Ideas for 2016 LSTA Technology Grant

Ideas for 2016 LSTA Technology Grant

• System-supported wireless printing (Cluster 2)

Might need wireless cards or printers—initial hardware expense. May need a print release station. Then there is ongoing support. Would this be paid or unpaid?

This is desirable for many libraries. Would need to figure out how we could use LSTA funds to fund.

A few libraries present are interested in this.

• Mobile hot spots
• For patrons who do not have internet (Cluster 1)
• To provide catalog access in buildings and areas with none so that staff can sign people up with library cards (senior homes / farmer’s markets, etc).

In Adams County, a lot of patrons don’t have internet access. Is there a way to set up mobile hot spot? There are big community efforts in big cities in the impoverished neighborhoods to provide internet. In Green Bay, the schools are providing mobile hot spots to students.

Perhaps once a week, the library could go to a site and provide patrons with library cards.

How many mobile hot spots would we need to fill the need? It may depend on whether or not they would be loaned to patrons or for libraries to take out to other locations. Could SCLS negotiate with a company like Verizon or US Cellular to get discounts? Monroe used to use US cellular but they dropped the monthly option. Would it make sense to look at smaller companies on a county-by-county basis.

Madison: would be hard to meet the demand for patrons.
ACL: more interested in mobile access. This is something that libraries presented are interested—a few per library.

• Offsetting Flipster or OverDrive (Clusters 9 & 10)

Adding to Advantage is not a required amount, so LSTA is not necessary. Flipster will be $6,000 less than last year. We can use this to add more titles. There is a committee working on whether to add titles and what titles. A recommendation will be brought back to the AC. Everyone in SCLS would need to get it.

No one indicated interest. Lower priority.

This does benefit everybody.

• Training on fun, catchy tech like Rasberry Pi, Drawdio and other such innovative, yet inexpensive technologies would go a long way to helping libraries who want to offer such technology (Clusters 9 & 10)

Without the kits, training is not that useful. Training is good for about 6 months and if you don’t use it, it is not that valuable. What about training for the maker kits? Libraries don’t always have staff time for this.

• System WAN upgrades or library LAN upgrades (Clusters 9 & 10) (From Tracy: I'm sure this would be useful; however, these are core costs that we should, and do,budget for every year.)

LDI: this is a good thing. Offsetting higher than expected costs would be beneficial.
This is a critical service.
Would rather see LSTA go for one-time things.

• Add an audience response system to the Presentation Kit (from Clusters 11-13)

This is a clicker system to poll people. Is there enough potential use to justify? Could be used by libraries or at SCLS meetings. Can text responses to questions using phone too. Is there an app for that? Not everyone has devices or use texting.

Not a lot of enthusiasm. May depend on cost. Do we need to use LSTA funds for this?

• From Library Innovation Subcommittee—focus on digitization (a survey will be going out)
• Digitization equipment to loan to libraries
• Storage for digitized materials
• Retrieval and access for digitized materials (OCLC Content DM, PTFS Digital Library services, and others)
• Training on best practices for digitization

Does this include born digital? There is room on the survey where you could indicate that is an interest. As far as storage there is Recollection Wisconsin that Milwaukee Public hosts. Do they handle all formats? Monroe and Wisconsin Rapids use Recollection Wisconsin. Is it better to work towards that? WPLC is working with library systems towards a potential statewide solution (but will a state-wide project materialize?). There is a state-wide project for newspaper digitization (which SCLS does put funds into).

ACL & Madison: Will all libraries participate? Some don’t have materials.

ACL:Patrons are interested in this. Are libraries?

Mark pointed out that this dovetails with the national funding that is available. National Public Policy agenda adopted by ALA.

• RFID tags for non-library owned materials

Libraries that tag are interested?

• More maker kits

We still have sewing machines and a 3D printer for the 2015 grant.
Doesn’t benefit everyone (Madison).

The group is OK with SCLS making the final assessment for the LSTA grants.

MyPC Fines Block Decision Making Process Discussion

Libraries with no restrictions = 9 (includes Madison Public Library; 17 buildings)
Libraries with a block at $20 = 13 (includes Portage County Public Library; 16 buildings)
Libraries with a block at $10 = 5 (5 buildings)
Libraries with a block at $5 = 8 (8 buildings)

A weighted vote of no restrictions vs. all of the block amounts in total would be just about even.

Are there temporary passes? Yes. Monroe blocks, but gives out temporary passes. Madison would have to hire more staff to do this because of the volume. Madison only uses them for new patrons. Madison also wants to make sure that access is equitable. It is an access barrier to block.

It might make it easier for Monroe to not block.

MCF would be willing to live with not blocking as long as there is the promise to be able to block in the future.

ACL: as long as we can block individual patrons, they are OK with no blocks.

ROM prefers no blocks.

LDI: in order to make a decision, we need to present both sides. LDI blocks and doesn’t see the other side.

MAD: they recently made a decision to shift more of their PCs to SCLS support. That decision has meant that they are shifting more dollars to SCLS. It would be politically untenable for them to start blocking (city-wise). This means if SCLS were to start blocking, they would need to shift away from having SCLS do support.

MAD: with Internet time, it is not an asset that they are losing, so they are OK with no blocks. Unlike lost materials that they want to get back. Providing unblocked internet access is like a carrot to get people into the library and see that there are other resources available (materials, programs, etc.).

MCF: worked at a library where there was no software, and then when they implemented it, they got a lot of fines paid. Also, internet is a privilege.

MAD: looking at equity issues across the city. Even Dane County is looking at this. Many people can’t pay a $20 fine.

MCF: can waive fines.

LDI: there are things that we do because we have always done them that way. We should have a philosophical discussion about this.

MAD: has the landscape changed in the last 5 years? You now need to apply for jobs online and file taxes online.

LDI: would like a philosophical discussion of libraries.

Should we have a small group of people write up the pros and cons? Look at the philosophical issues.

• Put it out so that everyone has access to the same information.
• Two libraries pro blocking (MCF & ) & against blocking (MPL & ?)
• We will look for others.

Are there other solutions?

Questions:

Would a person be blocked if their card expired?
Will it be possible to get the ability for individual libraries to block in the future?
What other solutions are there? Why can’t the vendor fix this? What were the problems with the other vendors?