Boston Public Library / Metro Boston Library Network

Transcription

1 Bstn Public Library / Metr Bstn Library Netwrk Technlgy Plan Adpted by unanimus vte f the Trustees f the Public Library f the City f Bstn during the meeting held n Nvember 13 th,

2 Technlgy Plan Bstn Public Library/Metr Bstn Library Netwrk July 1, 2008 June 30, 2011 I. Intrductin Missin Statement fr the Bstn Public Library: The Bstn Public Library s missin is t preserve and prvide access t histrical recrd f ur sciety, and t serve the cultural, educatinal, and infrmatinal needs f the City and the Cmmnwealth. The Bstn Public Library s missin has always been t cnnect peple with infrmatin. In recent years, public access cmputers, the internet and nline services have played a grwing part in fulfilling the Library s missin. Significant and cntinued mnetary supprt and staffing resurces are required fr libraries t keep current technlgy viable and t incrprate new technlgies at an accelerated rate. While it is an imprtant element f ur missin t acquire and implement new tls, it is equally imprtant fr the Bstn Public Library t pause and review the verall technlgical infrastructure in place and t apply mdificatins, t imprve efficiency in service delivery as well as is the management and maintenance f all systems. Libraries have mved rapidly t prvide the Internet-based services that users demand. This plan will fcus n the renewal, cnslidatin, revitalizatin and expansin f technlgies t supprt delivery f rapidly evlving library services. A recent study 1 by the American Library Assciatin n public library funding and technlgy access cites three significant themes in its findings: 1. Technlgy is bringing mre nt less public library use 2. Library infrastructure (space, bandwidth and staffing) is being pushed t capacity 3. Libraries need mre technlgy planning and dedicated technlgy supprt The first tw statements abve aptly describe the current state f the technlgy envirnment at the Bstn Public Library. This plan will address these themes and will als ensure that the Library has cmprehensive technlgy planning and supprt fr the perid July 2008-June The plan will describe the Library s brad gals fr meeting the increased demand fr library services; and will then utline specific related bjectives and activities t prvide an evaluative framewrk and measurable utcmes. 1 American Library Assciatin. (2007) Libraries Cnnect Cmmunities: Public Library Funding & Technlgy Access Study

3 This plan is created fr the Bstn Public Library (BPL)/Metr Bstn Library Netwrk (MBLN) which incrprates a central library, 27 branch libraries, remte strage facilities, the MBLN which cnsists f the Bstn Public Library, 28 Bstn Public Schl libraries, Chelsea Public Library, Malden Public Library, Newman Schl Library, Pearsn Prentice Hall Library, Fisher Cllege, Rxbury Cmmunity Cllege and State Transprtatin Library, and Virtually Anywhere User Library Technlgy (VAULT) with the Timthy Smith Netwrk. All f these netwrk members facilitate the sharing f autmatin and technlgy resurces, which in turn facilitates the sharing f cllectins. MBLN is a service f the Bstn Public Library. The Bstn Public Library is nt just the wner and peratr f MBLN, but the chief cnsumer f services as well. As the chart belw indicates, BPL has the greatest number f wrkstatins perating n the system and supprts the greatest number f recrds and circulatin transactins. Member Library Sites Cmputer Statins Items Owned FY07 Circulatin FY07 Bstn Public Library 32 1,330 4,476,859 2,868,158 Virtual Library Sites 13 n.a. Chelsea Public Library ,698 49,544 Malden Public Library , ,803 Bstn Public Schls ,873 30,239 State Transprtatin ,536 n.a. Rxbury Cmmunity Cllege ,058 11,965 Fisher Cllege ,034 2,178 Newman Schl Library 1 2 3, Pearsn Prentice Hall 1 1 2, The Bstn Public Library has a crucial interest in the vitality and technlgical capability f the Metr Bstn Library Netwrk. Therefre, this plan details much that is applicable t the entire netwrk, and sme that is specific t the Bstn Public Library. This technlgy plan supprts each member library s gal f meeting the needs f its users and f the cmmunity as a whle. These needs encmpass library peratinal efficiency, infrmatin n and access t library cllectins and physical resurces, and the strage, retrieval and distributin t library users. Much f this technlgy plan is derived frm a strategic planning prcess undertaken by the Bstn Public Library. Other parts encmpass the visin f netwrk members as expressed thrugh the netwrk s Plicy Advisry Grup. 3

