The prospect of technology planning can seem overwhelming and time consuming, especially for those who work in an already short-staffed library. If this is your situation, you may be thinking,

Thank you to Faye Roberts, who expertly and patiently assisted me with editing this book.

The first step in creating a technology plan for your library is to conduct an assessment of existing technology. It is vital to know what you already have before considering future plans or what to purchase.

After identifying all current technology in your library, the next vital step in developing a good plan is to define the library’s technology needs—from the staff and the community perspective. In preparing to explore those needs, it is important to familiarize yourself with technology options and trends among libraries and in the rest of the world. Understanding options and trends...

In the first two chapters, we focused on collecting the data necessary to create a successful technology plan. We saw that the first step in creating that plan is conducting an assessment that establishes a clear picture of the technology on hand and how it is used. A second, equally vital, step is to collect input on the technology needs of both the library staff and your community. In chapter 3,...

Identifying the needs of your community and your library and developing overall goals and outcomes for the library’s technology services will help you design an effective technology plan. Chapter 4 explores the tasks that will comprise your plan—the nitty-gritty of selecting the actual technology, preparing for its installation, formulating a timeline for implementation, and creating a...

As has often been said, a plan in your head is not a plan—it’s just an idea. Shaping your technology plan into a useful written document is fundamental to the success of the plan itself. By working through the first chapters of this book, you have created various components of your plan; putting everything together into one written document will help you articulate the plan and prepare...

By working through the previous chapters, you have created a complex plan with goals and outcomes as well as a roadmap for achieving those goals. Even with the best directions, though, we can fail to reach our destination if we do not successfully implement our plans. In this chapter, we will look at tactics and best practices to ensure successful implementation so that your library’s...

When introducing new technologies at the library, providing training for staffs and users to work with new devices and software can mean the difference between successful implementation and failure. When training is inadequate—or even nonexistent—we often see technology underutilized or even pushed to the side. Without training, staff members and users alike may be uncomfortable with...

In the previous chapter, we focused on the importance of developing a training strategy for both the library’s users and its staff. We mentioned that technology continues to evolve with new features, uses, and versions. Your technology plan will guide you through the crucial early stages of implementing new technologies, but your plan should also address maintaining and supporting that...

In chapter 3, we discussed formulating goals and outcomes for the technology used in your library. As you worked through that process, you thought about the community needs that the library should address, how technology could help meet those needs, and how technology would help the library achieve its overall goals. In chapter 9, we take an in-depth look at the effects of the now-implemented...

Congratulations! You have completed your first technology plan. As you worked through this book, you likely created your first comprehensive library planning document. This was not an easy task—so take a moment to congratulate yourself on a job well done.

As of January 1, 2011, public libraries in Indiana are required to follow the standards in 590 IAC 6 in order to be eligible for the receipt of state and federal funds. These standards require that public libraries report bylaws and long-range and technology plans to the Indiana State Library. This template and its accompanying documents are designed to help public libraries in meeting the...

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Diana Silveira is president of Novare Library Services, a company that focuses on consulting with libraries with an emphasis on implementing and integrating new technologies. Her library experience includes serving as manager of virtual reference for Florida’s Ask a-Librarian service; as coordinator of Florida’s statewide delivery system for interlibrary loans; and as reference...

Marta Mestrovic Deyrup, Ph.D.