SCLS Technology Planning

Feedback: Draft staff strategies

We're looking for feedback on our draft staff strategies.   These strategies are designed to help SCLS technology staff provide good service, and guide decision-making and project planning.

We wanted to give all of the SCLS libraries a chance to see and react to the strategies before we make them "official".....you're feedback is appreciated!  Feel free to leave comments or contact me directly.

Staff strategies and library expectations

The last month, we've been working on a couple of things related to the technology planning process:

• We've been finishing up our "staff strategies" that I'll share with you early next week.
• We've started working on a companion document that lays out some expectations for SCLS libraries related to technology. 

While the library expectations document wasn't an original goal of our technology process, the committee felt that the staff strategies were the beginning of a commitment -- an informal contract -- between the SCLS staff and the libraries.  It made sense for there to be a similar document outlining the libraries' side of the "contract".  The library representatives on the technology planning committee will be drafting this document, and we'll share it all with you in the near future.

...and, by the way, the notes from the October 2008 meeting of the technology committee are now available.  You can find more details on this topic there.

From the results: Small technology workshops for library staff

Today I wanted to comment on this response from the technology planning survey:

"I'm not sure how feasible it would be, but maybe hold small workshops at libraries for just that library's staff?  It is difficult for people to rearrange their schedules and make the drive to SCLS Administration.  I think all of the online training sessions are a huge step in the right direction, but there's still getting people comfortable enough with technology first to benefit from online learning."

I'm happy to be able to respond to this comment with some good news!  In 2009, our LSTA Technology Block Grant includes funds for libraries to request to use for either patron OR staff technology instruction.  We haven't worked out the exact guidelines yet, but these funds should be able to do what this person is looking for!  Expect an announcement sometime in the first few months of 2009 with more information on how to apply.

Workgroup 2: comparing decision-making models

The work done over the Summer on the technology planning process was done by various workgroups.  Workgroup 2, led by Lauren Blough, took on the task of contacting various organizations to find out their technology organizational structures and how they made technology decisions.  They created 16 individual reports, totaling over one hundred pages of great information!

Lauren also created a summary spreadsheet comparing the organizations, and a Word document with an explanation of how the workgroup did their work.  These documents were shared at our September Technology Planning Committee meeting, and now they've been shared with you!

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask by posting a comment or by contacting me....