Managing information technology : a handbook for systems librarians

Anyone involved in systems work for libraries will benefit from this masterful compilation written from the authors' experience in academic backgrounds. Whether the reader is a student pursuing a career in library systems or information technology, or an employee in a library systems office or in a supporting information technology division, the advice and descriptions in this book will prove helpful to readers involved in systems work related to any type of library.

Chapters begin with planning and proceed through every possible aspect of the relationships and work involved for successful cooperation among libraries and information technology services. Topics include staffing and reporting lines, inter-organizational relationships and proceed through training, daily, and periodic operations to research and new technologies. A series of resource materials and a list of additional reading conclude the book.

Author Notes

PATRICIA INGERSOLL is the Associate Director for Library Systems and Assistant Professor at the University of Denver, Penrose, Library. She has spent more than 20 years working in academic libraries. Her other research interests include Staff Development and Resource Sharing.

JOHN CULSHAW is Associate Professor and Faculty Director for Systems at the University of Colorado, Boulder, Libraries. He has worked in academic libraries for more than 15 years. He has also served the academic library community as chair of the international Innovative Users Group and facilitator of the Rocky Mountain Regional Innovative Users Group.

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Booklist Review

Designed to offer guidance to systems librarians, this book explores information technology, a broad field including telecommunications, networking, information delivery, office and expert systems, digitization, speech recognition, hardware, software, data formats, and database systems. After a brief historical overview, chapters cover the roles and services of the information--technology organization: planning, staffing and reporting lines, communication, interorganizational relationships, development, service, support, training, daily and periodic operations, space, research, and new technologies. Information is conveyed clearly and is well supported by citations. Content is further strengthened by figures, a list of supplemental resources, a glossary, organizational charts, vendor contact lists, sample policies and job descriptions, and a bibliography. Although the information is written specifically for academic librarians, it is applicable to librarians in other types of libraries as well. Overall, a sound, practical resource offering valuable information. --Sean Kinder Copyright 2005 Booklist

List of Illustrations	p. ix
Acknowledgments	p. xi
Introduction and Rationale	p. xiii
Some Historical Notes	p. ix
1 Planning	p. 1
Strategic Planning	p. 3
Policy Development	p. 4
Budget	p. 7
Planning Tools	p. 7
Writing a Technology Plan	p. 10
Project Management	p. 10
Statistics and Decision Making	p. 11
Integrated Library System Migration	p. 13
Local Standards	p. 17
Replacement Cycles	p. 18
Disaster Preparedness and Recovery	p. 20
2 Staffing and Reporting Lines	p. 23
The Systems Librarian	p. 25
Teams and Hierarchies	p. 28
Organization Charts	p. 29
Centralization and Branches	p. 30
Telecommuting	p. 33
Recruiting	p. 34
Job Descriptions and Performance Reviews	p. 36
3 Communication	p. 39
Collegiality	p. 41
Supporting Library Patrons	p. 42
Professional Reading	p. 43
Research and Scholarship	p. 44
Leadership	p. 45
Stress	p. 46
4 Interorganizational Relationships	p. 49
Stakeholders	p. 49
National Organizations	p. 50
Vendors	p. 51
5 Development	p. 55
Technology Fees	p. 56
Grants	p. 57
6 Service and Support	p. 59
Service Orientation	p. 60
Help Desk Services	p. 61
Service Standards and Measures	p. 64
7 Training	p. 67
Training Approaches	p. 68
Campus Resources	p. 69
Professional Organizations and User Groups	p. 70
Professional Education	p. 70
Staff Development and Continuing Education	p. 73
8 Daily and Periodic Operations	p. 77
Prototype, Test, Configure, and Deploy	p. 79
Hardware Maintenance	p. 81
Printing Issues	p. 83
CD-ROM and DVD	p. 84
Software Upgrades and Monitoring	p. 86
License Control	p. 87
Server Management	p. 89
Data Protection and Backups	p. 91
Security	p. 92
Departmental Procedures	p. 95
Logs and Record Keeping	p. 96
Inventory	p. 96
Statistical Reports and Analyses	p. 97
Programming	p. 98
Link Checking	p. 99
9 Space	p. 101
Facilities	p. 101
Infrastructure	p. 103
LAN, Phone, and Other Cabling	p. 105
Wireless Computing	p. 106
Ergonomics and Safety	p. 107
10 Research and New Technologies	p. 109
Teaching and Learning in a Web-based World	p. 111
Mission-Critical Technologies	p. 111
Evaluation of New Technologies	p. 112
Impacts and Applications of International Standards	p. 112
Portals	p. 115
Digital Library Initiatives	p. 116
Mobile Computing	p. 120
Web Logs	p. 122
Videoconferencing	p. 123
Interactive Chat	p. 124
Intranets	p. 125
Document Delivery	p. 125
11 Summary	p. 127
Trends in Technology	p. 128
Trends in Higher Education	p. 130
Resource Materials	p. 133
Account Policy	p. 134
Example of a LAN Account Policy	p. 134
Appropriate Use Policy	p. 135
Automation Consultants	p. 137
Business Continuity Plan Questionnaire	p. 138
Computer Census Form	p. 149
Example of a Pre-Installation Worksheet	p. 149
Cleaning Up Your Hard Drive	p. 149
Computer Equipment Replacement Plan	p. 151
Controlled Circulation Publication List	p. 154
Decision-making Model	p. 155
ILS Vendor Information	p. 157
Job Description Form	p. 158
Job Evaluation Form	p. 159
Library Technology Plan	p. 164
I Electronic Content Acquisition	p. 164
II Electronic Content Creation	p. 165
III Shared IT Infrastructure Services	p. 167
IV Scholarly Collaboration	p. 172
Appendices	p. 172
Online Help Page	p. 173
Password Policy and Instructions	p. 174
Professional Reading	p. 175
Selected Acronyms	p. 176
Server Configuration Reference Sheet	p. 178
Supported Software Policy	p. 179
Web Site URLs	p. 180
References	p. 183
Additional Reading	p. 191
Index	p. 193

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