4 II. TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY The library will maintain and upgrade existing technlgy fllwing industry standards. The library will cntinuusly survey the evlving technlgy landscape fr apprpriate applicatins and will prudently pilt prmising new technlgy. Library users expect and demand a wider array f electrnic resurces and equipment. The library must wrk twards meeting this demand. Ease f use is a primary cncern fr bth staff and patrns. Overall, the library aspires t be at the frefrnt f library technlgy practices. While libraries f the future may be cnfigured in dramatically different ways, the traditinal rles that libraries and librarians have played will cntinue t be necessary, and will likely be mre cmplex. Technlgy has allwed us t lk at the key aspects f libraries and librarianship: infrmatin access, retrieval, strage, preservatin and rganizatin in new ways using cnstantly evlving, new tls. In rder t leverage the tls that becme available, ur plan must reflect eagerness t embrace and try new and emerging technlgies. Sme key pints that this plan addresses are: Library technlgies prmte efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery f Library services t the public, and increase Library use Electrnic access t infrmatin has becme increasingly imprtant. The primary means f lcating infrmatin is shifting frm print t electrnic. Use technlgy t prvide the mst apprpriate infrmatin delivery system. Use technlgy t cntrl cst and imprve the efficiency f library peratins. Use new technlgy initiatives t build n existing services and bjectives Maintain flexibility t adapt new and changing technlgy t meet users needs. Evaluate emerging technlgy fr effective respnsiveness t users needs. Use technlgy t cnnect t relevant surces utside the library. Use technlgy t assist in the preservatin f and access t at-risk, rare r fragile materials. Make infrmatin literacy a pririty fr bth staff and public training initiatives 4

5 III. Gals and Objectives GOAL I: Library users will perfrm public access cmputing tasks easily and efficiently Public access cmputing and assciated services including printing and wireless internet access are in high demand thrughut the system. T prvide these services withut interruptin r delay, the Library must cnstantly evaluate the use and placement f Internet-ready cmputers and the electrical and netwrk infrastructure t supprt them. As cmputers and printers reach the end f their useful life, replacement hardware and sftware must be added systematically t keep pace with user demand. The print and PC reservatin system must be regularly maintained. User needs fr new devices, hardware and sftware must be evaluated and implemented t enhance r imprve existing services. Online dcumentatin fr library users will be develped. Public and staff use f the wireless netwrk is grwing. The existing wireless netwrk, first implemented in 2002, must be upgraded t meet the increasing demand. New wireless access pints with wider signal ranges, faster speed, better security and centralized management will be purchased and installed at all lcatins by July Wireless access will be intrduced t the Malden Public Library fr the first time. With the increasing demand n wireless access, wireless printing will be intrduced. Objective 1: Imprve Internet access by upgrading wireless netwrks Replace wireless access pints frm existing b standard t g r newer t increase speed and imprve area f cverage by incrprating use f all signal ranges. Intrduce wireless access t Malden Public Library fr the first time. Review and update nline instructins n cnnecting t the wireless netwrk fr library users Objective 2: Increase the number f Internet ready cmputers at all lcatins as apprpriate. Assess the use and placement f Internet ready cmputers. Add mre cmputers t meet user demand. Evaluate electrical and netwrk infrastructure t accmmdate these cmputers Install ruters and switches as apprpriate 5

