Superiorland Library Cooperative. Director s Report December, Superiorland s New Cloud Backup Service. Library Technology Plan Up-dates

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1 Superiorland Library Cooperative Director s Report December, 2013 Superiorland s New Cloud Backup Service In 2014, the Cooperative will offer a new strategy to assist libraries with the recovery and replication of lost data on critical servers and director workstations. This service will allow Cooperative IT staff to do recover data for the current year plus one year back in the event of a local crash and to migrate data when equipment is replaced all in the matter of hours instead of days. Libraries that participate need adequate synchronous and reliable bandwidth for after-hours upload to the off-site server. The Cooperative Board will make the initial investment in the host server, 100 workstation licenses, and on-going maintenance for workstations. Libraries that have servers will be asked to purchase a server or virtual server license(s) and pay on-going maintenance. Library Technology Plan Up-dates Libraries are up-dating their Technology Plans for Jean has developed a bandwidth calculator to estimate broadband requirements based on number of public and staff computers, wireless users, and special programs like video conferencing. We are checking this calculator against actual usage by libraries in the Internet consortium for October and November. Plans are to aggregate bandwidth demand and bid competitively for Internet access for 24 libraries. An Internet Service Provider will be selected by the end of January and libraries will decide on participation in a new multiyear ISP contract at that time. A technology plan is a useful program planning and budgeting tool, as well as a practical exercise in determining necessary bandwidth. Board and administrators need to replace technology equipment on a regular basis, or at least to set aside money for replacement in a sinking fund. When we added computers with the BTOP grant, we found some libraries were still relying on 10-year old Gates machines. Jean is working now on holiday presents for libraries! Watch for technology how-to easy guides for using QR Codes, Skype, and other fun IT tools.

2 MiLibraryCard Program The Suburban Library Cooperative has generously offered to administer the MiLibrary Card program when the Michicard Program ends 31 December Several Cooperative libraries plan to participate so they can continue to serve nonresidents without charge. Lost or damaged books will no longer be replaced; replacement costs should be recovered from the individual borrower. There will be no reimbursement for costs to return books to the owning library if they are dropped off at the wrong location. Libraries will purchase stickers to replace the old Michicard stickers. There are no other administrative charges from Suburban. Libraries that want to participate should complete a Reciprocal Borrowing Agreement and return it to Suburban Library Cooperative. A copy of the Agreement is available from Suzanne. Interactive Video Conferencing Events Thrill Audiences Superiorland Library Cooperative s QSAC goal is to have High Definition Interactive Video Conferencing in 1 Gb libraries with fiber optic connectivity every 100 miles across the Cooperative s 18,000 square mile service area. We now have IVC equipment in use at five 1Gb libraries, including Iron River, Houghton, Grayling, Marquette and Sault Ste. Marie. We plan to add two more locations this year. Last year, Cooperative staff participated in the K12 Internet2 Megaconference, and we were introduced to a high school class in Taichung, Taiwan. The Taiwan students sent us a beautiful work of calligraphy, our library name in Mandarin Chinese that we are using now as our IVC location identifier. Recently at 7 pm Marquette time and 7 am Taiwan time, the Marquette High School Robotics Class got to meet the Taichung, Taiwan Robotics Class.

3 Each team showed off their robots followed by a short cultural exchange. The Internet connection was great! We learned how to make stinky tofu! The two classes plan to meet again soon and next time discuss the movie, Scott Pilgrim vs the World. 150 th Anniversary of the Gettysburg Address Videoconference November 19th, the Portage Lake District Library invited a high school class from Chassell Township to attend an Internet2 video conference celebration of the 150 th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address. Seven libraries and K12 classrooms across the country heard Lincoln portrayer, James Getty, reenact the Address and Justice Scalia administer the Oath of Allegiance to 16 new citizens. The Chassell class had just completed their citizenship unit, so timing was perfect. They enjoyed visiting the library, checking out books, saw part of the ceremony, including the Oath of Allegiance. The bus schedule took them away before the interaction with Gettysburg National Park Service Rangers, but it was a great field trip. Next Spring, we plan to have Donna Searight Simons, author of Copper Empire, travel to Grayling and present her program on the 1913 copper mine strike with a simultaneous broadcast to Portage Lake District Library in Copper Country and other libraries.

4 Congratulations, Lake Linden, on Renovation Grant Joan Schick, Lake Linden Hubbell Public School Library Director, read about a grant open to public libraries and she decided to go for it! Thanks to her initiative, the Library received a $15,000 grant and the Library got a big make-over! Applying for the grant was just the first step, but it was well worth all the effort. Press events in Ironwood and Menominee Nov 19 and Nov 20 In 2010, Merit received two federal stimulus awards to create more than 2,200 miles of open access advanced fiber optic infrastructure in rural and underserved areas in Michigan. This network is complete after three years. The build-out through Ironwood and Menominee provides access to key connection points in Minnesota and Wisconsin. $100 million federal and $30 million private investment have been put into the project. Merit held press events in Ironwood and Menominee with participation by Cheryl Hoffman at Spies Public Library and Elaine Erickson at Ironwood Carnegie Library. "Imagine a world with no boundaries and no barriers," Elaine Erickson said, "with data at the speed of light. That world is now, thanks to Merit." "Merit has given us the tools to ensure 21st century service for our patrons," Erickson said. "I felt as if I had won the lottery when I found out the library would be a hub for the project.... It is limitless now what we can provide our residents." Cheryl Hoffman talked about the additional local funding that Spies Public Library received as a private donation. This donation provided funding to replace outdated Ethernet wiring. With the local grant, the Merit grant, and the Betop grant the library got READY for FIBER!!

5 School Library for the 21 st Century (SL21) benchmarking program With the able assistance of a School Library Workgroup and MAME members, the Library of Michigan revised the measures significantly in 2012 and 2013 to ensure their continued relevance to schools. The new measures have been posted for use on the SL 21/School Libraries page: ( It is well worth reading the whole report, but here is a selection of 21 st Century benchmarks for school libraries and media centers. Improving Student Learning Through Access to Certified School Librarian and Qualified Support Staff Creating An Environment That Invites All Students and Staff to Use Resources and Participate in Programs Ensuring Flexible and Equitable Access to Resources for Academic and Personal Needs Developing a School Library that is Flexible and Conducive to Learning Teaching Students to Seek Multiple Perspectives in a Safe, Responsible and Ethical Manner Meeting Student and Staff Learning Needs Through a Variety of Collections Adequate, Sustained Funding to Support Student Needs and Achieve School Goals and Objectives