SCLS Technology News

Advance notice for network printer installs

Just a quick reminder -- if your library is getting a new network printer or copier that will be used by your SCLS-supported PCs, please schedule this in advance with the SCLS Help Desk. With a little notice, we'll be able to make sure we have staff available to make any necessary network configuration changes and to help install the new driver on your supported PCs.

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E-rate and iBoss filtering update

Work is under way to submit grants for E-rate discounts that will offset library network fees. SCLS has created an E-rate and Filtering Information page. On this page you will find FAQs for both E-rate and filtering. These documents provide information that may answer questions you have about the E-rate process or the filtering software. If your library is interested in participating in the E-rate grant process and you are able to meet the CIPA requirements as explained in the E-rate FAQ, please send a Letter of Agency to Vicki Teal Lovely no later than March 4, 2016. Submitting this letter authorizes SCLS to file for E-rate on your library's behalf, but it does not obligate you to participate. A library would still have the opportunity to withdraw from the application process at a later date.

We are also offering an informational webinar session on March 16 at 2:30. You may register here.

 

November 2014 Projects report

Technology Report for 11/12/14 Technology Committee Meeting

Library Fiber Project -
• 35 libraries have had bandwidth upgrades
• 5 libraries are in a ‘holding pattern’ because DOA and AT&T are having some ‘bureaucratic issues’.
• 3 libraries as scheduled to be completed before the end of the year
• 1 library will be completed in 2015 after their new building is built

Library-MUFN – UW network engineers have completed network design plans for HAW. The design requires attaching to some City of Madison fiber so this will need to be presented to city staff for consideration.

E-commerce – On November 4, we completed final testing. Everything looks good to go. Go live is not anticipated until January, 2015 since it will take as at least 6 weeks from final testing is complete to do the final implementation. Libraries will be receiving the plan shortly.

Office 365 – All of the libraries with @scls.lib.wi.us addresses that are migrating to Office 365 through SCLS have migrated.

The last portion of this project is the migration of SCLS-hosted email lists from the SCLS email server to WiscNet. The Office 365 Team will share more information about this move as they iron out the details and timelines.

Library Online Upgrade – The Tech Team is planning for an upgrade of the Library Online servers from version 4.4 to 4.9. This will then enable us to upgrade the Library Online clients to version 4.9 which will fix a pesty bug which caused PCs to log off due to inactivity when they were actively being used. The upgrade is scheduled for November 19th after hours.

2015 SCLS Technology Plan - The technology team has been developing the technology plan for 2015. The first draft of the plan is here. 

Five Year Technology Plan for DPI - This year DPI changed the five year system technology plan to an online format and asked every library to submit a new plan. SCLS is working hard to make this a plan that we can live with four five years. We anticipate that it will be a living document which will guide the structure of our annual technology plan. The annual plans will be structured to the goals in the five year plan forward. The five year plan will be reviewed by the Technology Committee, the ILS Committee, the Administrative Council and the SCLS Board. It will also be shared at the All Director’s meeting on November 20. The draft of the five year plan is located here.

Cindy Weber moving to ILS position-- Cindy Weber will be moving into the position left open by Joanna Jordan and will be working with Heidi to support circulation. Cindy has a long history of working with the ILS staff. She currently supports Talking Tech, notices and offline circulation. Cindy also has experience with documentation and training, and of course many years of technology help desk support experience. Finally, Cindy is still the go to person for Koha reports. With all of this, it seemed like a natural fit to have Cindy work full time on the ILS. The ILS staff are excited to work with her in this new role. Of course, this means that Technology Support is losing an employee. There will be an evaluation of this vacancy, but that is another story. Cindy will slowly transition to the ILS and will be ready to work on ILS full time as of January 1, 2015.

