After looking over my interview I noticed that some very important information missing. I finally was able to catch up with the Director again. Please read along for the last of my interview.
Q. In reviewing my notes I noticed there were some areas within the library that I hadn't mentioned in our last interview. Please explain to me about your policy, budget and planning for your technology?
A. We are continually changing our budget and policies to meet the needs of the current year we are serving. Our technology budget is set at $9,000. That amount is for everything that can be foreseen for the year, databases, web support etc..., plus it must cover any maintenance or software along with the server we replace every 4 years.
Q. When you have a patron who is interested in using the computers do you have certain guidelines or instructions for them to go by?
A. If we have a patron who needs assistance, we define that as a reference issue. Yes, we try to assist them as best we can for what the issue may be. As for guidelines, we have a 30 min. limit per computer when there is a number of patrons waiting for use, however that doesn't occur very often and normal use is for 1 hour. Because we are unfiltered, we have specific computers in our children's room just for children. When a parent fills out a form for their child to use the computer we give them a child internet safety guideline that helps them understand their respociblities in that particular area.
Q. How do you feel about the space that you have for your technology, networking, patron computers, server closet?
A. Well our space is sufficent, we would like to have bigger areas for our patrons. When the computers are all being used it's a little cramped, a lot of times the YA computer is very popular because there's only one so spacing is better. All our computers are accessible for the disabiled but some places have better capability than others. As for our server closet, it's really bad, it's to hot, it's tiny so it's not the best for the equipment but it's work in progress.
Q. Last question, What doesn't work for you in the technology program?(venders, computer repair, outlets, space, etc.)
A. At this time we are not very happy with our venders. The vender we've purchased hardware from, we've had to send back three times because they came to us already broken. We call and pay for our technician to come in and set up the new equipment only to find out that it's not working so we must spend the money to have him come back again when we receive more equipment.
The other vender who set us up with a new server ended up paid charging us more than the estimate we were given. We plan to shop put on elibs for another vender, plus ask other libraries who they are using.
We trust our tech, he's dependable and takes good care of our equipment. He's helped us out so many times and knows what he's doing.
The other area that could have been set up better is the cable for our copy machines to be able to transfer images from the second floor to the first floor for larger prints and color.
Karen, as always a pleasure talking with you! Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me.
Springvale Public Library
