customers, whether they are traveling professionals, truck drivers, commuters, or vacationers, to better manage their time and their business from the road,” said Thruway Authority Executive Director Michael R. Fleischer. “Wireless Internet access at Thruway Travel Plazas provides motorists a convenient means to plan travel, research road conditions, check email, and access internet applications.”

Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, who originally approached the Authority about making Wi-Fi available on the Thruway, commented, “Making Wi-Fi available to Thruway travelers is a tremendous asset for business and pleasure travelers alike, and provides an enhanced service to Thruway users. The availability of this service will additionally facilitate increased use of the rest areas and service stations. As a weekly traveler on the New York State Thruway, back and forth to Albany, I can attest to the value of providing this important service to enable people to remain connected while traveling.”

Wi-Fi, or “wireless fidelity,” provides the ability to utilize wireless technology to access the Internet; which is growing at a rapid rate. Motorists traveling along the Thruway with a Wi-Fi enabled device with a standard internet browser such as a laptop, cell phone, or personal digital assistant (PDA) can now connect to the Internet when inside the seating areas of the Travel Plazas.

The installation of Wi-Fi at all Thruway Travel Plazas is just one step in the ongoing effort to improve customer service along the Thruway. The Authority is committed to implementing new advances such as Wi-Fi technology to enable customers to have a more enjoyable and productive trip on the Thruway, whether for business or pleasure.

The Authority has updated its existing signage along the system and at all 27 Thruway Travel Plazas to promote the Wi-Fi availability inside the Travel Plazas. Additional details regarding Wi-Fi, including FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and a customer service support number, will be available inside the Travel Plazas.

The Thruway’s 27 Travel Plazas are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and service over 20 million vehicles per year. The Thruway Authority discourages drowsy driving and encourages motorists to use one of the Travel Plazas or rest areas located along the Thruway to take frequent safety breaks while traveling.

- 30 -

The Authority offers a free email service called TRANSalert to its customers via email or text messaging to inform them of major unscheduled incidents that may affect their travel on the Thruway. To sign up for the TRANSalert service, customers can visit the Authority’s website at www.nysthruway.gov/tas/.

"They that can give up essential liberty for a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." Ben Franklin, 1759

NYLA Institute - WiFi for Your Library - 4-4-07 & 5-16-07

2007-02-27T14:06:00.000-05:00

The New York Library Association is pleased to announce the next
offering in the NYLA Institute series:

Wireless Internet Access in Your Library
A growing number of medium and small public libraries in New York State
have found the wireless solution that is right for them, enhancing both
their services and technology infrastructure. What's the right solution
for your library? Learn how to assess your site and your service needs.
Learn about equipment, technical support issues, network security, and
costs. Hear the specifics about several solutions for wireless, from
build-it-yourself to vendor-provided. Ample time will be provided for a
question & answer period. This workshop is appropriate for public
library staff, managers, trustees, and anyone interested in wireless
networks.

Presenters:
David Fulton, Computer Literacy Librarian at Liverpool Public Library
(Liverpool NY), provides staff and patron training on computer-related
topics.

Geoffrey Kirkpatrick, Head of Computer and Media Services at Bethlehem
Public Library (Delmar NY), manages IT support and explores appropriate
uses for new technologies in libraries.

John Love, Technology Specialist at Bethlehem Public Library (Delmar
NY), is the system administrator for the library's wired and wireless
networks.

This full day workshop is $85 for NYLA members and $120 for non-members.

Wednesday, April 4, 2007
9:30 am - 3:00 pm
Le Moyne College
Syracuse, NY
Flier & Registration Form
http://www.nyla.org/content/user_1/WiFi_Flier_4-4-07.pdf
Register Online:
http://nyla-omc.org/Scripts/4Disapi.dll/4DCGI/events/44.html?Action=Conf
erence_Detail&ConfID_W=44

Wednesday, May 16, 2007
9:30 am - 3:00 pm
Mid-Hudson Library System
Poughkeepsie, NY - Directions
Flier & Registration Form
http://www.nyla.org/content/user_1/WiFi_Flier_5-16-07.pdf
Register Online:
http://nyla-omc.org/Scripts/4Disapi.dll/4DCGI/events/45.html?Action=Conf
erence_Detail&ConfID_W=45

