Monroe County Library System Technology Plan 2013 2016 The Monroe County Library System (MCLS) provides the 732,000 residents of Monroe County, New York, through its 20 member libraries and the MCLS website (www.libraryweb.org), an information network consisting of a union catalog offering patron placed holds, full-text databases provided primarily through the NYS NOVEL program, Internet access, access to digitized material, and uniform circulation control and resource sharing of member libraries materials. The MCLS has been successful in implementing and maintaining state-of-the-art technology solutions that offer a consistent access point to the library catalog and circulation system, as well as content management software that controls the system website. The website offers access to downloadable digital content in the form of Audiobooks, ebooks, music, audio recordings of library programs, and digitized historical materials. This Technology Plan will build on the existing strengths of the system and implement consistent, reliable, and up-to-date service delivery to library users. Vision The Monroe County Library System is an essential contributor to the enriched quality of life of the community of Rochester and Monroe County. It enables county-wide delivery of customer focused services and is known for innovative thinking, leadership in information technology, and cooperation among its members. Mission The Monroe County Library System is a coalition of member libraries that provides materials and programs to meet the informational, educational, and recreational needs of individuals, member libraries and local governments through collaboration to achieve cost effective delivery of quality services; centralized delivery of selected services; and the fostering of fast, accurate access to materials and services in a seamless, consistent and uniform manner. Goal 1 MCLS will provide a consistent development and training program for staff and patrons by developing and delivering content in a variety of formats Activity 1. Develop a process for recording live training on a variety of topics that can be viewed via the web by staff and patrons when convenient. 2. Identify training topics to be developed into video content. Number of training modules created and
Number of patrons & staff trained Goal 2 MCLS will strive to communicate clearly and efficiently with customers across all levels of service by streamlining the process for asking and recording technology related questions. Activities 1. Create a knowledge base of frequently asked technology questions. 2. Review current use of email and eportal, and survey members on the effectiveness of each one. 3. Evaluate the accessibility of the MCLS eportal and develop process for improvement. Number of questions and answers added to the knowledge base. Number of times the knowledge base is used. Survey response analysis. Use of eportal increases. Goal 3 MCLS will monitor and pursue advances in technology that will benefit member libraries and their customers. Activities 1. Make the best use possible of Carl.X to develop new access points for user convenience, including deployment of new versions of the Carl online discovery tool. 2. Explore the Ad Hoc Reports module of Carl.X and implement training for system staff on using the module. 3. Implement Web Circ for the system, allowing system staff to move beyond the circulation and reference desks to deliver service. 4. Work with TLC to develop an integrated ebook lending platform. 5. Research and recommend self-service options to members. 6. Implement a thin client, virtualized network for the Central Library and guide member libraries in the same direction. 7. Evaluate and pursue additional storage capabilities and redundancies to support virtual server infrastructure. 8. Research and evaluate other methods of ILS delivery, culminating in a Request For Proposal process in 2015. Number of visits to LS2Pac increases.
Number of collections/libraries transformed due to access to and use of the Ad Hoc reports module. Increased circulation and reference questions handled due to mobility of staff inside and outside the library. Ebook lending increases due to simplified, integrated platform development. Number of self-service options offered in libraries increases. Fewer help desk calls for hardware or software issues for patron and staff PCs. Successful RFP process results in better, more cost efficient ILS service for MCLS. Goal 4 MCLS will fully utilize the Ektron website management software for the system and for member library websites by developing the e-commerce module of Ektron software to establish new and improved methods of accruing revenue from online sales. Activities 1. Establish new online sales possibilities. 2. Establish method for collecting online donations for all member libraries. 3. Increase sales of web advertisements on MCLS website. 4. Provide access to Ektron software for member libraries wishing to use it for their own website development projects. Number of new online sales opportunities offered. Number of libraries able to collect donations online through MCLS. Number of web advertisements sold. Number of member libraries using Ektron software. Goal 5 MCLS will keep abreast of developments in digital content and establish a system plan for content creation and maintenance, including development of a digital content strategy that addresses the shift in use from print to digital content and its effect on service priorities. Intended Results 1. Develop a strategic plan for digitizing historic materials system wide. 2. Explore the creation and dissemination of original digital content. 3. Research and evaluate digital content partners to provide access to the best resources available. 4. Survey users to determine current and projected digital needs. 5. In conjunction with SUNY Geneseo, explore digital content creation and publishing, and produce a Digital Publishing Tool Kit for Librarians. Strategic plan delivered on schedule.
Number of original digital content pieces created. Number of digital content partners under contract with MCLS; amount of money spent on digital content; circulation of digital content. Number of surveys deployed; number of digital content projects completed. Toolkit completed and process shared widely with colleagues.
