Synopses & Reviews
Written as a technology guide for students, practitioners, and administrators, the focus of this book is on introducing current and future trends in library technology and automation within the larger context of strategic and systems planning, implementation, and continuous improvement. Technology is an essential resource for attaining both organizational and patron goals, and planning needs to emphasize the alignment between the clearly defined goals of each. For this alignment to occur on a consistent basis goals must be designed, or engineered, in a systematic fashion where technology fulfils the need to deliver the desired outcomes in an efficient, cost-effective manner. Library technology and user services also examines the concept of usability engineering, where the technology is planned, designed, and implemented in such a way as to maximize utility and ease-of-use for users and employees. Readers will understand both the why and the how of library technology, planning, and implementation articulated in a simple, easy-to-understand fashion.
Review
"The authors synergize their expertise on information technologies and user library services to produce this welcome resource."
-An Leabharlann: The Irish Library "This book provides a systematic approach to challenges with planning, budgeting and integrating technology into public, academic and school libraries. One of the main strengths of this book is its layout and easy to read style. This book is well designed and comprehensive for readers who want a starting knowledge of how to plan for user needs in a technology driven environment." -Australian Academic and Research Libraries
About the Author
Dr. Anthony S. Chow teaches Library Management and Technology as Assistant Professor in the Department of Library and Information Studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Tim Bucknall is Assistant Dean of Libraries and Head of Electronic Resources and Information Technologies for the University Libraries at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Table of Contents
Strategic planning, organizational goals and technology: what and for whom? - Needs assessment - Strategic planning - Goal 1: a vibrant, user-centered collection - Strategic planning and world-class user services - Creating a strategic plan - Goal 1: quality online services and resources - Goal 2: comprehensive career resources and services - Goal 3: multi-faceted services and support for the homeless and indigent population - Goal 4: world class youth and family collection and services Customized fashion: finding the right fit - Hardware and software - A public library - An academic library - A school library - Library technology infrastructures and user services Technology and budgeting - Prevention vs. reaction - Quality vs. quantity - Replacement vs. repair - Zero-sum vs. line-item budgeting - Using Excel for budgeting - Prioritizing technology - Budgeting trends Evaluation: is technology meeting the needs of the organizations users? - Formative and summative evaluation - Informatics - Evaluation method - Building a logic model for outcomes-based evaluation Emerging technology trends in libraries - Integrated library systems - Metasearching and discovery tools - Web 2.0 - E-books and e-readers - Pay per view - Consortia and group purchasing - Media - Meeting spaces - Circulating devices - Mobile - Digitization - Cloud computing - Pervasive web usability and usability testing - Virtual worlds - Instructional literacy and technology