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Wisconsin Library Technology Strategic PlanThe Wisconsin Library Technology Strategic Plan has been endorsed by the following organizations: Wisconsin Library Technology Strategic Plan
CONTENTS
This publication is also available in print from the Division for Libraries and Community Learning, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, P.O. Box 7841, Madison, Wisconsin 53707-7841, (608) 266-2205. Bulletin No. 99071.  Preface
The Department of Public Instruction is committed to using technology to foster resource sharing, and it supports continued development of statewide library networks to improve access to information resources for all Wisconsin residents. This
plan reflects this commitment. The use of technology to promote
greater access to information will be in cooperation and coordination
with the Wisconsin library community. The ultimate vision of
this plan is to ensure that:
All Wisconsin residents have equitable, convenient, and universal access to the information and knowledge resources they need to meet personal, work, educational, and community goals. This is facilitated by the participation of Wisconsin libraries in statewide networks linking library resources through appropriate technology and technology standards.
The goals and objectives outlined in this plan will help make
this vision a reality.
John T. Benson
1. Introduction
Access:
These three phrases characterize our vision of a Wisconsin library
and information network. Today, librarians in Wisconsin know
that by working together with library advocates and other information
professionals they can help the residents of Wisconsin achieve
a level of information access only dreamed of fifteen years ago.
This strategic plan for using technology is the product of a process
which began long before the Library Technology Planning Conference
held February 23-24, 1998. It started with the first beehive
OCLC terminals and the first Apple microcomputers. It started
with the first conversions of card catalogs to online catalogs.
It started with the first WISCAT on microfiche. It started with
the first online searches of ERIC. Wisconsin libraries have developed
a substantial technology base which has enabled us to construct
a strategic plan that will benefit all our citizens.
A strategic plan should be set forth in broad terms. It includes
goals and objectives but does not include specific details on
how the vision will be achieved. The next step will be to develop
implementation plans. Implementation plans will be living documents;
they will need to be continually reviewed to reflect changes
in technology and changes in the information needs of the state's
residents.
This strategic plan reflects the division's statutory commission
to promote cooperation among all types of libraries and to coordinate
the development of networks to foster resource sharing. The Department
of Public Instruction's Division for Libraries and Community Learning
is committed to continuing to bring together the Wisconsin library
community for the benefit of all Wisconsin libraries and, more
importantly, for the benefit of all Wisconsin residents.
Although leadership for the development of this plan was provided
by the Division for Libraries and Community Learning, it is hoped
that other library organizations and agencies will find common
ground with the vision, goals and objectives contained in the
plan. The division acknowledges the involvement of the Library
Technology Conference Steering Committee, the participants in
the conference and preceding forums and input from other interested
parties.
2. Statutory Framework for Library Networking
The legislature has long recognized the importance of libraries
and library networking in the state. This recognition is incorporated
in chapter 43 of the state statutes, which charges the Department
of Public Instruction and the Council on Library and Network Development
with a variety of responsibilities and tasks related to libraries,
library networking and interlibrary cooperation. In addition,
the Department of Administration, as outlined in chapter 16 of
the statues, has a variety of responsibilities in the areas of
technology, technology planning and telecommunications. These
legislative declarations and the areas of responsibilities are
outlined below.
The legislature recognizes
The legislature declares
The legislature directs the Department of Public Instruction
to
The legislature directs the Department of Administration
to
Each library must determine its level of participation in the
evolving statewide library network. The development of a statewide
library network will build on the substantial networking infrastructure
already in place. This infrastructure can be generally divided
into conduits and content. The conduits consist of the networking
infrastructure, which includes local area and wide area networks,
the public/private telecommunications networks and the host of
protocols that allow linkages between these networks to facilitate
the flow of information. The content is the information that
is accessed and transported by the network conduits to the end
user. The information may reside in the patron's local library
or halfway around the world. The conduits and content come together
for the library patron in the form of a graphical workstation
with high-speed Internet access. For examples of the constituent
parts of the conduits and content, see Appendix A.
The term "statewide library network" is used only in
the conceptual sense. The evolving network will not be
a single structure. Such a structure is neither feasible nor
desirable in the age of decentralized and distributed networks
or at a time when repositories of information are similarly decentralized
and distributed. Rather, a statewide library network will be
an interconnected network of local, regional and statewide networks.
The degree of interconnection will be highly dependent on the
technology used-which will, in turn, be determined by commonalties
of
For many libraries these commonalties are already well defined.