Questions? Call 1-800-252-NYLA

Or e-mail: education@nyla.org

********
Jeremy Johannesen
Deputy Director
New York Library Association
252 Hudson Ave, Albany, NY 12210
518-432-6952 Ext. 102 / 800-252-6952
fax - 518-427-1697
events@nyla.org

********
Visit NYLA's website - www.NYLA.org - for exciting details on 2007 NYLA
Library Lobby Day -
Albany, NY March 13, 2007

__________
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Pew Internet Report: Wireless Internet Access

2007-02-26T10:08:00.001-05:00

This is a very interesting report from the Pew Internet Group. Pew Internet: Wireless Internet Access Some 34% of internet users have logged onto the internet using a wireless connection either around the house, at their workplace, or some place else.

View PDF of Report

Technorati Tags: Pew, WiFi

Google Alert - WiFi and libraries in Wisconsin

2007-02-20T09:10:00.001-05:00

Google News Alert for: WiFi and libraries

Kimberly, Little Chute libraries offer wireless Internet access
Appleton Post Crescent - Appleton,WI,USA
The Kimberly and Little Chute libraries recently installed wireless fidelity, or WiFi capabilities, which allow patrons access to the Internet within the ...

This as-it-happens Google Alert is brought to you by Google.

Show Some Love to the FCC's Top Man

2007-02-12T13:43:00.001-05:00

Watch the Video

Send a Valentine to the Chairman

Valentine's Day is Wednesday, and FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has spurned the public's love in favor of the largest media companies. It's time we won back his heart.

So we created this 40-second Valentine's Day video for Chairman Martin. Watch the video, sign the card to Martin, and tell your friends to do the same:

Send a Valentine to Chairman Martin

Last year, Martin was caught in bed with corporate lobbyists (See the actual photo to the right). We need to woo him back to the people he's really supposed to serve.

2007 is a pivotal year for the chairman. He will be making several decisions that will have a direct impact on the future of television, radio and the Internet.

Before he gets back in bed with corporate lobbyists, Martin needs to hear from you. Sign the card and ask Chairman Martin to:

Prevent big phone companies from destroying Net Neutrality.
Stop Big Media from swallowing up even more local outlets.
Help foster more diverse voices and points of view.

Take action today to demand a media system that puts our interests before those of the corporate media lobby. On this Valentine's Day, let's make sure the public can't be ignored.

Send a Valentine to Chairman Martin

Thanks for all that you do,

Timothy Karr
Campaign Director
Free Press SavetheInternet.com

1. To get involved in the fight for better media, visit www.freepress.net and our allied campaigns at SavetheInternet.com and StopBigMedia.com

2. Support our work by making a contribution to the Free Press Action Fund at https://secure.freepress.net/05/actionfund

Technorati tags:
FCC, Save the Internet

Free: Infopeople's "Developing a Library Technology Plan" online learning course

2007-02-09T10:16:00.001-05:00

Title: Developing a Library Technology Plan (online learning course)

Dates: March 27 - April 23, 2007

To register for this workshop: Use the online registration form at
http://infopeople.org/workshop/313

Fee: Thanks to the Gates Staying Connected grant, Infopeople is able to offer this workshop to the library community free of charge.

Technology is an integral part of every library environment. Whether your library is big or small, computers are a fact of life. In order to
effectively and efficiently manage and use technology, the library must have an up-to-date technology plan. A technology plan is much more than a
technology inventory. It is a living document that helps the library continually evaluate their use of technology to ensure that technology
investments are in line with the library's service goals.

--Does your library have a technology plan? If so, when was it last updated?
--Are you responsible for developing, updating, or implementing a technology plan for your library?
--Have you ever wondered whether your technology plan includes everything it should?
--Do you wonder why you should bother developing a technology plan when technology changes so fast that you can't possibly keep up with the changes?

Technology plans help ensure that your library is ready to migrate and upgrade technology when necessary. Once developed, the annual process of
reviewing and modifying the technology plan provides a basis for long-term planning and strategic decision-making.

