Wired for the Future: Developing Your Library Technology Plan - Softcover

Mayo, Diane; Nelson, Sandra S

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0838934919 ISBN 13: 9780838934913

Publisher: American Library Association, 1999

Synopsis

To help meet the challenge of using technology effectively, The Public Library Association offers a comprehensive and practical guide to preparing a technology plan. Wired for the Future aids in preparing a plan that positions the library to meet its objectives for the community, its staff, and its best future. Authors Mayo and Nelson provide the raw materials to build, implement, and evaluate a workable technology plan. All the necessary tools are provided to determine technology needs, identify technology options, select a technology infrastructure, and implement the plan. Reproducible workforms enable librarians to customize key steps to specific situations. Technotes explain various technologies and applications available to libraries.

About this title

About the Author:

The Public Library Association (PLA), a division of the American Library Association, strives to enhance the development and effectiveness of public library staff and public library services. This mission positions PLA to focus its efforts on serving the needs of its members, address issues that affect public libraries, and commit to quality public library services that benefit the general public. Jeanne Goodrich is a consultant and trainer specializing in public library planning, Job analysis, and data collection and analysis. Former Deputy Director of the Multnomah County Library in Portland, Oregon, she has more than thirty years of experience in public library management, directing medium-sized libraries and serving as deputy director for library development at a state library agency. Goodrich received her master's degree in library science from the University of Oregon. Diane Mayo is vice president of Information Partners, Inc., an Information technology and library automation consulting firm that specializes in assisting libraries with planning and implementing a wide range of technologies. With more than twenty years' experience as a librarian focused on managing technology, she has overseen both technical and public services at multi-branch public libraries. She is co-author of Wired for the Future: Developing Your Library Technology Plan and Managing for Results: Effective Resource Allocation for Public Libraries. Mayo received her master's degree in library science from California State University, Fullerton.

From Library Journal:

This book is intended as a companion volume to the Public Library Association's (PLA) recently updated planning manual, Planning for Results: A Public Library Transformation Process (Professional Media, LJ 7/98). Co-author Nelson chaired the PLA committee that developed the manual. Mayo is also a librarian and now works as a library automation consultant. Wired for the Future aims to assist public librarians in developing a cogent technology plan. The first part outlines in detail 16 tasks to be performed by the planning committee. The second part, entitled "Tech Notes," strives to define the technology in a nontechnical manner, from cabling and firewalls to Z39.50. Each Tech Note ends with a list of additional resources including both print and online. The authors intend a Tech Notes homepage on the PLA web site to update this section. The final section contains reproducible workforms that correspond to the tasks in the first section, although a tear sheet or loose-leaf format would have been more practical. In addition, the book's weak binding sprung loose in this reviewer's hands. The pace of technological change, the availability of technologically designated grants, and limited public funding make careful planning all the more imperative. Every public library that is serving or planning to serve the technologically hungry and technologically phobic should own this book.ARobert Battenfeld, Long Island Univ.
Southampton Coll. Lib., NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: American Library Association
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0838934919
• ISBN 13: 9780838934913
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 260