Contents:
Introduction
Current State of
Technology in the Library
Mission & Goals of
the Stewart Library
Role of Information Technology
Projects
Life-Cycle Management Calendar
1. The purpose of the Library Technology Plan (LTP) is
to:
Inform the library’s efforts to effectively deliver information
resources to the Weber State University community in a variety of
print, audiovisual, multimedia, and electronic formats.
Ensure that information technology is appropriately integrated
into the library’s existing programs and services and encourage
innovation in the development of new services.
Provide documentation of technology needs and a recommended plan
of action to meet those needs.
Coordinate planning for library information technology with planning
undertaken elsewhere in the university.
Guide the library’s effort to acquire financial support for additional
information technologies.
Inform the allocation of current expenditures for information technology
and serve as a point of reference for projecting future budget requirements
for IT implementation, maintenance and enhancement.
Organize and prioritize IT projects and activities and institute
life-cycle management of hardware and software in the library.
The Library Technology
Plan will be reviewed and updated annually.
2. Factors influencing the development and implementation of
a plan for the effective utilization of information technology
in the library include:
Assessment, Maintenance
and Enhancement
Library information technologies require routine assessment of
effectiveness and efficiency. Ongoing utilization of information
technologies requires routine maintenance and periodic enhancement.
Community
University-wide commitment to support information technologies.
Cooperative and supportive local, state and national associations
and organizations.
Concurrent Planning
Processes by Affiliated Associations and Divisions
Stewart Library Council Annual Review of Goals and Objectives.
Utah Academic Libraries Consortium Legislative Request.
WSU divisions of Academic Affairs and Information Technology Needs
Assessment.
WSU Academic Resources and Computing Committee Needs Assessment.
WSU Administrative Technology Advisory Council Needs Assessment.
External Environment
Access vs. ownership for information resources and a growing dependence
on commercial database vendors.
User preference for and increased dependence on Internet-based
access to information resources.
Heightened expectations for technology based resources and services
to make access to information easier.
Prevalence of personal computing technology increasing the demand
for reliable remote access.
Consortia sharing and licensing negotiations to access electronic
resources.
Availability of tools to provide remote access to locally held
unique resources (i.e. archives and special collections).
Need for improved security systems for copyright compliance, privacy
protection and prevention of vandalism.
Local Environment
Diverse clientele with diverse information needs and disparate
levels of information literacy skills.
Growing population of onsite and online learners.
Commitment to provide open access to information and yet be sensitive
to community standards.
Integration and interoperability between disparate but complimentary
information technologies.
Continually changing nature of technology and the increased need
to routinely update skills.
Expectation for single-point authentication access to protected
resources within a common information management system.
Funding
Static state funding and the ongoing need to seek outside funding
to support the cost of information technology and the life-cycle
management of hardware and software.
Balancing the cost of information technology with the need to support
growth and maintenance of traditional library resources and services.
Market competition - salaries within the university for IT employees
cannot compete with the outside market.
Infrastructure
Libraries on two separate campuses in two separate counties with
network access to library resources and services.
Information technology delivery systems housed in the Stewart Library,
Ogden campus.
Technical support adequate to maintain daily operational status
within the library and the university.
Shared Values
Providing an environment supportive of academic and intellectual
freedom.
Promoting innovation, learning, scholarship and intellectual growth.
Creating and maintaining equitable and reliable access to information
resources and preserving information resources in a variety of formats.
Developing user centered programs and services and employing creativity,
flexibility and simplicity in the design and improvement of our
services.
Using technology as a catalyst to create new services and to re-engineer
existing services.
Promoting the development of information and computer literacy
skills.
Using assessment data to improve our resources and sources.
Technology Supported Services Include:
Library website
Online catalog
Real-time online reference assistance
Remote computer access/authentication
Wireless/wired Internet access
Self-serve, fee-based printing
Integrated library system (Horizon - Acquisitions, Cataloging Circulation,
Serials)
Electronic/digital interlibrary loan services and document delivery
Equipment:
The library currently maintains the following equipment:
66 patron access computers configured for secure/authenticated
access to the Internet and operation of licensed software applications
72 computers in three multi-media classrooms
50 faculty/staff computers
Infrastructure:
The library’s in-house technological services infrastructure consists
of 7 production file servers that operate the library’s integrated
library system (Horizon), online catalog (HIP); library website
(IIS), remote authentication (Ezproxy), electronic reserve (DocuTek),
interlibrary loan (ILLiad), and local authenticated Internet gateway
(BlueSocket/RPA). Servers are housed in a climate controlled environment
and are connected to redundant power, redundant storage arrays,
and offsite storage.
