Carson Block - Managing Library Technology: A LITA Guide

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Managing Library Technology: A LITA Guide

A LITA Guide

Carson Block

ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD

Lanham Boulder New York London

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Available

ISBN 9781442271807 (hardback : alk. paper) | ISBN 9781442271814 (pbk. : alk. paper) | ISBN 9781442271821 (ebook)

TM The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.

Printed in the United States of America

Management of technology has become one of the more daunting issues facing library workers of all stripes. How does one manage something so unrulyso unpredictableand always so much in motion? For many libraries, especially small to midsize, the tasks involved in taming the technological beast are also among the most challenging and often intimidating efforts faced by library workers. This is true even for large libraries and library systemsno matter the size of the library, technology can be tough. And where are library workers to turn to learn more about managing technology? Recent graduates of schools teaching library information science tell me that technology is rarelyif evercovered as part of the curriculum. Fortunately, there are many (often free) opportunities to learn about specific technologies or initiatives, but few (if any) covering the broad concepts that help library people make good decisions and actions with their technological efforts. Im here to bring you good news: not only can a non-technologist understand the basics of technology management, but the concepts can be harnessed to help you and your library thrive!

Managing Library Technology: A LITA Guide aims to highlight the enduring elements of technology managementthe things that stay the same regardless of ongoing changes, trends, and other actions that make up our modern technological churn. Whether you are a library director, an accidental technologist, oras indicated by the experiences of those taking the ALA-APA Certified Public Library Administrator (CPLA) class I teacheven someone with a great deal of experience in managing technology in libraries, there are likely concepts here that will make a difference in how you approach technology in your library. Shared in plain language and in a down-to-earth manner, youll learn what makes technology tick. Youll gain the planning and management tools to harness its full force to bring essential support and boundless possibilities to your organization.

Throughout Managing Library Technology: A LITA Guide, well take a comfortably paced look at what it takes to enjoy successful technology efforts in your library, with the aim of giving you a deeper understanding of the role of technology in your library and a mastery of the important issues.

In chapter 1, well explore some of the broad topics that help us understand the context of technology and how it all fits into the bigger picture, considering things like your own vision for technology, the technology market (and how the library fits into the greater ecosystem), integrating technology into existing plans and efforts, a first-blush look at technology budgets in libraries, why technology policy is important to every library, and more. By bridging the concepts of technology vision, market forces, patron desires, and staff needs, youll see your own pathways to connect library goals with technological possibilities.

Chapter 2 contains a brief but powerful look at performing a basic technology assessment, with the purpose of becoming familiar with the librarys current technological environment.

In chapters 3 and 4, we will dive deep into the process of technology planning. Many of us know the folly of strict plans (the future, after all, is often unpredictable), but we also know that the planning process has enormous value as a way to help us identify our big goals and think through and anticipate how we might tackle them. As President Dwight D. Eisenhower once said: Plans are worthless, but planning is everything. In these chapters, well embrace the spirit and identify the mechanics of the planning process.

In chapter 5, well increase our understanding of the nuts and bolts of technology implementation and in the process learn how to stay agile in an ever-changing environment. As in chapter 1, here we will learn concepts that help us understand the context of technology implementation and strategies to make wise choices. Youll connect your technology implementation efforts with who you servedrawing a straight line between efforts and impacts.