WebJunction

Use these questions to help you think through your hardware needs.

1. What is your library's budget for computer systems? Have you explored fundraising options?

2. What is your budget for technology support and maintenance?

3. How much money would you estimate your library has spent on computer systems (hardware/maintenance) in the past year?

4. How many computers are in your branch? Do you have an inventory of your computers?

5. Are your systems standardized or different from each other? For example, do you have a combination or Macs and PCs, or a combination of newer and older systems? If they are different, does it cause problems? How serious are the problems?

6. Do you have any satellite sites? How many computers are at each satellite site?

7. Do all staff members who need computers have them? Are the computers adequate for the tasks that staffers need to perform?

8. Generally, are your computers new enough to run most of the software you have to run?

9. Are your computers new enough to support the Internet access, database use, and network configurations that you want? How many are not up to speed for these things?

10. How many new or upgraded computers do you estimate you need (lowest figure)? How many would be optimal?

11. Based on what you intend to use the computers for, what would be the minimum configuration acceptable for new computers (Pentium 1, 2, 3, or 4 or PowerMac G3 or G4)?

12. Can your library accept used or reconditioned computers? If yes, do you have the knowledgeable staff, time, and budget to work on donated computers?

13. What kinds of printers are you using? Do they all work adequately? What do you use them for (graphics, word processing, or desktop publishing)? What kinds of jobs can't your current printer handle?