Sunday, April 26, 2009
Final Posting
I am late in summing up my onsite visit as I am prohibited from accessing blogs, social networks, IMs and the like when I am at work. All those things are prohibited on a military computer network and are blocked by the computer security software. We are not even able to use a USB storage device due to the fact the viruses can be introduced into the network very easily when using such devices-or so I have been told. Since the library I visited is on a military base, it is also faced with those same restrictions. Because of this, the library staff feels as if it is very hard to be really responsive to the patrons' wants/needs as far as web 2.0 technology goes. They would like to be able to offer all the 'bells and whistles' that people have come to expect from the Internet but they just can't. Despite of this, however, the staff at the Fort Rchardson library is doing a very good job at keeping their patrons happy within the limits that are imposed on them.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Not happy with previous posting
I am not happy with the previous posting as it looks completely different than it did when I wrote it/corrected it. The formatting is all wrong. I suppose that is because I cut and paste everything from a word document and didn't type in everything by hand. I would have attached the word document but I didn't know how to do that. Just another thing I need to learn about blogs.
Questions and Answers
As I already said in a previous posting, I am not very creative so I just used the questions given in our assignment instructions when I interviewed Melissa and Christa instead of making up my own. Christa's and Melissa's answers are in blue:
Network: wireless/wired, type of network configuration and Internet connection. Do you
have “hot spots” The library has a wired network and uses DSL for the Internet collection. No “hot spots” because it is a wired network.
Automation, what brand of automation system and are you happy with it? What modules do
you have? Is the system Web-based? Does it have any interactive elements? Automation: Horizon Information Portal powered by DYNIX. It is server based though you can search the catalog through the library’s website. They are not too happy with the system because it goes down a lot though when it is up it works great. It does not have any interactive elements.
PDAs/laptops/mobile computing - do you have any/support any of these? Does your
WebPortal support PDAs? No PDAs, laptops or other mobile computing devices since the library does not have a not have a wireless network. The library also does not have a web portal.
Number of patron workstations: 29, 27 commercial workstations and 2 military
Maintenance & repair - done by staff or outside contractor? It is a bit of both since Christa is on staff but she is actually an on-site contractor hired to do maintenance and repair on the computers.
Personnel involved - who actually does the technology/media program, planning and
budgeting in the library? Until recently, the entire library staff was involved in the planning and budgeting of the library’s technology program. Now, however, the librarian that was just
hired will take over those duties.
Do you have a WebPage/WebPortal? No web portal and just a very basic web page that is part of the larger ‘education center’ website.
Social Network via a WebPortal e.g. Blog, Wiki? No social networks, blogs, IMs, etc. since none of these things are allowed on government networks.
Patron preferences, reviews or other interactive feedback on your site? No, but there is a ‘Recommended Reading’ list of books suggested by the library staff
Your budget for technology – approximate: $20,000
Internet access & type of connection: DSL through Alaska Communication Systems
Policy - any policies you may have for technology use e.g. AUP, time on computers, etc: Basic AUP posted around the library and by the computers: No U-Tube, no chat, no gambling, 30 minute time limit on the computer if someone else is waiting.
Forms - AUP, check-out forms for PDA's, e-books, AV equipment, etc: Military hand receipt form to checkout AV equipment. E-books are available through NetLibrary and playaways are checked out like a regular book.
Space - is there enough space for technology, networking, patron computers, server closet, etc.
How are you solving any space problems? There is enough space in the server closet but not enough space in the library itself. The library is a new consolidated base library that serves both the Army and the Air Force and it was already too small on the day it opened. The library is one third the size it should be based on the amount of people assigned to either Ft Rich or Elmendorf AFB. The lack of space causes the computer room to really heat up. This is controlled somewhat through the use of fans as there is no AC in the library.
Furniture - is there appropriate furniture for technology such as computers, online stations,
staff workstations. Are they ergonomically correct for the user? Are there accommodations
for those with disabilities? There are a lot of accommodations for those with disabilities. There is a low vision magnifier available for patron use as well as a separate computer lab fitted with
technology to accommodate those that were wounded during combat/deployment. A complete description of the technology available in the ‘Wounded Warrior Computer Lab’ is available here:
http://www.usarak.army.mil/educ/Compter%20Lab/computerlab.html
Outlets - are there enough electrical outlets, network outlets, cable outlets, wireless access
points for technology? No
What works for you in regards to your technology program? There is an in-house Information Management Officer that is available everyday to answer questions and to fix problems.
What doesn't work? The system is flawed as there are too many connections to go through for Internet access. Only two servers for entire two-floor education center, only one line for all
the Internet traffic to leave the base and another for that traffic to leave Alaska for access to the ‘lower 48’. Additionally, the commercial workstations are outfitted with EnvisionWare software which is a proxy manager that allows the library staff to control who accesses the computers, how much time they can spend on the computer and how much they can print. Unfortunately, that software is not authorized for use on government computers and all patron information is only on the government computers as authorization for use is by ID card/SSNs.
