Somehow this post got lost in the drafts folder.  But since it’s an enduring topic, it’s still current.

A friend has some advice for library administrators:  The Top Ten Things Library Administrators Should Know About Technology.  It’s not a new subject, but it’s a topic that is being discussed openly more and more.   One gets the impression administrators are actually beginning to realize computer technology is not only not going to stand still, it is moving on at a dizzying pace that demands attention.

Now Roy Tennant is one of those icons in the library technology world who is worth listening to.  But technology geeks sometimes write in a language which makes the eyes of library administrators glaze over (been there, done that, got the T-shirt).  So I offer here a translation service for the first four items in Roy’s excellent post.

1. Technology isn’t as hard as you think it is.

The tools available for getting websites up and running are much easier than a few years ago, and it’s getting better each day.  Some things are still complicated (like writing software), but basic services don’t require that knowledge.

2. Technology gets easier all the time.

Installing special software used to be hard.  Today there are pre-packaged programs for complex software programs that make installation a snap.

3. Technology gets cheaper all the time.

Even if you pay a third party to store your web site and make it available on the Internet, the cost of what you can get today is much less than it was even a few years ago, and it keeps getting cheaper.

4. Maximize the effectiveness of your most costly technology investment — your people.

Hardware is cheap (all of it).  The expensive part of technology is knowledgeable staff.  Don’t make it harder for your expensive staff when the tools are so cheap by comparison.

The rest don’t need translating.

These really are points that need to be made again and again until administrators start feeling more comfortable with the technology side of library services.  The problem is, are any administrators listening?  Really listening?  Roy has a larger library audience than I have   Maybe there will be a few who will read and take heart, especially since LISnews posted it as news.

Charles Bailey has published a very helpful bibliography (Digital Curation and Preservation Bibliography, v.1), from which the resources below were gleaned.  In addition, I have been adding resources to Mendeley, a research management tool: Digital Curation, Digital Library Best Practices & Guidelines, Digital Library Systems, and Metadata.

• Archival Management Software, A Report for the Council on Library and Information Resources, January, 2009
• Wiki updates to Archival Management Software report to CLIR (above)
• Choosing a System for Managing Your Image Collection (from JISC), 2007
• Collection Management and Creation Strategies for UC Special Collections and Archives, Summary and Features Matrix (pdf document, see also the Appendices, which are spreadsheets)
• Archives Management Software Review (from the Council of Nova Scotia Archives)

I have added a few more open source items, and a lot of proprietary systems I discovered thanks to Mr. Bailey’s rich resource.  I am constructing a matrix of features for comparison, borrowing from the reports above and my initial chart, based mainly on features that are most important for our needs:

• Product
• URL
• Owned by/Maintained by
• License type
• Runs on (OS)
• Database
• Server Software
• Interoperability with Digital Repository Systems
• Works with (what other software)
• Programming Lang
• Additional hardware or software required
• Hosting available
• OAI-PMH?
• Rights management
• Manage Restricted Materials
• User submission
• Set processing priorities
• Manage processing status
• Localization options
• Formats supported
• Image file import (TIFF, JPEG, etc.)
• A/V file import
• Text file import (TEI, PDF, etc.)
• Image file management w/ associated metadata
• A/V file management w/ associated metadata
• Text file management w/ associated metadata
• Batch edit
• DC type
• METS
• MODS
• MARC
• Imports (MARC , EAD, Tab Delimited/CSV
• Batch Import (MARC, EAD, CSV)
• Exports (MARC, EAD, MADS, MODS, METS, Dublin Core, EAC, Tab Delimited)
• Batch Exports (MARC, EAD, MADS, MODS, METS, Dublin Core, EAC, Tab Delimited)
• Easy Data Entry
• Spell Check
• PREMIS?
• Other Schemas
• Create description record from existing record and automatically populate fields
• Item-level Description
• Link accession and description records
• Link accession record to multiple description records
• Link description record to multiple accession records
• Hierarchical – fonds, collection, sous-fonds, series, sub-series, files, items and link with its parts in the hierarchy.
• Ability to reorganize hierarchies
• Flexibility of Data Model
• Templating/default fields
• Controlled vocabularies
• Authority Records
• Link authority record to unlimited description records
• Link description record to unlimited authority records
• Compliance to Archival Standards
• Data validation
• Backup/Restore utility
• Integrated Web Publication
• Public search interface
• Advanced search (by field)
• Faceted Search
• Browse levels
• Search results clearly indicate hierarchical relationships of records
• Records linked to other parts of hierarchy
• User Access and Data Security Function
• Control who can delete records
• User permissions management
• Control when record becomes publicly accessible
• Feeds
• Install Notes
• Forum/List URL
• Bug tracker URL
• Feature Req URL
• Trial/demo/sandbox
• Training available
• Technical support provided by developers
• User Manuals (user, admin)
• Context-specific help
• Page turning
• Developer customization available
• User customization permitted
• What reports
• Customize reports
• Repository statistics
• Plugins
• UTF

There’s a lot of flag waving (especially by alarmed librarians) about the imminent demise of the book and libraries.  Actually, that’s not true.  The librarians are trying to fend off those who are buying into the idea that printed books, and libraries as we used to know them, are pointless vestiges of a prior era.  The debate has been picked up by the New York Times, which is getting a lot of press (sorry) lately.

The biggest issue, which is only obliquely hinted at in the arguments floating around, especially those in the Times opinion piece, is accessibility. I have a book. No one anywhere can prevent me from sharing that book with you. No one anywhere can prevent you from sharing that book with someone else (once it’s in your possession). Granted, this is a single item, with geospatial limitations which can be transcended by electronic networks. But “electronic” has its own, more restrictive limitations. Does one have access to the electronic network? Does one have the equipment to access the electronic network? Is there a power source to enable access to the equipment (or network)? Does one have permission to access the electronic device/network/item?

Librarianship has always been about finding and gaining access to books/information. The interesting twist today is the gaining access part, which involves navigating rights and permissions, as well as delivery options: both print (is there a printer?) and electronic (does the recipient even have the means to access an electronic version?).

The discussion in the NYTimes column (and others) focuses on universities and private schools, essentially ignoring that part of the population that is (a) less educated, (b) less affluent, (c) less technologically savvy, and (d) any combination of the above. My guesstimate, from experience and prior research, is that those categories make up a significant minority of the US population (maybe up to 40%), and likely always will.

So to the issue of accessibility, add disenfranchisement.  Where will the have-nots get what the haves are being taught to take for granted?  Those “pointless” vestiges of a prior era really aren’t so pointless after all.

I promised this long ago, so it’s way past time to get these posted.

Feel free to modify and reuse these.  They are provided under a Creative Commons Attribution, Non-commercial 3.0 license.  If you require other terms, leave a comment with your contact information, and I will get back to you.  Please note the powerpoint files are rather large (>4MB).

portablesoftware This is a powerpoint program covering Portable Software:  what it is, how to install it, where to get it, and how to use it.  There are two handouts that go with the program: Install Portable Software and Start Portable Apps Handout, both Open Document Text (.odt) documents.

eBooks and Audiobooks This is a powerpoint program I created for the Palm Beach County Library System, so there are still some vestiges within the show. The handouts for this were specific to that library, so I have not included them.  Contact me via the comment form below if you want them.

Beginning Internet This is a powerpoint program on Internet Basics for beginners.

I will post more as I get them cleaned up.