6 Objective 3: Make printing and reserving public access cmputers easy and mre intuitive. Activity 5: Create printer replacement plan Evaluate current pay-fr-print and PC reservatin system. Select and install new print and PC reservatin system. Test wireless printing Create nline dcumentatin fr library users Objective 4: Add hardware, sftware and services t meet user demand Activity 5: Activity 6: Activity 7: Purchase and install scanners Purchase and install MACS Investigate the demand fr media viewing/listening statins. Investigate the demand fr dwnlad statins Investigate the demand fr E-bk readers Investigate the demand fr print-n-demand statins Investigate the demand fr gaming hardware and sftware Objective 5: Imprve end user supprt fr Bstn Public Library hardware and sftware Increase supprt staff and turn-arund time fr cmputer repair t apprach level f industry standard Cntinue staff training fr cmputer applicatins and digital resurces Analyze and imprve the existing Help Desk supprt wrkflw t imprve cmputer repair time. Explre autmatic updates f necessary sftware upgrades. GOAL II: Library users will easily discver and use library resurces and services. Cnsumers f library services, whether in-persn r nline, shuld easily lcate and use infrmatin and materials relevant t their needs. The web site, digital library and nline public access catalg allw nline users find infrmatin and materials like databases, dwnladable audi, vide and e-bks, digitized images and brn-digital cntent, and access t virtual reference. T prvide better service, the Library must explre the maximum integratin ptential fr all f these nline services. The Library must prvide cnsistent cntinuing educatin s that staff skills will remain up-t-date, thus ensuring a service delivery architecture which will reflect the best current knwledge in the infrmatin science prfessin. The existing Library web site serves ver 40 millin hits per year but was built in 2001 using nw-utdated technlgy. The site des nt utilize a cntent-management system 6

7 f any type and is cded in static html. Users find it difficult t navigate; staff finds it difficult t maintain. The site must be cmpletely redesigned t and redevelped t meet current user needs. The digital library prgram currently creates and acquires digital cntent. T prduce cntent, items are digitally imaged, described, prcessed and stred fr nline retrieval. The Library s imaging lab has ne digital camera and ne flatbed scanner. Mre equipment will be necessary t increase prductin. As cntent prductin and acquisitin activities increase, the Library must develp cmprehensive planning fr a repsitry, digital strage and lng-term preservatin. The Library must evaluate repsitry slutins and analyze strage and delivery infrastructure. The public access catalg must be evaluated bth as a cmpnent f, and as a separate functin f, the current Integrated Library System (ILS). The ILS must be evaluated fr its ability t supprt all user and staff functins. The Library will investigate a clsed stack retrieval system t enhance users access t research materials. T meet the increased demand fr nline services the Library will cntinue t prvide access t electrnic databases t remte users. The Library will expand the cllectin f dwnladable bks, audi and vide fr delivery t varius devices. Infrmatin literacy services and training will be expanded. The Library seeks t prvide pprtunities fr training cvering simple infrmatin literacy skills like t mre cmplex infrmatin fluency training, like helping users understand, navigate and effectively use the digital infrmatin landscape and digital resurces. Hardware and sftware purchases may be made t supprt this effrt. In-persn users must lcate materials in buildings which d nt always cntain adequate r current signage, and must ften wait in line at peak hurs t check ut materials. At the Cpley Square lcatin alne, ver 100,000 items are checked ut mnthly. The Library will investigate the benefits t users f electrnic signage and self-check-ut machines t create a better user experience, and will implement where apprpriate and feasible. Objective 1: Imprve the Library s web site and web service delivery Activity 5: Activity 6: Cnduct digital strategy prcess t determine service gals Write Request fr Prpsal fr redesign and redevelpment Explre funding pprtunities and establish budget Create infrmatin literacy training fr staff and users Investigate cntent management systems Explre pprtunities t incrprate e-cmmerce applicatins Objective 2: Increase digital cntent prductin Mnitr develpments in imaging hardware and sftware 7

8 Mnitr develpments in cmpressin technlgies Install new lighting, prcessing statins and lab equipment as necessary. Objective 3: Create access t BPL cllectins and ther digital cntent Activity 5: Prduce and acquire digital cntent Investigate repsitry slutins and create test repsitry Develp data mdels fr cntent types and rganize digital cntent Select and implement digital repsitry Prvide adequate data strage t supprt digitizatin initiatives/preservatin Objective 3: Imprve users ability t search fr and lcate resurces using the nline public access catalg Assess the current Integrated Library System (ILS) and its ability t supprt all user and staff functins. Assess the current public interface f the nline public access catalg Explre the maximum integratin ptential fr nline services including the public catalg, databases, and ther digital resurces. Cmpare and evaluate future releases f the current system/vendr with ther systems and cmpetitrs. Objective 4: Imprve the efficiency f circulatin transactins Install autmated checkut machines at branches and Cpley Investigate e-cmmerce slutins fr custmer transactins like payment f fines, fees, pay-fr-print, etc. Objective 5: Imprve user s ability t navigate library building thrugh electrnic signage. Wrk with signage cmmittee t evaluate user needs Investigate the feasibility f electrnic signage Cnduct cst-benefit analysis fr electrnic signage purchase Make recmmendatins n adaptatin f electrnic signage Objective 6: Imprve services t users with disabilities Imprve cmputer access including adaptive hardware and sftware Ensure that web services and resurces apprach industry recmmended standards 8