Consequently, the two computer systems don’t talk to each other and everything
has to be done manually.
Network: wireless/wired, type of network configuration and Internet connection. Do you
have “hot spots” The library has a wired network and uses DSL for the Internet collection. No “hot spots” because it is a wired network.
Automation, what brand of automation system and are you happy with it? What modules do
you have? Is the system Web-based? Does it have any interactive elements? Automation: Horizon Information Portal powered by DYNIX. It is server based though you can search the catalog through the library’s website. They are not too happy with the system because it goes down a lot though when it is up it works great. It does not have any interactive elements.
PDAs/laptops/mobile computing - do you have any/support any of these? Does your
WebPortal support PDAs? No PDAs, laptops or other mobile computing devices since the library does not have a not have a wireless network. The library also does not have a web portal.
Number of patron workstations: 29, 27 commercial workstations and 2 military
Maintenance & repair - done by staff or outside contractor? It is a bit of both since Christa is on staff but she is actually an on-site contractor hired to do maintenance and repair on the computers.
Personnel involved - who actually does the technology/media program, planning and
budgeting in the library? Until recently, the entire library staff was involved in the planning and budgeting of the library’s technology program. Now, however, the librarian that was just
hired will take over those duties.
Do you have a WebPage/WebPortal? No web portal and just a very basic web page that is part of the larger ‘education center’ website.
Social Network via a WebPortal e.g. Blog, Wiki? No social networks, blogs, IMs, etc. since none of these things are allowed on government networks.
Patron preferences, reviews or other interactive feedback on your site? No, but there is a ‘Recommended Reading’ list of books suggested by the library staff
Your budget for technology – approximate: $20,000
Internet access & type of connection: DSL through Alaska Communication Systems
Policy - any policies you may have for technology use e.g. AUP, time on computers, etc: Basic AUP posted around the library and by the computers: No U-Tube, no chat, no gambling, 30 minute time limit on the computer if someone else is waiting.
Forms - AUP, check-out forms for PDA's, e-books, AV equipment, etc: Military hand receipt form to checkout AV equipment. E-books are available through NetLibrary and playaways are checked out like a regular book.
Space - is there enough space for technology, networking, patron computers, server closet, etc.
How are you solving any space problems? There is enough space in the server closet but not enough space in the library itself. The library is a new consolidated base library that serves both the Army and the Air Force and it was already too small on the day it opened. The library is one third the size it should be based on the amount of people assigned to either Ft Rich or Elmendorf AFB. The lack of space causes the computer room to really heat up. This is controlled somewhat through the use of fans as there is no AC in the library.
Furniture - is there appropriate furniture for technology such as computers, online stations,
staff workstations. Are they ergonomically correct for the user? Are there accommodations
for those with disabilities? There are a lot of accommodations for those with disabilities. There is a low vision magnifier available for patron use as well as a separate computer lab fitted with
technology to accommodate those that were wounded during combat/deployment. A complete description of the technology available in the ‘Wounded Warrior Computer Lab’ is available here:
http://www.usarak.army.mil/educ/Compter%20Lab/computerlab.html
Outlets - are there enough electrical outlets, network outlets, cable outlets, wireless access
points for technology? No
What works for you in regards to your technology program? There is an in-house Information Management Officer that is available everyday to answer questions and to fix problems.
What doesn't work? The system is flawed as there are too many connections to go through for Internet access. Only two servers for entire two-floor education center, only one line for all
the Internet traffic to leave the base and another for that traffic to leave Alaska for access to the ‘lower 48’. Additionally, the commercial workstations are outfitted with EnvisionWare software which is a proxy manager that allows the library staff to control who accesses the computers, how much time they can spend on the computer and how much they can print. Unfortunately, that software is not authorized for use on government computers and all patron information is only on the government computers as authorization for use is by ID card/SSNs.
Consequently, the two computer systems don’t talk to each other and everything
has to be done manually.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Onsite Visit
I was finally able to do my onsite visit/interview on Thursday. I talked with Melissa Pettit and Christa Wallace. Melissa is a library technician and Christa is a contracted system administrator. They were both very helpful and didn't make me feel as if I was wasting their time. I even got some tips from Christa as to what library schools offer an online MLS program. Since it is a military library they are limited in what they can offer the patrons and what patrons can use. That means no blogs, IMs or USB storage devices. The commander in charge of the library and other recreation services on Fort Richardson doesn't even want a wireless network to be installed. I will post the questions I asked as well as Melissa's/Christa's answers tomorrow because now its time to color Easter eggs with my kids.
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