Presented at the NLA/NEMA 2010 Annual Conference. October 14, 2010. http://nebraskalibraries.org/conference/2010/

1. Technology Planning 101 NLA/NEMA Annual Conference October 14, 2010 Christa Burns Nebraska Library Commission christa.burns@nebraska.gov

2. What a Technology Plan is… A plan A demonstration A lens with which to focus A prioritizing agent A budgeting tool An aligner with other institutional goals A training schedule A fund-raising tool

3. What it is not… A list of technology that the library wants and on what time frame it wants it.

4. Your plan should be SMART Specific Measureable Aggressive & Attainable Results-oriented Time-bound

5. Why? Give the library direction Show the library is forward-thinking Help minimize technology-related crises Use staff time efficiently Avoid wasting money on equipment Help you think through your priorities in order to use technology in a way that directly furthers your mission

6. What makes a good plan? Concise Specific Integrated Foreseeable Flexible

7. And what doesn’t? Tech for tech’s sake Doesn’t connect the tech to the mission of the library Doesn’t explain why the tech is needed Poorly organized Techno-babble Leaves stuff out

8. The players Board Director Department heads Staff Public?

9. The Resources Direct: Current strategic and/or long-range plan Library mission and/or vision statement Current and/or previous technology plans Indirect: All of the above for parent institution Library journals, magazines, and blogs

10. The Structure Executive summary Library description Library challenges Current technology environment Emerging technologies Web site evaluation Recommendations

11. Executive Summary 1-2 page narrative summary of the plan

12. Library Description Introduction Purpose of the plan Library history Physical description Mission statement Community served Staffing Budget Collection size & annual growth Services offered Use of the library Current technology Visuals never hurt!

13. Library Challenges SWOT Analysis Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats

14. Current Technology Hardware Patron computers, Staff computers, networking equipment, peripherals Software OSes, Patrons, Staff

15. How to pick new tech Think about “competencies”What do you think your staff needs to know to move your library into the future?

16. Emerging Technologies Audio/Video Wireless Mobile RFID Social Media Photo printing

17. Web Site Analysis Follows current design practices? Platform? Static, CMS Accessible? Social? Mobile?

18. Recommendations Priorities Description of relevant categories Listing of the specific recommendations Type (new software, application, hardware) Cost (including interdependencies) Benefits Recommended timeline Assessment/results/training needed

19. Suggested phrasing “In the next [time frame], the library will [action or recommendation], which will result in [associated benefits].”

20. http://webjunction.techatlas.org/ Inventory Tool Event Tracker Planning Tool

21. More Resources Matthews, Joseph R., Technology Planning: Preparing and Updating a Library Technology Plan: Libraries Unlimited, 2005. TechSoup for Libraries: http://www.techsoupforlibraries.org/ WebJunction – Technology Planning:http://www.webjunction.org/techplan NLC Technology Planning Worksheet: http://www.nlc.state.ne.us/libdev/erate/ worksheet.html