Don’t reinvent the wheel, the MaintainIT Project of TechSoup provides a wealth of information from hundreds of librarian interviews on how they maintain public computers. WebJunction Illinois is a repository for all of this information, and in this edition of “What’s New @ WJIL” we’ll surface a few of these and point you to the spots where you can explore more. 

Contents: Resources | Courses and Learning | Community | What could I do with…? | What’s New RSS Feed

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Resources

MaintainIT Cookbooks

Packed with tips and techniques from public librarians from across the country, inside each Cookbook you’ll find practical information covering a variety of topics.

• Planning for Success - The newest of the MaintainIT cookbooks and comprehensive in scope, this online resource brings together the most current ideas and best practices for planning, building, and managing your library’s computer technology. Topics covered include Planning and Decision Making, Communication and Partnerships, Buying and Deploying Technology, Maintaining and Sustaining Technology, Networking and Security and Innovation.
• Recipes for a 5 Star Library - Topics covered include Wireless Networks, PC Reservation/Time Management Software, Print Management and Laptop Checkout Programs.
• A Cookbook for Small and Rural Libraries - Focuses on the experiences of smaller sized libraries, however covers fundamentals that are valuable for any library, and is a great resource for someone wanting to know a bit more about supporting and sustaining public computers. Topics covered include Technology Planning, Computer Maintenance, Volunteer Recruitment, Technology Training Tips and Library Technology in the Future.
• Path: [Technology » Public Access Computing » MaintainIT Cookbooks » MaintainIT Cookbook Chapters ]

Planning for Success: Chapter by Chapter

One of the advantages of the this MaintainIT Cookbook on WJIL is that you can access it chapter by chapter and drill in on the specific topic that is most relevant to you. Here are some samples of the chapters you will find in this resource. Visit the link above for a full list of chapters.

Planning and Decision Making covers the ins and outs of creating a technology plan that ties to your strategic priorities and goals.

• Introduction to the Technology Planning Process
• Technology Assessments
• The Costs and Benefits of Technology
• Keeping Up with Technology

Communication and Partnerships delves in the fundamentals of day-to-day technology communication from a “techie” and “non-techie” perspective. It also includes some important guidelines for working and collaborating with key stakeholders.

• Technical Communication Basics
• Talking with Techies
• Effectively Collaborating with Other Libraries and Partners

Buying and Deploying Technology goes through some of the core actions and decisions you need to consider when planning deployments, installations, and upgrades.

• Why Plan Carefully for Major Purchases
• Vendor Selection and Management
• Buying Refurbished Computers
• Disk-Cloning in Libraries
• Installing and Patching Software

Maintaining and Sustaining Technology offers important insight into the daily management of public computers

• Introduction to Help-desk Management
• Hiring the Right Techs
• Five Ways to Treat Your Old Computer with Respect
• Extending the Life of Your Computer
• Getting Rid of Old Computers Responsibly

Networking and Security covers some of the basic standards and practices for ensuring your library’s network security.

• Introduction to Network Security
• Identifying Vulnerabilities and Risks on Your Network
• Selecting and Configuring a Firewall
• Creating Security Policies
• Bandwidth Management

Innovation highlights the true value of today’s libraries and the role in serving as the center of new community conversations via a much higher level of user interactivity and experiences. If you are ready for Web 2.0, this is a good place to start.

• Free and Open-Source Software in Libraries
• Gaming in Libraries
• What to Consider When Evaluating and Implementing Web 2.0 Tools in Your Library

Planning for Success and the Planning for Success Toolkit are also available in a downloadable PDF format.

• Path: [Technology » Public Access Computing » MaintainIT Cookbooks » MaintainIT Cookbook Chapters]

Courses and Learning

MaintainIT Webinars

The MaintainIT project hosts a number of Webinars that you can take advantage of by attending them live via Wimba web conferencing, or listen to in their archived format. You can find information about upcoming MaintainIT webinars on L2 and links to the archived webinars on the Documents tab of the MaintainIT Webinars page.

Here are some examples of past MaintainIT webinars.

30 Minute Webinar: A Need for Speed: Measuring and Managing Bandwidth

• Does it ever feel like your high-speed connection to the Internet is somehow trapped in the slow lane? Are you experiencing the 3 PM chug? There are tools you can use to monitor your network performance and there are techniques you can use to manage bandwidth. Join this fast-paced and interactive webinar to find out more. This month’s special guest is Bob Bocher, Technology Consultant with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning

30 Minute Webinar: Communicating with Techies and Non-Techies

• Join Ross Callender from the Colorado Consortium of Libraries (CLiC) as he shares his experiences working with techies and non-techies and the lessons he’s learned from communicating with both. 

30 Minute Webinar: Quick Tips to Starting a Gaming Program in Your Library

• Join Lori Reed, Employee Learning Coordinator at the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg, as she interviews Beth Gallaway for “Get Your Game On: Quick Tips to Start a Gaming Program in Your Library”.

30 Minute Webinar: Go Team! Quick Tips to Help you Build a Technology Team

• Join MaintainIT’s Brenda Hough as she interviews Michelle Foster for “Go Team! Quick Tips to help you build a technology team in your library”. Michelle is IT Manager for the Boone County Public Library in Kentucky. This fast-paced session introduces the idea of technology teams and libraries.

Community

Read and listen to the MaintainIT Library Spotlights and learn from the experiences and strategies of other libraries who are keeping their public computers running. Click on the documents tab for all the spotlights. 

• Working Together: Thriving with Minimal Outside Help
  Phyllis Reed, Ruidoso Public Library, Ruidoso, NM
• A Merging of Passions
  Annie Adamson, Caldwell Public Library, Caldwell, ID
• Everyone’s a Potential Library Supporter
  Renee Goss, Richland Public Library, Sidney, MT
• Learning Without Fear, and a Few Lessons in Between
  Faye Hover, Smith-Welch Memorial Library, Hearne, TX
• Alachua County Library District Implements Innovative Laptop Checkout Program
  Michael Fettes, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FL
• Linux Replaces Windows at Geneva Public Library
  Marian Wynn, Geneva Public Library, Geneva, AL
• That Darned Fax Machine
  Rita Maupin, Calhoun County Library, Blountsville, FL
• Decentralizing the Knowledge Base
  Sherry Millington, Suwannee River Regional Library, Live Oak, FL
• Path: [Technology » Public Access Computing » MaintainIT Cookbooks » MaintainIT Library Spotlights]

What Could I do with the MaintainIT Resources on WJIL?

Here is a sampling of ideas for how you can make the most of this fantastic plethora of technology information.

• Pick a chapter a week from one of the Cookbooks and read it as a staff. Take the time to discuss it and apply to your library.
• Getting ready to do some technology training in your library? The MaintainIT Cookbooks are covered under a Creative Commons license which allows for free noncommercial sharing with proper attribution. Use the Cookbooks and chapters as a starting point or supporting resource for your training.
• Plan for your technology team to attend one of the upcoming MaintainIT webinars like the 23 Things Summit on March 3. 
• Pick one of the MaintainIT Library Spotlights that interests you, like the one on Decentralizing the Knowledge Base, and pass the link on to colleagues for their reaction and response.
• Browse the thread “Using the Cookbooks” on the MaintainIT Discussion board to find out how others are making use of the Cookbooks. Join in the discussion if you have something to contribute!