This online course will help the student develop their library's technology plan and establish a work plan for regularly evaluating the use of
technology in the context of the library's service goals.

Workshop Description: This four-week online learning course will provide templates and tools for developing a library technology plan. Students will
be introduced to TechAtlas, a free online tool for developing some aspects of the technology plan. Students will see other library's technology plans
and use them as a jumping off point for developing a technology plan suited to their own library.

In addition to the course material, students will participate in online discussion forums as part of the online learning process.

Preliminary Course Outline: Using your web browser and your Internet connection, you will log in to the Infopeople online learning site and
complete the following learning modules:

Module One: Introduction to Technology Planning
--Why it needs to be done and how it is connected to library service goals
--Importance of expressing service goals in terms of user experience
--Identifying gaps in service areas and preparing for the future

Module Two: Technology Infrastructure Issues
--Documenting what the library has and what the library needs in the future
--Planning for upgrades, maintenance and support
--Using TechAtlas
--Evaluating current inventory and level of support against the library's service goals.

Module Three: Human Resources
--Importance of training and professional development
--How better support systems for staff and customers improves the overall library experience

Module Four: Budgeting and Evaluation
--How to estimate costs of equipment and services
--Annual review to address gaps, change priorities and modify long term plans
--E-Rate and other funding options

Instructor: Lori Ayre. Lori is the principal consultant with The Galecia Group, a library technology consulting and project management firm located
in the North Bay. Lori has been on contract with Infopeople since 2000 doing work on various technology topics including reporting on Internet
filters, teaching, managing projects and Infopeople's webcast program. In addition to consulting, Lori speaks and writes on numerous topics including
blogging, filtering and RFID. She has her own blog, Mentat, which covers the gamut from political griping to tech tips for public libraries.

Online Learning Details:
This four-week course will be taught online using the web. When you register, you will receive a registration confirmation that will include
the URL to get to the course, as well as a username and password.

Every student proceeds through the online learning modules at his or her own pace. Students should expect to commit to spending a minimum of 2 to 2½
hours per week on this course in order to be successful. You can work on each module at your own pace, at any hour of the day or night. However, you
will be expected to log in to the course each week to do that week's assignment. We ask that you log in sometime during the first week of the
course to begin the course work.

Your instructor will be available for limited consultation support for two weeks after the official end date of a course, and the course material will
stay up for an additional two weeks after that, to give those who have fallen behind time to work independently on the course. However, you will
be expected to accomplish the majority of the course in synchronization with your peers during the first four weeks.

Who Should Take This Course: Anyone from the library community with an interest in technology planning.

Prerequisites:
This course is taught over the web. You must:

--Have an Internet connection and Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher.
--Be able to save Microsoft Word .doc or Adobe .pdf files to your computer and print them out. (For .doc files, a free Word Viewer is available at
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/search.aspx?displaylang=en. Search for "Word Viewer." For .pdf files, a free Adobe Acrobat Reader is available at
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/main.html).
--Be comfortable navigating on the web and navigating back and forward on a website that uses frames.

To be most successful in this course you should be willing to share information with your colleagues and be willing to spend time reading and
participating in the weekly discussion boards.

System Requirements: The online learning product that Infopeople uses is called Angel. The following are minimum system requirements for using
Angel. You will need access to a computer that has at least these specifications to participate in an online course:

Windows:
--Internet Explorer 6.0 and above, Netscape 7.1 and above, or Firefox 1.5 and above

Macintosh:
--Mozilla 1.4 and above (which is the same engine as Netscape 7.1), Safari 2.0 and above, or Firefox 1.5 and above
--OS X and above (OS 9 will NOT work with our online learning product)

If you are not comfortable with any of the above, please consider taking this course with a colleague who does meet these requirements.

To view a complete list of Infopeople workshops and for general information about Infopeople training opportunities, go to the main Infopeople
Workshops page at http://www.infopeople.org/workshop

If you have questions about registration or scheduling of workshops, please contact Linda Rodenspiel, the Infopeople Project Assistant, at
assist@infopeople.org or by phone at 650-578-9685.

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