Technology:

Integrate technologies that improve and enhance the delivery of all aspects of library services

Goal 1: Increase the scope of online services

• Develop email alerts about new items of personal interest to patrons

[Update: Customizable RSS Feeds of new items and top items available, this technology is gradually replacing email alerts.]

• Enable patrons to personalize library website and catalog use

[Update: First patron-selectable features came online November 30, 2005.
Several customizable settings.
60,000+ users registered to date.]

• Extend services to include online library card pre-registration and fine resolution

[Update: Both modules purchased.
Policies are now in place to go ahead with both of these.]
[Update: Online fine payment implemented December 2006 and continues to be used extensively.]

• Launch open local history archive for patron contributed content

[Update: Picture Ann Arbor launched in July 2005.
Currently, has holdings of 500+ images with new features and online submission capability introduced in late fall 2005.]
[Update: Online signup and submission now available. Currently has holdings of over 1200 images.]

Goal 2: Integrate technologies to develop efficiency and economy in the delivery of service and internal processes

• Develop a system to actively balance materials inventory across all locations

[Update: Floating collections study complete.
Active balance experiments going on with Foreign Language collection.]
[Update: Floating Collections module in place. DVDs, picturebooks, and foreign language collection materials now float to the location where they are returned.]

• Expand use of self check-out and self check-in

[Update: Over 150,000 (37% total, currently holding steady at 40%) items self-checked at Malletts Creek in 04-05.
Plan to complete RFID branch conversion by July 2006 and introduce self-checks at NEB and West after Pittsfield opens.
240,000 self-checkouts in 05/06.
50% self-checkout at Pittsfield since opening.
Over 170,000 (37% total, currently holding steady at 40%) items at Malletts Creek and over 150,000 (or 47%) of the total since opening Pittsfield.
The entire collection at Northeast Branch has been converted from barcodes to RFID tags and 80% of the West Branch collection has also been converted. These two branches are now readied for the installation of self check-out stations.]
[Update: Self checkout now available at all locations. Self checkout accounts for 66% of all checkouts systemwide and as high as 76% at Traverwood as of September 2008.]

• Offer RFID patron library card (key fob)
• Digitize paper-based processes where appropriate

[Update: Ongoing. Examples, Simple Stats, CR publications fulfillment database, employee recognition database, output measures, patron comments and hold stickers.]

• Unify internal databases

[Update: Not a migration year project.]
[Update: Central database server installed and configured. Migration of production databases to the central database server is ongoing.]

• Develop accessible internal reporting tools

[Update: Output measures database and daily Simple Stats developed and implemented.
Create Lists and III Web manage reports more widely available, daily most requested items and Pittsfield new items display.]

• Develop a standard suite of desktop software applications for staff and public

[Update: Done.]

Goal 3: Integrate technology to increase and enhance access to library products and services

• Develop "kiosks" for internal and external use

[Update: First steps taken with non-interactive, promotional "Greetsaver" application at Downtown, Malletts Creek, Pittsfield and Traverwood.]

• Expand impact of events through live broadcasting

[Update: Done. Now part of routine services. 3-5 live broadcasts every month, with CTN re-broadcasts and DVDs in the collection.
1-2 video events per month.
Sizeable collection of event DVDs.]

• Expand digital access to library collections

[Update: Overdrive products are very popular.
Our introduction of excerpts, reviews, and table of contents individually integrated into the hitlist is setting a new paradigm for the industry.]

I. Services II. Finances III. Facilities IV. Organizational Development VI. Communications