Technology & the Lafayette Public Library System

March 2006

Sona J Dombourian, Directorsdombour@state.lib.la.us

Adam Melancon, Systems Administratoramelanco@state.lib.la.us

Library System - today

• 10 Library Locations in Lafayette Parish

– Lafayette: Main, Southside (Time Plaza), Chenier Center, Butler (MLK Rec Center)

– Broussard, Carencro, Duson, Milton, Scott, Youngsville

Library System – in 2 years

• South Regional Library (34,000 sq ft) – south of the Mall @ Johnston/Duhon Rd

• North Regional Library (12,000 sq ft) – on Hwy 182 in Carencro adjacent to the Carencro Community Center

Library System – within 5-7 years

• Renovated & modernized Main Library (63,000 sq ft)

• East Regional Library (12,000- 14,000 sq ft) – in Broussard/Youngsville area

• West Regional Library (12,000 – 14,000 sq ft) – in Scott/Duson area

Today’s Libraries

• Books & magazines• LPs and cassettes• Card catalog

• Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature

• Large reference collections and staff

• Children’s Programs• Meeting place

• Books & magazines• DVDs, CDs• Web catalog

• Full-text online• Informational databases• Computers• Computer Training classes• Exhibits

• Children’s Programs• Meeting place

Yesterday’s Libraries

Tomorrow’s Libraries Serve

• Seniors• Baby boomers• Gen Xers• Millennials

• The Library needs to meet the current and future needs of these groups – our public.

• Books and reading the traditional way are still important to a large segment of the people we serve.

• We must keep the Library vital to the younger generations.

Tomorrow’s Libraries include

? E-audio books? Coffee shops? Database training? Information retrieval training? Circulating video games? Other ….

Embrace newest media – recreational ‘reading’ and information delivery formats

Public Access Computers - today

• Internet access pcs: 100 (most also have Microsoft Office apps)

• Children’s ‘educational’ pcs: 22

• Our computer users - all ages and demographics

FY 04/05 – 1 out of 5 who came into the library used a public access pc

(FY 05/06 – approaching 1 out of 4)

Public Access Computers - Tomorrow

• Add quantity where feasible– North Regional – 30 (vs Carencro’s 6)– South Regional – 70 (vs Southside’s 20)

• Regular replacement 4-5 year cycle ideal

• Will we get to a point in 5-10 years where we still need to provide the computer or just provide the access?

Computer Training – Today

• Basic use of PC• Internet• Word• Excel• Powerpoint

• 1 Training lab: 10 workstation lab @ Main

Computer Training – Tomorrow

X Basic use of PC? Internet ? Office applications

Retrieving useful information

• Training lab – expanded @ Main– 14 workstation lab @ South Regional

Wireless Access

• Today:– Main, Southside, Youngsville, Scott,

Broussard, Carencro, Chenier Center

• Tomorrow:– All library locations– Regionals – furniture and electrical to support

laptop use

Integrated Library System

• 10 year anniversary in 2006

– Circulation, cataloging, book acquisition– Runs on a small RS6000 machine, AIX– Hardware being end of lifed– Software vendor has moved to GUI product– We will be migrating to new system in

2006/07

Integrated Library System - 2

• Web based catalog – 24/7– Search catalog & place requests online– Email citations– Enhanced cover art and contents for most titles– http://ipac.lafayette.lib.la.us:8080

• Touch tone phone product – 24/7– It calls you for holds or overdues– You call it to check your account– Holds notices can also be emailed to you

Integrated Library System - 3

• Self check machine– Today: Main library only– Tomorrow: RFID systems in new libraries

• Print management and scheduling a computer– Today: RFP responses opened 3/1/06– Tomorrow: will be in all libraries

• Wireless OPACs in house – next 3 months

• Web site: – Today: www.lafayette.lib.la.us– Tomorrow: LPLBLOGSPOT or ???

Information Services (aka Reference)

• Yesterday - Ref Books & Librarians• Today – Some Ref Books, Databases, Google &

Librarians, e-reference via email• Tomorrow – Chat with a librarian

“How is a librarian better than a mouse click?

‘The machine doesn't waste time caring about the quality of the information. It's an unfair competition between machine and people.’”

. …. Andrei Codrescu, ALA Midwinter Conference, 1/22/06

Distance Learning & Video Conferencing

• Today:– Main Library – makeshift classroom– Polycomm equipment & an Elmo– 3-5 library science graduate courses from LSU are

offered each semester as we ‘grow’ our future librarians

– Successfully used to video conference with Library Building Consultant in Dallas saving time and money

• July 2006 – separate 3 mbps Internet Access via LUS fiber for DL

Distance Learning & Video Conferencing

• Tomorrow:– DL and VC equipment at all new facilities– 100 seat (each seat wired) auditorium at South

Regional– 15-30 seat classroom(s) at Main Library after

renovations

Infrastructure - Today

• E-rate pays 80 – 90% of our telecommunications infrastructure and our Internet access

• City Libraries – on the LUS Fiber Loop

• Non-City Libraries – connected to Main Library via BellSouth Frame Relay - 256 kbps from each branch and T-1 from main)

• Internet – currently 6 mbps BellSouth paid for by the State Library

Infrastructure – Today - 2

• iPrism filtering appliance in use to comply with e-rate regulations

• PIX 506 firewall in use

• Cisco switches, non-Cisco hubs, and Cat 5 cabling

• All buildings retrofitted

Infrastructure - Tomorrow

• By July 2007 – all libraries expected to be on the LUS Fiber Loop

• Internet access and bandwidth needs expected to increase.

• Erate 2006 proposal to replace hubs with Cisco switches and to replace PIX with Cisco ASA 5510 appliance

• New Libraries – cat 6e cabling

Other

• Security cameras• Keyless building entry• Staff pcs and apps• Bandwidth monitoring using www.cacti.net (see

Adam for details)

Funding• Gates Grants (1998, 2005, future ?)

– got us started with the infrastructure, Internet, and public access PCs

• E-rate (1999 – 20??)

– pays 80 – 90% of our telecommunications infrastructure and our Internet access

• State aid for technology

• Library Budget

LPL’s mission is to support and enhance our community’s informational, recreational, cultural enrichment, and life-

long learning needs.

Technology helps us meet this mission by:

• Doing library tasks more efficiently • Becoming more 24/7 • Offering resources and training • Helping to bridge the Digital Divide in Lafayette Parish

LPL Technology plan: http://www.lafayette.lib.la.us/docs/LPL%20Technology%20Plan%202005%20-%20FINAL.pdf