9 Objective 7: Investigate and pilt new library technlgy Mnitr develpments in delivery f e-bks, MP3, streaming vide and ther digital frmats. Mnitr develpments in delivery f digital cntent t handheld devices. Investigate RFID technlgy (radi frequency i.d.) and evaluate its use in specific library activities. Objective 8: Prvide supprt fr public and staff infrmatin literacy and infrmatin fluency Prvide equipment fr trainings t branches including laptps, wireless mice, and ther peripherals Wrk with the training cmmittee t update training pprtunities fr general staff test and pilt training prgrams fr the public GOAL III. The technlgy infrastructure will be sustainable, redundant, and up-t-date. The technlgy infrastructure must be thrughly evaluated and, in places, updated. The netwrk server infrastructure requires a cmprehensive review. Server hardware, sftware and cnfiguratins will be reviewed. When applicable, servers will be replaced r upgraded t prvide reliable and imprved efficiency in service prvisin and supprt. Prper backup supprt fr these servers will be investigated and implemented as apprpriate. The husing f telecmmunicatins equipment in the branches requires review. The purchase and installatin f racks and cabinets will be required t prvide prper security and envirnment fr varius telecmmunicatin devices. In additin, tw new capital prjects, Mattapan Branch and Grve Hall/Burke High Schl, are underway. New racks, cabinets, wiring, switches and ruters are required. As the data center has reached electrical capacity a thrugh review f the existing electrical service and pwer cnditining units is necessary. New UPS units may be added r upgraded t facilitate uninterrupted electricity t the telecmm equipment and servers in the event f pwer utages. The Library must investigate the cnslidatin f physical systems within the center. Server hardware, sftware and cnfiguratins will be reviewed. When applicable, servers will be replaced r upgraded t prvide reliable and imprved efficiency in service prvisin and supprt. Prper backup supprt fr these servers will be investigated and implemented as apprpriate. Virtualizatin will be implemented and used t build develpment and testing envirnments. 9

10 Objective 1: The Library s data center will be evaluated and updated Activity 5: Install and replace racks and cabinets with wire and cable maintenance Perfrm full assessment f the capacity f telecmmunicatin clsets Install new racks, cabinets, switches and ruters where apprpriate Review existing electrical service and pwer cnditining units Add new UPS units where necessary Objective 2: The netwrk server infrastructure will be cmprehensively reviewed Review and upgrade DNS, DHCP, prxy filter server, Exchange servers and servers as necessary. Upgrade and/r replace existing file servers where necessary Investigate prper backup sftware and supprt fr system servers Objective 3: Cnslidate physical systems in the data center. Investigate and apply virtualizatin. Investigate and implement the use f blade servers Objective 4: Evaluate existing cmputer sftware and server perating systems Assess the features f Vista and determine apprpriate implementatin Investigate and implement Linux perating system n servers Investigate and upgrade existing system t Exchange 2007 Upgrade wrd prcessing package t Office 2007 Activity 5: Investigate and implement the use f CAD sftware t supprt capital prjects, planning and facilities management GOAL IV: Cmmunicatins services and infrastructure will be revised t meet staff and user needs The existing telephne system has been in place since Infrastructure and cst fr supprting r replacing existing end f life systems must be reviewed. Other telephne systems r slutins will be investigated t determine viable and cst effective alternatives t the existing system. Library prgrams need mre rbust technlgy supprt. We will evaluate, implement and imprve audivisual supprt and infrastructure at varius facilities. Als, we will investigate the use f instant messaging and live chat t imprve virtual reference. Cmmunicatins t technlgy users, and cmmunicatins t users abut Library technlgy will be evaluated. Virtual reference services may be imprved by implementing instant messaging and chat. Library marketing campaigns shuld be expanded t prmte the technlgy services ffered thrughut the system. 10

