Bob Bocher — Library Technology Consultant
Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning

Let me know if you have any questions.

      Bob Bocher, Technology Consultant

Shared Integrated Library System (ILS) Cost Study - PDF
The division used LSTA funds to conduct a study to determine the costs of shared ILS. Some of the key questions this study addressed included: What are the actual costs of operating a shared ILS? Who pays for what costs? What are the different funding models used to support shared ILS? By January 2007, 86% of the state's 388 public libraries were in shared ILS.

Library Technology
This Website includes over 225 individual pages related to a variety of library technology topics and issues.

Gates Grants
Wisconsin is in the last tier of states to be part of the Gates Foundation grants. Public libraries in the state have received over 700 PCs from this program. In addition, seven libraries received computer labs for public use. In 2004 the division was awarded a Gates grant for $95,000 to be used for library staff technology training. This was augmented by an additional training grant of $192,500 for use in 2005-06. In the spring of 2007 division staff conducted ten workshops on sustaining technology in rural libraries. These workshops were also supported by Gates funds.

BadgerNet
In 2006 the State of Wisconsin, in cooperation with the education and library communities, implemented the next generation of BadgerNet, the statewide telecommunications network. A key purpose of the new BadgerNet Converged Network (BCN) is to build the next generation network that will converge data and video onto one network. All K-12 schools and public libraries in the state can use BadgerNet. Approximately 920 schools and libraries migrated to the new network by October 2006. I am a member of the BCN Advisory Council representing schools and libraries.

LSTA Technology Grants

State Library Technology Plan
The Wisconsin Library Technology Strategic Plan was developed from a 1998 conference on library technology. A key conference recommendation was that the state library contract for statewide access to full-text databases. This was the genesis of the BadgerLink program that now provides access to over 5,000 periodicals and other information to libraries and directly to residents statewide. The technology plan was updated in 2002 and will be updated again in late 2005.

LITAC
LITAC, the statewide Library Information Technology Advisory Committee, provides guidance on implementing the goals and objectives in the library technology plan and provides advice to the division on other technology and resource sharing issues. I co-chair this committee.

Status of Automated Systems and Net Access (to be posted 9-07)
This page will provide an update on the status of automated systems and Internet access in the state's 387 public libraries.

Other
I review library system plans to make certain they comply with the statutory requirement (43.24, 2m) that systems engage in "Planning with the division and with participating public libraries and other types of libraries in the area in regard to library technology and the sharing of resources."

I serve on various state committees and am a member of the WiscNet board, the state's not-for-profit ISP. In addition to being on the ALA's E-rate Task Force, I'm also on the association's Office for Information Technology Policy Advisory Committee (OITP) and chair the subcommittee on Telecommunications. I was a primary author of the Internet Access Principles.