Drupal - 22 of 41 member library websites have been migrated to Drupal. On October 15, a Drupal security vulnerability was announced which allowed unauthorized access to SCLS-hosted Drupal sites before we were able to apply a recommended update. We rolled back all sites and reapplied the update to secure all sites and eliminate the possibility of further unauthorized access. We are making plans to virtualize the server hosting Drupal sites to improve our ability to cope with this type of issue in the future. We have also added server RAM and made site and server configuration changes to mitigate sporadic issues with slow page loads.

The end of "non-LINK"

nce upon a time, there were 2 different groups of SCLS staff supporting 2 collections of library PCs on 2 different networks -- "LINK" and "non-LINK." In 2010, SCLS combined these groups of people and began the process of bringing the non-LINK PCs onto the SCLS network. Not all libraries had the infrastructure, bandwidth, or compatible hardware to make the switchover right away, but we finally hit a milestone last week --- all SCLS-supported PCs are now on the SCLS network with standard SCLS configurations. "Non-LINK" is no more, and we now just have "SCLS PCs."  (and everyone lived happily ever after)

Hip Hip Hooray!

What does this mean for member libraries?

• standard configurations
• streamlined processes
• regular updates
• SCLS-supported PCs on SCLS-supported networks

which all translates to improved economies of scale and BETTER SUPPORT.

September 2014 Project Report

© 2012 Robert, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio

Technology Report for 9/10/14 Technology Committee Meeting

Library Fiber Project - The bandwidth upgrade project is nearing completion. 25 libraries have had bandwidth increases to-date. 7 libraries have completed the inside-the-building pre-requisite work necessary to bring fiber into their library. We are now working on moving most libraries that have moved to Charter and VPN back to BadgerNet. 5 libraries have moved from a VPN solution back to BadgerNet after fiber had been installed.

Library-MUFN - The Madison Meadowridge Branch is the third Madison Public Library System to come up on MUFN (Metropolitan Unified Fiber Network). The next library in the queue is the Hawthorne Branch.

E-commerce - There is one last issue that surfaced during the final software setup phase that is an issue with Envisionware and VeriFone. It is back in the hands of Envisionware. Once that issue is fixed, we will announce implementation plans. We are asking ILS for a 4 month period to work out how fines / fees will be distributed.

O365 - Things are going GREAT! Between June and August 90% of SCLS libraries participating in Office 365 have migrated. The Office 365 team is working with the remaining libraries to schedule their migration dates. The next phase of this project is to move SCLS-hosted email lists to WiscNet over the course of the next few months.

Windows 8.1 - Most new staff computers will have Windows 8.1 installed on them. SCLS Headquarters and Monroe are the first locations to have new Windows 8.1 staff stations. A Windows 8.1 configuration for public stations is being developed right now. Both the staff and patron configuration will be very similar to the Windows 7 configuration.

Limited Term Employees - We hired two new half time LTE employees to assist with covering the Help Desk, prepping PCs and data entry work. They are Jordan Rueden and William Allington. Both Jordan and Will are participating in IT programs at MATC. We are happy to have them on board!

Madison Public Library Meadowridge Branch - SCLS Technology services staff have worked with Madison Public Library to meet the needs for the new building. This included preparation of the network, installation of PCs, support for VendPrint and Enterprise Wireless. All the work is complete and ready for the library opening which is slated for next week.

Drupal - 20 of 40 member library websites have been migrated to Drupal. This summer, we welcomed DFT and DCL to the list of Drupal sites hosted by SCLS and kept sites up to date with security releases. Samuel Streiffer has returned to SCLS for the next year as an LTE and will be assisting with website content migration and programming.

2015 LSTA Grant: The 2015 LSTA grant technology was submitted on Monday, September 8. The grant includes the following:

• Purchase network equipment to increase the bandwidth in libraries with a critical need ($15,000)
• Provide assistance for libraries planning to join the shared ILS (LINKcat) using the open source LibLime Koha software ($2,000)
• Provide a Discovery Layer for the LINKcat OPAC of the shared ILS ($18,000)
• Create maker kits for libraries to use in their programming ($8,900):
• Sewing machines and cases (6)
• Portable 3-D printer and filament
• iPads for stop motion videos (also light boxes, microphones, lights, tripods and software) (6 total)
• 6 photo/slide/negatives scanners.
• SCLS will purchase laptops to support the kits for a total approximate cost of $3,000.

