Consulting activities this month include trips to Texas and Alabama to work with a number of libraries in those states. Projects include 1) a technology plan within the comprehensive strategic plan, 2) technology needs and technology space needs for a building program for a new main library, and 3) technology design and specifications for a new library beginning construction. Special IT management and support projects include the installation of a time and print management solution for public computers. Of course, the ongoing management of all IT systems for Managed IT Services clients occurs every day.
We began our 13th year in business and service to our clients this month. Activities in continuing and new projects got the year off to a busy start. The Wisconsin Public Library Consortium continued its investigation into audio book providers with demonstrations by OverDrive and netLibrary. A contract would supplement the statewide e-book collection which WPLC has continually developed since 2001 with e-books from netLibrary. For clients which contract for "Managed IT Services" with fiscal years beginning mid-year, we developed budgets encompassing all technology needs including maintenance renewals, software and hardware upgrades and new purchases, components for new initiatives, and all other IT-related expenses for the twelve month fiscal year.
The training sessions for the Wisconsin electronic reference databases were completed this month. We provided thirty hands-on half-day sessions in library labs throughout the state. Evaluation and selection activities continue as the Delaware libraries finalize their choice of an integrated library system for their expanded and merged, multi-county consortium. New equipment was ordered and arrived as "Managed IT Services" clients closed their budgets for the fiscal year and ordered against the new fiscal year. We recommend a three year replacement cycle for computers and network equipment, but sometimes budgets require that this be stretched a little longer.
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