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Name and Address of Applying Organization Nominated By Category Level of Patrons Served 1. Please provide a brief description of the "technology planning" program you are nominating for a WJ Award. Windsor Public Library (WPL), founded in 1894, manages 9 branch locations, Windsors Community Museum and Windsor Archives.
Guided by the mission statement, "Universal Access to the Universe of Ideas", WPL has embraced technology to expand beyond
its bricks and mortar presence. New resources include electronic databases, digital exhibits and web access to its catalogue.
The WPL IT department researches, implements and supports the technological tools (hardware and software) required by WPL
staff and customers related to the operations of the library. The annual review technology directions is intended to assist
in obtaining feedback on the previous years technology performance and in planning for the future requirements.
Methodology : Each year, the new report includes an status report on the outcomes of the previous year's recommended actions. Recommendations,
not selected, are carried forward into the analysis for the next year. Some staff suggestions that are reasonably easy to
implement are addressed within the first 90 days after the report is released as a demonstration of the value placed on staff
feedback.
2. Has the technology plan changed or clarified your organization's goals or plans? How? The Technology Plan being formalized has allowed the Senior Management to articulate their ends from the Board into actionable,
prioritized workplans for the IT department. All recommendations from the plan are evaluated as high priority with funding
to be done as soon as possible, priority as aligned with current strategic directions but funding has to be approved or submitted
for fundraising to the Windsor Public Library Foundation or tabled until next budget year. Staff now have defined projects
and workplans, users are clear on when particular technologies such as the renewal of Public Access computer stations will
be implemented. Directors / managers are able to set measures for defined objectives to use for planning.
3. Has the technology plan affected the long-term effectiveness and/or sustainability of technology in the library? How? The technology plan, by identifying upgrade, replacement and maintenance issues, drives the allocation of the budget to allow
timely renewal of systems (3 year replacement target for all staff systems), regular maintenance and upgrades so that the
focus for the other staff (non-IT) is on the performance of their duties not a battle with technology.
4. What have been the impacts and results of the programs and services in the library? You may describe impacts/results for
both patrons and staff. Impacts / results have included identification of serious network issues in the first survey that resulted in outsourcing
the Wide Area Network to the library branches to the local utility company with fibre service. This year's survey had no
negative comments about network performance. Previously public access computers were a mix of grant funded / donated systems
of many different types that made it difficult for staff to assist the public since each type of machine operated differently,
often with different software. A renewal of public access systems with a turnkey LINUX system with contracted support and
on-line booking system has brought consistency and reliablity to the public systems. This was a recommendation of the last
technology plan.
5. What is creative or innovative about the program? What sets it apart from other library programs? This review is unique in that it crosses all division / departmental and heirarchical bounds. IT is a central service to
all departments and input is solicited from all staff and managers in a functional relationship. The focus groups are assembled
by common interest with representation from support staff, management and all departments involved. Group meeting are aligned
with current library strategic directions not organizational structure. This year's groups included Internet/Intranet services,
Communication, Heritage Information Systems, Children's Services and Public Access Computing.
6. How can this program be replicated in other communities? Did you document your progress, lessons learned, or share your
success with other libraries, for example? This process can be replicated. The Technolgy Compass report includes a section on the Methodology and review process.
There is a review of status of the previous year's recommendations and projects, a list of current activities and a workplan
for the current year as well as an inventory of current technology resources and staff.
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Documents
| Windsor Public Library: Tech Planning: Level 5 |
The WJ Award winner in Technology Planning for 2004 (Level 5) is the Windsor Public Library in Ontario, Canada.
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