With the recent release of the Technology Competencies on WebJunction Illinois, this issue of “What’s New”  focuses on the technology resources, continuing education and tools that WJIL offers. View a screencast of TechAtlas, learn how to write goals for a technology plan, attend the TechAtlas Event Tracker webinar and add your two cents worth to the “101 Technology Success Tips.”

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

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Resources

Writing Goals and Objectives for a Technology Plan

• Writing goals and objectives is one of the most challenging parts of the technology planning process. Goals and objectives are key to demonstrating the path that the library will take to maintain, improve and expand services to patrons and staff. While this article will focus on the content of the goals and objectives, be aware that a fair amount of work needs to be done before the writing can even begin.
• Path: [Technology » Technology Planning » Writing a Technology Plan]

TechAtlas for Libraries

• TechAtlas for Libraries is a set of free online planning and management tools that guide your library through the essential act of creating and maintaining a technology plan. Use TechAtlas resources to inventory your equipment, plan computer maintenance and upgrades, assess staff tech skills, set near- and long-term goals, and make a budget. Make sure to visit the Illinois TechAtlas page for specific information on how Illinois libraries are using TechAtlas.
• Path: [Technology » Technology Planning » TechAtlas]

TechAtlas Screencast from Shawnee Library System

• Enjoy this screencast which provides an introduction to creating a computer inventory in TechAtlas. Troy Brown from the Shawnee Library System developed this tutorial. Be sure to contact your own system representative with questions on using TechAtlas in your library. You can find their names on the Illinois TechAtlas page.
• Path: [Technology » Technology Planning » TechAtlas » Illinois TechAtlas]

Technology Competencies

• WebJunction has just released competencies for Core Technology and Systems & IT. The Core competencies address skills that all staff need for today’s “wired” work environment. Systems & IT competencies address the various complex technology systems that drive your library operations. As with the Library Management competencies, these technology sets include dynamic links to related courses and resources on WebJunction that will build your knowledge and skills and increase on-the-job effectiveness.
• Path: [Illinois Course Catalog]

Technology Planning

• Visit this section of WebJunction Illinois to find resources, articles and tips on Writing a Technology Plan including sample spreadsheets for budgeting, how to evaluate your technology plan and how to prepare your staff for technology changes. You’ll also find a wealth of E-Rate Resources and tips.
• Path: [Technology » Technology Planning]

Courses and Learning

TechAtlas Event Tracker

• TechAtlas for Libraries is a set of free online tools to help libraries with the technology planning and the management of their computer inventory. Event Tracker is a tool within TechAtlas which allows users to create an online “help desk” so they can track all of the requests and solutions to computer troubles in the library. When a staff member reports the problem using the web-based form, TechAtlas notifies the designated technical support staff by e-mail. After the problem has been resolved, there is space in Event Tracker to include the solution. This creates a knowledge base that can be referred to later if the same problem occurs. It also helps you to stay on top of all the technology tasks that need to be completed in the library

Technology Competencies in Your Library

• Does your staff have the technology skills they need to do their jobs? How do you know? One way that libraries are looking to answer these questions is by establishing technology competencies. Competencies help to define the skills needed for general or specific job duties. At WebJunction Illinois this month, we’re highlighting the new technology competencies and a free WebJunction webinar to discuss how libraries are using competencies with staff. In the webinar, you’ll hear from libraries that are at different stages of implementing competency programs so that you can learn from their experiences and plan on the smoothest path for creating a program at your library. The webinar will also point you towards resources that can help make your program a success.

MaintainIT Webinars

• In a series of 30 minutes webinars the MaintainIT project presented technology topics such as A Need for Speed, Measuring and Managing Bandwidth, Technology Services for Children, and Public Computers and 2.0 Tools. It only takes 30 minutes to listen to the archives and gain a wealth of information. Take advantage of it today!
• Path: [Technology » Public Access Computing » MaintainIT Cookbooks » MaintainIT Webinars]

Featured Technology Courses from the WebJunction Illinois Course Catalog

• Personal Computer Components: You know that thingy with the doohickey—is it important? And which of these dozen cords do I plug into which of these dozen holes—and why? This featured course gives you a tour of computers from the inside out, so that you will feel more comfortable with the basics of setup and maintenance.
• Managing Laptops and Portable Devices: In this course you will learn how to: identify laptop-specific connections, power, and electrical input devices, recognize how to remove laptop-specific hardware safely and how video sharing affects memory upgrades, recognize procedures and techniques for diagnosing and repairing laptops troubleshoot laptop problems in given scenarios.
• UNT LE@D Courses: Through the WJIL Course Catalog, LE@D offers a number of technology related courses for libraries such as Using Databases and Microsoft Office applications for libraries.

Community

101 Technology Success Tips in 30 Days

• Along with rapidly changing technologies, the public’s use of library computers puts extra demands on the setup and maintenance of hardware, software, networks, and security. Part of technology planning is staying on top of those tasks. Help build a list of 101 tips for managing public access computers by posting your own tech success tip. In other words, 1 tip gets you 100 in return. Oh, and there will be prizes awarded for “best” and “most” tips posted. Note: You must be signed in as as a member to post.
  

What Could I do with…The Transformation Lab?

The Transformation Lab at the Aarhus Public Library in Denmark is an interesting experiment that might inspire you. You can view a 7 minute video on this exciting and thought provoking 3 year project on the Emerging Technologies section of WJIL. Gather your staff and colleagues to watch the video, then brainstorm on the findings and how it might effect the way you approach your library services.