All in-house technology assistive services are administered, maintained,
and operated by library staff. The library’s network infrastructure
is maintained and managed by the university’s Network Management
Department.
The Stewart Library’s mission is to:
1) Advance the instructional, scholarship, and community service
mission of Weber State University through the development of on-site
collections, access to off-site resources, personalized assistance
in the use of library and information resources, and instruction
on research strategies and tools.
2) Assess the services we provide and the relevancy and use of
the collections and use assessment outcomes to continually improve
our resources and services.
Ongoing Goals
In support of the university’s mission to “provide students with
high-quality comprehensive programs in professional and liberal
arts areas as well as studies in advanced professional fields,”
the library has adopted the following goals:
Continue to improve the quality and relevancy of the collection
by systematically assessing the information resource needs of the
academic community and developing a focused collection of print
and electronic resources to support instructional and research needs.
Leverage existing and emerging technology to foster the
development of library collections and services that support WSU
teaching and learning.
Enhance access to information resources by subscribing to
electronic databases and full-text journals and, in consultation
with faculty, canceling print subscriptions for titles available
full-text online.
Continue to develop and sustain a comprehensive instruction
program that includes for credit, online and on demand instruction
in order to graduate students with information literacy competencies.
Augment the library’s budget with funding from grants and
private gifts .
The library reflects the University’s community service mission
by actively seeking to establish appropriate partnerships with libraries
and other organizations within the community and by providing community
access to its resources and services.
Information technology provides the tools to assist the library
in meeting its ongoing goal to enhance and expand library resources
and services.
Each year, in consultation with faculty and staff, library-wide
goals and objectives are established by Library Council. An essential
part of this planning and goal setting process is identifying our
information technology needs for the coming year, prioritizing those
needs, determining costs, and establishing a budget based on the
priorities determined and the amount of funding available.
The Systems Team is responsible for administering, implementing,
and maintaining information technology in the library and for assessing
the effectiveness of technological applications in support of library
goals and objectives. It is also responsible for recommending technology
applications to support the goals and objectives approved by Library
Council.
The following section of the Library Technology Plan includes
projects and applications recommended by the Systems Team and approved
by Library Council for implementation during 2005 - 2008.
| 2009/2010–
2011/2012 |
Estimated annual ongoing IT expenditures (based on 3 year average). One time or special project expenses are not accounted for in this schedule. |
Subtotal |
Total |
| ITEM: |
Horizon ILS software maintenance |
$26,000.00 |
|
| ITEM: |
Horizon ILS server maintenance |
$2,000.00 |
|
| ITEM: |
EReserve software maintenance |
$4,400.00 |
|
| ITEM:
|
ILLiad software maintenance |
$4,000.00 |
|
| ITEM: |
ColdFusion Software maintenance |
$1,000.00 |
|
| ITEM: |
Faculty/Staff CPUs (3 –5 new units avg.) |
$3,000.00 |
|
| ITEM: |
Classroom computer replacement (27 new units avg.) |
$56,000.00 |
|
| ITEM: |
Network printer (1-2 new units avg.) |
$1,000.00 |
|
| ITEM: |
Computer hardware maintenance |
$5,000.00 |
|
| ITEM: |
Patron computer security and resource management hardware/software |
$3,000.00 |
|
| ITEM: |
Bibliographic Services & Circulation Services computer & computing hardware replacements. (Computers, barcode readers, etc.) |
$4,000.00 |
|
| ITEM: |
Patron in-house laptops (4 units avg.) |
$4,000.00 |
|
| ITEM: |
Production server hardware and software maintenance |
$8,000.00 |
|
| |
Annual Estimated Total: |
|
$121,4000.00 |
| * Systems does not include the following in this estimate of annual expenses:
Toner cartridges fusers scanners fax machines office workstation components (disks mouse keyboard speakers etc.) or items typically requested as “supplies” by library personnel or the Administrative Office. |