2013 Technology Assessment The Monroe County Library System serves 20 member libraries with a total of 34 library buildings. A. Computer equipment currently available or budgeted for purchase for the current, next, and future fiscal years. See Attachment A for a listing of current Data Center (central site) equipment. B. Internal connections that the library system already has in place, has budgeted, or has plans to install in the current, next, and future academic years. The Monroe County Library System maintains a Firewall, Content Filter, Core Data Switches and Routers. Bandwidth to each remote location is provided using Ethernet fiber and multiple T1 circuit technology (DS3). C. Computer software necessary for communications with other computers over an internal network and over the public telecommunications network currently available or budgeted for purchase. a. Windows 2003 & 2008 Servers are used for LANs, a mixture of PCs operate with XP Pro, Vista and Windows 7. b. Protocol for the LAN and for the public network is TCP/IP. c. MCLS has 3 HP Proliant servers and 1 Sun Sparc T5140 for the integrated library automation component (ILS). The systems run on Red Hat Linux and Solaris 10 Operating Systems. d. Sun Sparc T5120 Email Server. D. Experience and training received by relevant staff. The Library Automation Services Department (LAS) is responsible for providing automation services to the member libraries of the Monroe County Library System. The department has a FTE staff of six who provide direct technical support, and one PTE clerical support staff. Staff attends seminars, workshops and courses on a regular basis. The MCLS budget allocates approximately $270,000 annually for equipment maintenance, and $15,000 for professional services for software/hardware support in specific areas of expertise. E. Existing or budgeted maintenance contracts to maintain computers. MCLS has a maintenance agreement with the TLC (The Library Corporation) and other vendors as appropriate. LAS staff maintains the telecommunications network equipment. F. Capacity of the library s telecommunications network to handle simultaneous users. The capacity of our system is virtually unlimited. We maintain a DS3 Point to Point network supplying full multiple T1 service for 11 of our member libraries and 10 Mb Ethernet fiber point to point services for 21 of our members to insure enough bandwidth and capacity so that member libraries are not limited by any infrastructure constraints. In addition Internet access bandwidth was upgraded to 75mbps in 2012, insuring quick response time for both the public and staff.
Attachment A 2013 Library Automation Services Central Site equipment: 3ea. HP Proliant DL380-G7 Red Hat Linux(CARL/MCLS Databases) 1ea. Sun Sparc T5140 Solaris 10 (CARL/Application Server) 1ea. CARL Console 1ea. Okidata 491 Dot Matrix Printer (CARL lost notices) 3ea. Cisco SG 100-16 Switches (CARL network) 1ea. Win2003 Server for CARL itiva Phone Circulation System 1ea. HP Proliant DL380-G3 Win2008, MS Exchange Mail Server 2007* 1ea. HP Proliant DL380-G3 Win2003, File Server* 1ea. HP Proliant DL380-G3 Win2003, EnvisionWare Server* 1ea. HP Proliant DL380-G3 Win2003, Symantec Anti-virus console* 1ea. HP Proliant DL380-G3 Win2003, E-Portal Server (Intranet)* 1ea. HP Proliant DL380-G3 Win2003, Helpdesk Server* 1ea. HP Proliant DL380-G3 Win2003, Observer/Solarwinds Monitoring Server* 1ea. HP Proliant DL380-G3 Win2003, Domain Name Server 3ea. HP Proliant DL360e-G8 Win2008 R2, VMware Servers (2 VMhosts/1 DR host in Annex) 2ea. HP Proliant DL360p-G8 Win2008 R2, Citrix Xen Servers (Xendesktop) 1ea. HP/LeftHand P4500-G2 SAN Central and Remote site dual configuration ~16tb capacity 1ea. Marshal8e6 R3000 Internet Content filter 1ea. 3Com Core Switch 5900 10 GigE 2ea. 3Com A5500 Gigabit switches 2ea. Cisco ME3400 switches (Fibertech 10Mb point to point WAN connections for 21 sites/75mb internet) 1ea. FortiNet FortiGate 1000C Firewall 1ea. FortiNet FortiAnalizer 800B 1ea. DS-3 (WAN 11 point to point T1 circuits) 2ea. Additional point to point T1 circuits 1ea. Cisco ONS 15327 Optical Networking System 1ea. Kentrox T3/E3 IDSU 6ea. Secor Fiber Optic patch panel termination blocks (City/County/WXXI fiber link) 2ea. Corning Lanscape Fiber Optic patch panel termination blocks (B&L/RPL fiber link/court St/City IT) 1ea. Sun Sparc T5120 (Internet Mail Server) 1ea. Sun StorageTek SL24 Backup Tape carousal 1ea. Nortel Meridian1 PBX Phone System (400 phone capability) 1ea. Nortel Call Pilot Voice Mail System Remote site equipment (all MCLS Libraries and The Strong Museum): 11ea. 3COM 5012 Routers 21ea. Fortinet mini-firewalls *Servers that will be virtualized by mid-2013
Proposed Budget to Maintain Hardware, Software, Professional Development and Other Services Monroe County Library System Budget 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Categories for Automation Capital Upgrades $280,000 $280,000 $280,000 $280,000 $350,000 Automation department expenses (training and professional services) Automation vendor maintenance & licenses* $560,000 $560,000 $568,000 $574,000 $582,000 $280,800 $249,400 $252,600 $256,800 $400,000 Telecommunications (WAN & LAN) $135,000 $115,000 $118,000 $121,000 $124,000 Debt Service $278,000 $280,000 $280,000 $220,000 $220,000 Databases $30,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 $50,000 Internet Operations (IP) $22,700 $23,000 $23,000 $23,000 $23,000 Total $1,586,500 $1,557,400 $1,571,600 $1,524,800 $1,749,000 * Anticipation of new ILS integration 2016