A state library network can enhance existing service structures
and assist in developing new service structures for resource sharing
as changing needs and demands warrant.
A statewide library network will seek to enhance the network conduits
and access to content for libraries already networked. This will
allow these libraries to experiment with more advanced networking
topologies and protocols and various methods for delivery of content.
A statewide library network will also seek to provide some degree
of access for libraries now isolated from the networked world,
ensuring them a basic level of both network participation and
access to information.
Access for anyone, from anywhere, at any time:
All Wisconsin residents have equitable, convenient, and universal access to the information and knowledge resources they need to meet personal, work, educational and community goals. This is facilitated by the participation of Wisconsin libraries in statewide networks linking library resources through appropriate technology and technology standards.
This vision statement served as a keynote for participants at
the February 23-24, 1998, Library Technology Planning Conference.
A vision is just that: it is a vision. It is a statement of
where one hopes to be at a future date and it does not wholly
reflect the current environment. A considerable amount of work
must be done in the coming years to make this vision a reality
for our state's libraries and citizens. The second sentence of
the vision describes, in general terms, how technology can help
move the Wisconsin library community closer to making this vision
a reality. This is explained in more detail in section 3, "Building
a Statewide Library Network."
The conceptualization of the evolving statewide library network
is shown below. The conduits, as previously noted, provide the
network connectivity and access. The content is the information
provided directly or indirectly over the networks. The user interface
is at the intersection of these two key segments. It provides
access to information for library staff and patrons through a
networked workstation with access to the Web. The main components or features of the above three segments are listed below. (Acronyms are defined in Appendix D.)
Listed below are several key activities and programs of the Department
of Public Instruction's Division for Libraries and Community Learning
and the Department of Administration for 1998-99. These activities
will help achieve the vision, goals, and objectives of the Wisconsin
Library Technology Strategic Plan.
Department of Public Instruction:
Department of Administration:
Appendix C. The Library Technology Planning Conference
(February 1998)
Overview and Background Information
In April 1997 the state Legislative Council's Special Study Committee
on Public Libraries recommended that the Department of Public
Instruction, in cooperation with the Department of Administration,
hold a Library Technology Planning Conference with participation
by all types of libraries. The DPI fully supported this
recommendation, and in September 1997 State Superintendent John
Benson appointed a statewide steering committee to help plan the
conference. The conference, sponsored jointly by the Department of Public Instruction and the Department of Administration, was held on February 23-24, 1998. This was an invitational conference with eighty-four participants. The participants represented academic, public, school, and special libraries, library organizations and other key stakeholders.
Conference Partners
To fulfill its statutory directive, the Department of Public Instruction
has long supported the use and advancement of technology in the
state's libraries. For example, WISCAT, the state library catalog,
represents the department's largest investment in a cooperative
statewide library technology project. Over 1,100 libraries of
all types now participate in WISCAT. The DPI has also allocated
funds, primarily in federal Library Service and Technology Act
(LSTA) dollars, for a variety of other technology-related projects.
The department has negotiated contracts for access by all libraries,
educational institutions and Wisconsin residents to full-text
periodicals in electronic format and to other databases. The
department has allocated $2.1 million in federal funds to pay
for access through December 1999.
The Department of Administration led the development of an enterprise-wide
vision of information technology for state government. In addition,
the DOA is responsible for BadgerNet, the state's telecommunications
network. BadgerNet is available to all state PK-12 schools, public
libraries and academic institutions. With access to information
increasingly dependent upon access to a robust and affordable
networking infrastructure, the DOA plays a key role in development
of education and information networks. The department is also
responsible for the TEACH program, which funds technology access
and use in our state's PK-12 schools, institutions of higher education
and public libraries.
Conference Goal
The Library Technology Planning Conference goal was to develop
a consensus in the state's library community on the strategic
direction for further development of library automation and information
technology. This consensus was attained through the conference
workgroup sessions that identified top priorities in such areas
as features of a state library network, training issues and funding.
The strategic direction that evolved from this consensus served
as a basis for developing this plan and will serve as a basis
for developing any legislative package submitted as part of the
1999/2001 biennial budget.
The Process and a Summary of Conference Results
The conference participants addressed five issues through group
processes and priority setting exercises. In the first session,
all participants worked together in developing ideas and priorities
in connection with the major issue, under the program heading
"Features of Statewide Electronic Library Networks."
Participants then divided into smaller workgroups to consider
four other issues: (1) training, (2) technical assistance,
(3) document delivery, and (4) educating decision makers.
