preschool literacy initiative

public librarian recruitment

certification

PLA/LAMA/ASCLA Certified Public Library Administrator (CPLA) Program Core Course

Course Name

“How to Lasso a Tornado: Harnessing State-of-the-Art Technologies to Achieve Your Strategic Goals” (technology)

General Description

A 2½ day course. Participants will develop an awareness of key concepts, terminology, and issues, including how technology is transforming the workplace. They will learn to manage computer and communications technologies and how to make effective decisions regarding these technologies. The goal of the course is to understand complexities of technology and to gain enough konwledge to make informed decisions. Content of the course will change over time with changes in technology.

Participants should consider taking this course near completion of their certification in order to benefit from the most current information possible. If the course is taken early in the certification process, it may be repeated for credit as one of the four required elective courses.

Components

The course consists of the following five half-day modules:

1. Communications Basics (capabilities, options, and costs. Current examples: asynchronous switching, telecom activities, pricing structures)
2. Technological Trends (rapidly changing area. If today: Web, Internet, EDI, XML, RDF, HTML, privacy issues, Java applications, “push” technology, and technology policy)
3. Office and Business Technologies (LANs, WANs, 3-tier architectures, thin clients, intranets, DataWarehousing, and infrastructure issues)
4. Library Applications (current examples: integrated systems, digitized text delivery systems, licensing, Digital Object Identifiers, metadata, imaging, authentication, pricing, adaptive technologies, ergonomic technologies)
5. Planning for and implementing technological change (if today: use policies, redesign issues, setting performance objectives, staffing and introducing technology to existing staff, organizational structures, costs and funding sources, including RFPs and grants)

Learning Objectives

Successful participants will be expected to be able to articulate:

1. A basic understanding of the concepts and terminology of state of the art computer and communications technologies and their rapidly changing nature;
2. An awareness of the appropriate computer/communications hardware and software applications to achieve library objectives;
3. An understanding of how to evaluate electronic products and services to make cost-effective selection and implementation decisions;
4. Improved understanding of the Internet and emerging Web technologies;
5. Knowledge of technological policy and its use in libraries;
6. Basic skills for effective technological change planning: design for technological change, hiring and training, staffing, costs, building requirements, and ongoing maintenance.

Suggested Methods

Team taught. Course participants will learn through a combination of reading, discussion, and demonstration of future technologies. Participants will be required to read assigned articles prior to the class. Training methods will include lecture, case studies, electronic resources, group problem solving, site visit, etc. Learning achievement will be measured by a take-home exam demonstrating the participant’s ability to develop an effective management plan for their library.

Key Sources

Written materials from journals will be primary, including trade journals. For the most current materials, access to corporate Web sites is essential. Research will probably discover an up-to-date dictionary of technological terms. Library vendors can be a valuable source for current information if screened to remove obvious bias.

Evaluation

Pass/fail grade based upon completion of the course. Participant will be able to discuss where their library is and will be in 3–5 years, and they also will develop a plan for their library for funding and budgeting technology, recommending hardware and software, training for staff and patrons (if applicable), and ongoing upkeep of technology.

Possible Presenters

This course should be a team approach combining developing trends and technologies with practical experience. Example: A leading specialist from an online service provider, a consultant on technology, and a library director on funding and budgeting.