Information Technology Open Forum Session

Date: January 24, 2001  2:00-3:30

This all staff session was held to solicit staff input concerning the Information Technology organizational restructuring efforts. The Coordinator for Information Technology outlined program areas that will be developed within this service unit. The major areas that were emphasized included infrastructure support, systems support and systems development. Staff suggestions and comments are briefly noted below.

Service Model Presentation to Staff

I. Infrastructure Support

a. Network

b. Desktop

c. Peripherals

d. Preventive maintenance

Staff Comments:

· Who handles the Intranet

o IT = infrastructure support

o DLS = system design and oversight

o All staff = content preparation

· Resources require increasingly sophisticated technologies, e.g. government documents have minimum technical requirements that increase frequently. We have a general shortage of equipment for public use.

· Increasing need for more technology throughout the Libraries

· What about wireless networking

· What about technology to support videoconferences

· Is there a mechanism in place to warn staff of impending hardware failure

· Possibilities for internships for graduate students

· What is the relationship with OIT; how much of IT stuff will be outsourced to OIT

· Are there standard measures for PC/user ratios

II. Systems Support

a. Voyager

b. Cataloger’s Desktop

c. LARS

d. Etc.

Staff comments:

· How long will we continue to use Voyager.

· How is licensing determined when there are CD vs. web options

III. Systems Development

a. Investigate new technologies for implementation in Libraries

b. Added benefit for IT staff development

c. Pursue funding for new technologies

Staff comments:

· Good idea, good idea, good idea, good idea

· How much staff time will be required to do this

· How much money will be required to do this

· It’s good that the organizational administration supports this activity

· What criteria will be used to investigate new technologies

· How will R&D needs be identified

· How do we decide what to do when there are so many things that could be done

· Will the UT System mandate a core set of technologies

IV. Other discussions

a. Technology Trainer

Staff comments:

· Typical training happens after a problem has come up

· Having a trainer position could allow for more proactive approach to training

· Training needs to be tied to job functions

· Training on network use could be included

· Training is much broader than just technology training

· Project managers should identify and coordinate training needs of their staff

· How does this relate to "computer literacy"