11 Objective 1: Assess the functinality and supprt f the existing telephne system. Activity 5: Identify alternatives, including VIP, t replace r upgrade the existing telephne system. Write request fr Infrmatin Evaluate vendrs Write request fr prpsal fr telephne system Select vendr t replace r upgrade telephne system Objective 2: Imprve technlgy supprt fr library prgrams Activity 5: Activity 6: Activity 7: Evaluate need fr audivisual equipment in meeting spaces Identify lcatins that require permanent audivisual equipment installatin. Identify the type and quantity f equipment apprpriate fr each space Create plan and budget fr hardware, sftware and services Prvide staff training fr IPTV and videcnferencing equipment. Recrd lectures and wrkshps and prvide streaming digital cntent t staff and public ver LAN and web Cntinue assessment f and staff training fr the Vcera mbile cmmunicatins device. Objective 3: Imprve efficiency f Virtual Reference services Cnduct needs assessment f virtual reference services technlgy Identify specific instant messaging and chat sftware prgrams fr pssible implementatin Install and pilt instant messaging and chat in virtual reference Cntinue t evaluate Web 2.0 services fr Library service delivery Objective 4: Evaluate Remte Management Sftware and Inventry Cntrl Investigate and implement the use f RMS t imprve tracking f hardware and sftware assets Objective 5: Investigate advances in internet technlgies. Cnduct a feasibility study n the viability jining the Internet2 cnsrtium. Mnitr advances in internet security and identity management technlgies. Objective 6: Prmte the library s technlgical capabilities Wrk with Marketing Cmmittee t develp public infrmatin and marketing message 11

12 Prmte the technlgical capabilities f the library via marketing and direct utreach t users GOAL V: The Library psitins itself t keep its digital and analg assets safe and secure. As part f the Bstn Public Library s disaster recvery plan, data must be stred in an ff-site lcatin. Planning fr the identificatin and prcurement f technlgy t supprt such a center must take place. With the Bstn Heritage Center prject in prcess, wrk clsely with the City and Capital Prjects t design prper space and envirnmental cntrls t huse equipment and tapes necessary fr backing up critical data. Objective 1: Prepare scpe fr ff-site strage facility t huse electrnic and tape strage and ffer public service. Wrk with Capital Prjects and the City t determine space within the facility Ensure the use f the apprpriate envirnmental cntrl, electrical and security systems in the facility. Objective 2: Design a methd f transprting electrnic files and physical tapes t the facility Wrk with shipping department n transprting physical media Investigate ways f transferring electrnic data acrss the WAN Prcure the necessary hardware t stre the data in the facility Objective 3: Investigate enhancements t netwrk security prcedures Investigate and implement technlgies t further secure the BPL s netwrk frm intentinal r unintentinal misuse. IV. Needs Assessment f Telecmmunicatins Services, Hardware, Sftware and Other Services See Appendix B Netwrk Diagram And Appendix C Netwrk Inventry A) Telephne The current telephne system cnsists f a NEC 2400 PBX with apprximately 250 telephne instruments and a NEC AD40 vic system at the main lcatin in Cpley Square. There are 28 NEC 1000 series PBX s with apprximately 295 telephne 12

13 instruments at the remte sites. The NEC 1000 s are currently at end f life and can nly be repaired if parts can be fund. In additin, we have 240 POTS analg lines alng with 600 DID digital numbers. We are lking at changing ver the existing system t I.P. Telephny. B) Wireless Access & Internet Access Currently ver 1,500 wrkstatins have internet access thrughut the Bstn Public Library / MBLN Netwrk. There are ne hundred and fifty seven b wireless access pints deplyed at BPL lcatins. It is anticipated that when wireless is upgraded t the g r better standard, fewer access pints wuld be needed at existing lcatins while prviding library users with better cverage and increased speed. The Malden Public Library will install wireless access pints (currently nne) while Chelsea s wireless cverage will be expanded.. C) Internal Cnnectins There are currently 20 telecmmunicatin clsets at the central library which are in need f battery backup and surge prtectin. Each f the 27 BPL remte sites has ne clset and sme need t be secured. This invlves the installatin f a cabinet, additinal patch panels and cable cleanup. On the server frnt, BPL has ver 90 servers. Many servers are f ld technlgy, limited strage capacity, at end f life and need t be replaced. D) Hardware There are 1,330 public and staff cmputers and 193 printers. We aim t replace 260 cmputers in this fiscal year in keeping with the 5-year Technlgy Renewal Plan. With the Xerx printer cntract ending in September 2007, we will implement printers with reasnable nging maintenance cst that will be cmpatible with the printing and reservatin system. E) Sftware Presently, we run a mixture f Windws 2000 and Windws XP perating systems n cmputers. Standardizatin is critical t prvide cnsistent and better perfrmance and supprt. Fr servers, we are standardizing n Windws 2003 Server. F) Netwrk The netwrk is a mixture f ATM, frame and wireless circuits. With the increase in the demand fr bandwidth we will be changing the ATM circuits t MPLS circuits. We will als be increasing the bandwidth n the existing wireless circuits frm 2mg t 5mg. G) Digital Cntent Prductin The digital imaging facility currently huses ne digital scanning back camera and ne flatbed scanner, as well as peripheral equipment including pst-prcessing statins. As industry standards fr imaging prductin evlve, hardware and sftware fr digital cntent prductin will be evaluated. H) Data Strage 13