Follow-up sessions by all participants developed priorities for
training, technical assistance and document delivery. There was
broad agreement on the need to educate decision makers; no priorities
were developed for this issue. The information below summarizes
the workgroup sessions and the preferences from the priority exercises.
This information is extracted from the conference report, which
includes much more information.
Features of Statewide Electronic Library Networks: There
were more than 400 individual comments related to this topic.
The top priorities can be summarized under the categories of
network access, the user interface, and access to content. Network
access priorities include Internet access for all libraries, linking
automated systems, flexible interlibrary loan, and statewide delivery
of electronic as well as print resources. User interface priorities
include a GUI (graphical user interface) based Web interface,
different levels of use, cross platform support, and training.
Content priorities include access to library collections, statewide
licensing of full-text and other databases, and developing a list
of quality Web resources.
Training Issues: Some of the needs identified by these
workgroups included methods for training staff and patrons, use
of distance education (e.g., videoconferencing), use of computer-based
training (CBT), and training focused on topical issues (e.g.,
licensing, copyright, policy development).
Technical Assistance Issues: The top recommendations in
this area included setting a base level of funding to provide
adequate hardware / software / high-speed Internet connections
in every public library, and a state-defined minimum standard
for hardware/software and network access. Also mentioned was
the need for a hierarchy of state and regional level specialized
personnel in such areas as technology implementation, Web page
design, network design/administration, training and security.
Document Delivery Issues: The major findings from the
workgroups on this issue were the need for all libraries to have
access to effective delivery services, the need for multiple or
flexible delivery options, direct electronic access to content,
and direct delivery to patrons.
Educating Decision Makers: There was general consensus
on this critical need, and this workgroup did not conduct a priority
setting exercise. Some of the key issues discussed included the
need for regular communication with key stakeholders and other
groups and the need to demonstrate linkages among networks and
show how a statewide library network is dynamic, not static.
Another key theme was the need for a coordinated state lobbying
effort by the library community, emphasizing how the network will
benefit all libraries and citizens.
Appendix D. Program Descriptions
Below are brief descriptions of some of the key programs referenced in this plan. BadgerLink: BadgerLink is a project of the DPI's Division for Libraries and Community Learning. Its goal is to provide Wisconsin residents with increased access to information resources in cooperation with the state's public, school, academic, and special libraries. BadgerLink focuses on content by providing access to information resources using existing telecommunication networks (e.g., BadgerNet) and Internet connections. The concept of BadgerLink was a key topic discussed at the February 1998 Library Technology Planning Conference. BadgerLink represents an initial attempt to implement the technology plan's first goal, to provide access to information. For more information, see the BadgerLink Web site at http://www.badgerlink.net. BadgerNet: BadgerNet is the state's next generation of voice, data and video networks and communication services. It serves all state, regional and local units of government, public libraries, K-12 schools, institutions of higher education and any entities eligible for the TEACH Wisconsin program. BadgerNet is part of the Department of Administration. For more information, see the BadgerNet Web. E-rate: The E-rate (Education-rate) is a federal program designed to provide K-12 schools and public libraries with discounts from 20 to 90 percent on costs related to telecommunications, Internet and internal connections. For more information, see the DPI's E-rate Web site at http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/erate.html. TEACH Wisconsin: TEACH (Technology for Educational ACHievement) Wisconsin is a major state educational technology program that provides support for educational technology and for telecommunications access by eligible organizations. The program is designed to accelerate the use of technology by libraries, K-12 schools and institutions of higher education. For more information, see the TEACH Wisconsin Web site at http://www.teachwi.state.wi.us/. Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA): The LSTA program is a federal grant program administered by the Division for Libraries and Community Learning. Several key purposes of the LSTA program are to establish or enhance electronic linkages among or between libraries, to assist libraries in accessing information through electronic networks, and to encourage libraries to establish consortia and share resources. For more information, see the DPI's LSTA Web site at http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/lsta.html.
Technology Literacy Challenge Fund (TLCF): The TLCF program is a federal grant program administered by the Division for Libraries and Community Learning. The key purpose of the TLCF program is to support the national technology goals that teachers have the training and support needed to help students learn through technology, that all students and teachers have modern computers in their classrooms, that every classroom be connected to the Internet and that effective software and online resources be integrated with the curriculum. Direct any questions on this plan to:
Bob Bocher, Library Technology Consultant
Posted October 13, 1998
Last updated on 2/11/2009 2:19:30 PM |
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