Participate in the Library Speed Test!

Libraries are invited to participate in a brief broadband speed test as part of the larger Digital Inclusion Survey (digitalinclusion.umd.edu). As part of its E-rate Program modernization effort, the Federal Communications Commission is gathering data to inform changes in the program and better understand library and school broadband needs. Speed test data from your library(ies) will help determine upload/download speeds that users experience at different times during the day - providing a critical measure of service quality in public libraries and helping to inform the FCC about library broadband needs.

You can help by taking the speed test by August 1, 2014. To begin, go to http://digitalinclusion.pnmi.com/speedtest/. If you need help answering the questions about your library's bandwidth, you can contact the SCLS Help Desk for assistance.

The study is funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), and conducted by the American Library Association (ALA) and the Information Policy & Access Center (iPAC) at the University of Maryland College Park. The project also is supported by the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA), the Public Library Association (PLA), the Urban Libraries Council (ULC), and the Association of Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL).

Updates on the Badgernet Library Fiber Project

As first announced back in February, most SCLS member libraries that participate in the SCLS Network are having fiber optic network connections installed in 2014. Here are some important updates about this exciting project.

Fiber Project Scope Changes

Some libraries that were not initially part of the project have since been approved for funding and construction. Other library locations that were initially slated for inclusion but whose funding was not 100% assured have since had their funding and fiber construction fully approved. Many thanks to the DPI and DOA staff who've helped to make this happen, maximizing the benefits of state wide fiber optic networking.

Fiber Project Scheduling Changes

Early in the planning process, it was thought that most SCLS Network locations would get their BCN fiber installed before August. Due to issues with ground conditions (late thaw), construction permits and the scheduling requirements of contractors and subcontractors for the work being done, the schedule had to be revised. Some libraries have already been upgraded, and other libraries will be upgraded in early summer, but some sites have been delayed until as late as October.

For more background information on this project, see the Badgernet Fiber Project page on the SCLS website. For details on revised fiber project scheduling estimates, as well as alternative CAN and VPN connections types, see the SCLS Network planning spreadsheet (XLSX).

LSTA Technology Grants for 2014

In the past two months we have solicited ideas for the 2014 LSTA Technology grants via Technology and ILS Committee cluster reps. The ideas were discussed at the committee and then evaluated by the SCLS ILS and Technology staffs. Below are the grant projects that we submitted. 

1)      RFID Tags. 9 of the 43 SCLS libraries in the shared ILS (LINKcat) are using RFID technologies. LINKcat libraries benefit from an open resource sharing policy.  When items from non-RFID libraries are received at RFID libraries to fill patron requests, it is beneficial to tag the item for the ease of patron self-checkout. Patrons will benefit from a standard self checkout process at the RFID libraries. Non-RFID libraries would benefit by having their items tagged should they someday implement RFID as well.

2)      Integrating LINKcat with 3^rd party databases.  LINKcat is the shared ILS using LibLime Koha for 43 of the SCLS member libraries.  Since Koha is an open source ILS, SCLS has developed the searching interface to be a modern and highly functioning retrieval tool for materials held in libraries.  We also load bibliographic records for electronic resources such as Wisconsin’s Digital Library (OverDrive).  However, these records are not integrated and patrons cannot see current status, etc.  Some third party databases such as OverDrive and Ebscohost have developed APIs that allow the ILS to integrate more completely.  The goal of this project is to pursue development for LibLime Koha so that patrons will be able to search electronic resources databases such Wisconsin’s Digital Library and Ebscohost (via BadgerLink) and to see real-time statuses where appropriate.  All patrons using LINKcat will benefit from this project.  By incorporating electronic resources searching into LINKcat, the opportunities for finding appropriate resources expands greatly.  This is particularly true for patrons in rural areas who may not be as close to their library as in more urban communities.