14 As prductin and acquisitin f digital cntent increases, we will address the amunt f strage necessary t huse ur cllectins. V. Prjected Budget See Appendix A Budget VI. Prfessinal Develpment Strategy/ Staff Training needs and Plans 1. The MBLN and BPL maintain high-level technlgy training budgets t keep IT staff skills current and t develp new skills needed t supprt IT infrastructure and technlgies defined in the plan. 2. Invlve the MBLN Plicy Advisry Grup, Bstn Reginal Office, BPL Training Cmmittee and BPL Management staff t strategize methds and prcedures t ensure that staff can capitalize n new technlgy resurces. Strategies will include determining what trainings are mandatry and which will be ptinal. Allcatin f nging budget resurces fr training and develpment will als be addressed. 3. Staff are encuraged and required as apprpriate t participate in prfessinal develpment pprtunities thrugh in-huse and external rganizatins (cnferences, wrkshps, classes, etc.). Here are sme examples f prfessinal develpment pprtunities: American Library Assciatin and its Divisins and Chapters City f Bstn Training Custmer f Dynix, Inc. Annual Cnference Internet Librarian Cnference Library and Infrmatin Technlgy Assciatin (LITA) Natinal Frum Massachusetts Library Assciatin NELINET Public Library Assciatin Sympsium and Natinal Cnference USAC E-Rate Training Varius nline interactive training, including in-huse made vides Wrkshps frm varius training service prviders 4. Prvide training n electrnic services, such as digital cllectins, reference services and dcument delivery. 5. Enhance technlgy dcumentatin n the BPL website and Intranet. 14

15 6. Implement regular training n the Hrizn autmatin system and services fr staff. Cntinue t update custmized Hrizn dcumentatin manuals that are available thrugh the Intranet. 7. Prvide training t Library staff s they may assist persns with adaptive technlgy service needs. 8. Cntinuusly update training rm and educatinal capacity with new training and instructinal tls. VII. Evaluatin Prcess The technlgy plan will be frmally evaluated at six-mnth intervals t determine prgress with each f the brad gals and individual bjectives and activities. BPL/MBLN will capture and evaluate usage statistics frm varius cmputer activities. Data cllected will be cmpared t previus year s statistics. Cmments will be slicited frm library users via evaluatins. Tickets requesting help submitted thrugh the Helpdesk reprting system will be reviewed t identify any service adjustment requirements. Alternative technlgies that culd enhance services r be mre cst effective will cntinue t be investigated and applied. Varius data surces will be cllected and measured fr each f the plan s brad gals. T evaluate ur gal and bjectives fr imprvements t public access cmputing, sme f the measurements we will utilize are user surveys, reprting frm staff in Hub and at branches, PC reservatin and pay-fr-print statistics, netwrk mnitring and helpdesk reprts. T mnitr use f nline cntent and resurces, and analg cntent & resurces, sme f the metrics we will use are Ggle Analytics, Open Cntent Alliance dwnlad statistics, Overdrive statistics, vendr reprts fr databases and circulatin statistics. Our gals and bjectives fr the technlgy infrastructure, cmmunicatins services and infrastructure, and planning fr security f ur assets will be measured by staff wh regularly mnitr strage and netwrk perfrmance, and wh recrd purchases and implementatins f services, hardware and sftware. Authrized Signature: Date Bernard A. Marglis Library President 15