June 24, 2007 American Library Association Larry P. Neal

Timeless Tech Tips Develop a risk tolerant environment Avoid technolust Consider your population Involve all staff in planning Play with technology Consider sustainability and maintenance issues In marketing, focus on the functionality Offer training for staff and patrons Assess, then assess again Be willing to switch gears “ -- “ The Evolving Library” by Meredith Farkas, American Libraries June/July 2007 (free copies usually in AL exhibit: booth 2615)

Wireless Access for Public Related terms: Hot spots WiFi Access points Allows customers to gain access to the Internet via their own equipment such as a laptop 54.2% of U.S. public libraries offer wireless access, up 17% from three years ago. --Public Library Funding & Technology Access study 2007

Requirements Wireless access points at the center of each 150’ coverage circle Local area network cable to each access point Power (can be over the network cable or power outlet) Internet connection

Benefits Provides a service that is increasingly expected by the public Allows users to provide their own equipment Expands Internet access at the library without having to offer additional computer stations Inexpensive Easy to implement

Questions to Ask Can your staff network be secured? Can you regulate bandwidth usage? Do you have power outlets readily available for personal laptops? Do you have the staff to answer users’ technical questions? Can customers print using their own equipment?

Policy Issues Do your current behavior and Internet access policies extend to customer-provided equipment? Are there laws that you must comply with for the library’s computers, e.g., filtering? Should wireless service be limited to customers whose accounts are in good standing?

Further Information Visit your library automation vendor’s booth in the Exhibits for products WebJunction has excellent resources on this topic (

Radio Frequency Identification Commonly called RFID Is a computer chip with an integrated antenna often referred to as an “RFID tag” Used to assign a unique number to an item May be used for security

RFID Does not replace “bar code numbers” A printed number tag is still required for human readability A bar code stripe is desirable for Quicker input for programming the RFID tags Cheaper, smaller readers at non-circulation desks Backward compatibility with older hardware Usability if the book is loaned to another library without RFID or without the same RFID system

The Dreams Customers select their items, walk out the door and things are checked out on their accounts automatically Press a button and the inventory of your entire building is complete One tag identifies and secures an item reliably

The Good Realities It works very well for self-check circulation It works well with automated materials handling systems It gives the library a high-tech look and feel to the community Vendors are developing better products at lower costs

The Bad Realities Poor signal performance with CDs, DVDs and books with metallic covers Poor security in general, especially audiovisual Proprietary products still rule (software and hardware) Proprietary implementations of ISO standards High cost (tags, gates, readers, upgrades) Long-term durability is uncertain Privacy concerns Problem items – puppets, multiple disc sets

When to Consider If striving for a high usage of self-checkout stations If building a new facility with a new “opening day” collection If implementing an automated materials handling system

Further Information Several vendors/resellers are at ALA exhibits 3M, Checkpoint, Frich Corp, Libramation, Tech Logic, etc. Public Library Association’s Tech Notes (

Voice over Internet Protocol Commonly known as Voice over IP, VoIP or IP telephony Two major opportunities for use: Internal phone system (replacing PBX systems) Broadband phone service (replacing the public switched telephone network, such as Vonage and Skype)

Benefits More efficiently uses telecommunications connections by combining voice and data traffic Reduces/eliminates the need for separate cabling runs for phones Can reduce phone charges

Issues Quality can be poorer than traditional phone circuits Power failures can disrupt service Reported problems with analog devices such as fax machines and credit card readers Adds complexity to the network requiring a higher skill set for technology staff

Technology, Trustees and Advocacy “Education will promote safe use of the Internet, not laws blocking access.” --Illinois Library Association’s NetSafe initiative Deleting Online Predator’s Act Social Networking Website Prohibition Act (IL)

E-rate Also referred to as “universal service fund” Discounts on phone, Internet and internal connections Based on urban/rural designation and school lunch discounts Has been in effect for 10 years

Pros and Cons Can offer substantial savings on communications, up to 90% Is a complicated, drawn out process Grant funds earned can be outspent by time in applying Legislation has been tied to releasing funding (CIPA and possibly DOPA)

Serving the Next Generation Technology topics your library should be discussing: Social networking Face Book, Second Life, My Space Instant messaging customer service Gaming See Out Front with Stephen Abram: A Guide for Information Leaders in the ALA Book Store