3)      Increasing bandwidth in libraries. The majority of the libraries using the SCLS managed network do not have enough bandwidth to meet the ever increasing demands of their patrons.  Access to wireless is becoming even more critical as more patrons bring their own wireless devices into the library.  SCLS has been working for several years to find ways to increase bandwidth.  We have created a plan to increase bandwidth based on critical need to moderate need.  We are moving forward, but with increased bandwidth come increased hardware costs as a large number of the network routers will need to be upgraded in order to accommodate increased bandwidth.  Increasing bandwidth will meet the needs of all types of patrons using both wired computers and their own wireless devices in the library, including those seeking jobs, students doing homework, those doing research on the internet, foreign workers attempting to stay connected with their relatives and friends back home, those downloading electronic resources and those who are using the internet for recreational use. 

4)      Joining the SCLS Shared ILS. SCLS has 10 libraries that have not joined the shared ILS. Many of these are very small, rural libraries. For them it is often difficult to come up with the costs necessary to join the system, such as the ILS vendor software setup fee.  Larger libraries tend to have higher startup costs as they often pay migration fees in addition to a setup fee.  SCLS would like to assist libraries with startup fees and migration costs by allocating a portion of the LSTA grant to them. Libraries that have not joined the shared ILS will benefit from this service as they will be able to access the resources of all LINKcat member libraries. 

Assessing the status of your technology needs

At the All Director's meeting last week, I was asked by several directors when are you going to do such and such at my library. While I cannot answer your specific questions just yet, everything the technology staff has been doing in the last year has brought us to the point where we can bring you some answers very soon.

We have many libraries using SCLS technology services.  SCLS offers many services. Each library is in various states and stages when it comes to each of the SCLS technology services.  For example, some libraries do not have enough bandwidth.  Some libraries are not yet using Enterprise wireless. Some libraries still have PCs that are too old which will become problematic when Windows XP support expires in April 2014.  Some libraries still have PCs that need to be moved to the SCLS network.  In some cases, SCLS needs to take action to meet these needs (see bandwidth).  In others, the library needs to do something.  If you read the linked blog posts above as a refresher, you will have a better idea what are some of the library responsibilities.

The SCLS technology team will be conducting a series of planning meetings over the next month.  The goal of these meetings will be to create a profile for each library and assess its status in each of these areas.  When we are done, we will be able to inform each library as to how we will get it to where it needs to be.  In some cases, that might mean you will be getting more bandwidth in others we may remind you that you will need to purchase PCs to replace your old ones. 

We will all work together to get your basic needs met.  This will then free us up to think about the really cool stuff we may be able to do in the future.

To VoIP or not to VoIP

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) has been around awhile and South Central does have some libraries using VoIP for their phone system.  Chances are, if your library is in the running for a phone system upgrade, your local phone company will probably suggest VoIP (also known as managed IP).  You may not even have the option of installing a new system over the standard telephone network.  So, by all means do consider this option for your library if the phone company proposes it.

Be aware however, that the phone company may suggest that you install VoIP over an existing internet network in your building--such as the SCLS network if you have one.  Using the SCLS network is not an option for VoIP.  Installing a VoIP system on the SCLS network adds a layer of complexity to the setup and we would no longer have sole control of the data lines.  Doing so would interfere with the SCLS technology staff's ability to provide troubleshooting for network problems throughout the life of the project. 

So, what is your option if you want to install VoIP?  You will need to provide enough network cabling and jacks to accomodate your new VoIP phone system on a separate network.  You will spend some money up front for this, but in the long run, it will provide you with the assurance that your VoIP system will not interfere with any of the services in your library that use the SCLS network.