Table Of Contents:

List of Figures viii
Foreword ix

Keith Michael Fiels
Preface xiii
Library Technology Plans and Requests for Proposals (RFPs) on CD-ROM xvii
Alphabetical List of Libraries Contributing Plans and RFPs xvii

List of Library Technology Plans and RFPs, by Type of Library xviii
Academic and Research Libraries xviii
Public Libraries, Library Consortia, and Library Agencies xix
School Libraries xx
Special Libraries xx
Technology Plans xxi
Requests for Proposal xxii
Notes/Credits xxii

New Technologies, Evolving System Capabilities, User Expectations: The Impact on Library Technology Planning 1(12)

Introduction 1(2)

The Middle-Aged ILS 3(1)

The ILS: Dinosaur or Phoenix? 4(1)

Planning for Web 2.0 and the New Generation of Library Systems and Technology 5(3)

Planning the Forest, Not the Trees 5(1)

The Importance of Strategic Planning 6(2)

Conclusion 8(1)

Notes 8(1)

Sources 9(4)

Getting Started: Defining the Purpose and Scope of Your Library's Technology Plan 13(8)

Introduction 13(1)

How Do technology Plans Communicate the Needs of Libraries? 14(2)

Establishing the Scope of your Plan: What are Some Basic Decisions You Must Make? 16(3)

Who is Your Intended Audience? 16(1)

What is Your Planning Horizon? 16(1)

Is Your Strategic Technology Plan Also an Action Plan? 17(1)

How Extensive Will the Needs Assessment Be? 17(1)

How Does Your Plan Relate to the Plans of Other Organizations? 18(1)

Sources 19(2)

Elements of a Technology Plan: From Vision and Mission to Assessment and Evaluation 21(8)

Introduction 21(1)

What Must I Include in My Plan? 22(5)

The Executive Summary 22(1)

Background Information 23(1)

The Current State of Technology 24(1)

The Library's Technology Plan and Budget 25(2)

Evaluation 27(1)

Conclusion 27(1)

Sources 28(1)

Elements of a Technology Plan: Shaping Your Plan to Meet Funding Requirements 29(8)

Introduction 29(2)

What is the E-Rate Program? 31(1)

What Specific Considerations Must Technology Plans Address to Meet E-Rate Program Requirements? 31(1)

Conclusion 32(2)

Note 34(1)

Sources 35(2)

Developing Your Technology Plan: Gathering Data, Describing Services, Identifying Needs 37(12)

Introduction 37(1)

Initial Steps in Developing the Plan 38(9)

Identify Stakeholder Participants 38(2)

Identify Existing Library Programs, Services, and Supporting Technologies 40(2)

Gather Data and Identify Needs 42(5)

Sources 47(2)

Developing and Writing Your Technology Plan: Refining Priorities, Identifying Goals and Objectives, Outlining Costs 49(12)

Introduction 49(1)

Refining Your Library's Priorities 50(1)

Developing Goals, Objectives, and Actions 50(2)

Putting a Price Tag on Your Technology Plan 52(6)

Defining Your Cost Factors 55(3)

Conclusion 58(1)

Sources 59(2)

A Model Two-Day Process for Developing a Basic Strategic Plan 61(10)

Introduction 61(1)

Using a Facilitator to Plan 62(1)

Identify the Planning Participants 62(1)

Set the Tone 63(1)

Undertake Brainstorming Exercises 63(3)

Exercise 1 63(3)

Exercise 2 66(1)

Assign Point Values 66(1)

Create Issues, Goals, and Objectives 67(1)

Conclusion 68(1)

Sources 69(2)

Working with Your Technology Plan: Preparing Your Library's In-House Collection Databases 71(22)

Introduction 71(1)

Retrospective Conversion: The Basics 72(7)

Preparing for Retrospective Conversion: Weeding and Inventory 72(1)

Steps in the Conversion Process 73(3)

Data Conversion Methods 76(2)

Retrospective Conversion Costs 78(1)

Bar Coding the Database/RFID Tags 79(6)

Types of Bar Codes 79(3)

How to Get Bar Codes 82(1)

Bar Coding Before Buying a System 83(1)

Bar Coding Issues in System Migration 84(1)

Other Bar Coding Issues, Including RFID Tags 84(1)

Applying Standards 85(3)

MARC---Machine-Readable Cataloging 86(1)

Discovering That MARC Can't Do it All: New Elements of Description 87(1)

Conclusion 88(1)

Sources 88(5)

Working with Your Technology Plan: Implementing Traditional, Open Source, and Web 2.0-Based Systems and Services 93(24)

Introduction 93(2)

The Implementation Process 95(18)

Requesting Information from Vendors 95(1)

Understanding the Phases of a Procurement 96(2)

Describing Your Library for an RFP 98(1)

Creating Your RFP 99(5)

Evaluating Proposals and Selecting a System 104(4)

Putting Your System into Place 108(5)

The ``Hosting'' Option for Systems and Web 2.0 Services 113(1)

Note 113(1)

Sources 114(3)

Working with Your Technology Plan: Staffing Options and User Training 117(18)

Introduction 117(2)

Staffing Issues and Options: Who Does Your Library's Work? 119(5)

Developing a Digital Collection 120(1)

Building a Web Site 120(2)

Managing a Site or System 122(2)

Training and Retraining Staff 124(6)

Training Strategies 125(2)

Working with Your ILS Vendor 127(3)

Training and Retraining the Public 130(1)

Conclusion 131(1)

Sources 132(3)

Working with Your Technology Plan: Ongoing Review and Evaluation 135(8)

Introduction 135(1)

Understanding the Relationship between Your Technology Plan and Accountability 136(1)

Doing a Midpoint Review 137(1)

A Model Exercise for Getting Input on What You Have Accomplished with Your Plan 138(1)

Making Creative Use Out of Your Evaluation Process 138(3)

Sources 141(2)

Your Technology Plan: What Worked, What Didn't 143(4)

What Makes for a Good Plan? 143(1)

What Makes for a Bad Plan? 144(1)

Keeping Your Technology Plan Current---A Reprise 145(1)

Sources 146(1)

Conclusion. Getting the Most Out of Your Technology Plan in Changing Times 147(4)

Introduction 147(1)

The Plan and Your Library's Mission 147(1)

Getting the Most Out of Your Technology Plan 148(3)

Webliography. Technology Planning and RFP Creation Resources on the World Wide Web 151(6)

Introduction 151(1)

General Resources 151(2)

Academic and Special Libraries 153(1)

Public and School Libraries (Including State Libraries and Departments of Education) 154(1)

Requests for Proposal 155(2)
Index 157(6)
About the Authors 163