Technology Plans

Technology Plans & E-Rate LI815XI by Kelly Fann:

Technology Plans & E-Rate LI815XI by Kelly Fann

Objectives:

Objectives Understand the purpose of E-Rate Know how libraries use E-Rate Know how libraries go about qualifying for E-Rate Understand the purpose of a technology plan Know how technology plans are used to obtain E-Rate Learn about resources that will assist in creating technology plans

What is E-Rate?:

What is E-Rate? The Schools and Libraries Program of the Universal Service Fund Administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) under the direction of the FCC Provides discounts to assist most schools and libraries in the United States to obtain affordable telecommunications and Internet access. E-Rate supports connectivity Funding is requested under four categories of service telecommunications services Internet access internal connections basic maintenance of internal connections. Discounts depend on the level of poverty of the population served. Schools, districts & libraries may apply as part of a consortium.

Apply for E-Rate:

Apply for E-Rate It’s a complicated process… The Flow Chart Process However, many entities partner with agencies such as eRate Solutions in Lawrence that handle the processing of all forms as well as the bid process with possible vendors. Libraries are responsible for creating the Technology Plan.

First Step’s First:

First Step’s First Are you eligible? Schools Must provide elementary or secondary education May be public, private, or charter schools Must operate as non-profit Cannot have an endowment exceeding $50mil Libraries Must be eligible for assistance from a state library administrative agency Must have budgets separate from any school Must operate as non-profit

Developing the Plan:

Developing the Plan Describes how telecommunications and information technology will be used to achieve goals. Should cover the entire funding year (July 1 to June 30) but not more than three years. Elements of the plan: Goals and realistic strategy Professional development strategy Assessment of telecommunication services, hardware, software, and other services needed Budget resources Ongoing evaluation process The technology plan must be approved by a USAC-certified technology plan approver before discounted services begin.

Technology Plan Elements:

Technology Plan Elements Establish clear goals and a realistic strategy ; Have a professional development strategy to ensure staff knows how to use new technology; Include an assessment of services, hardware, software, and other necessities; Provide for a sufficient budget ; Include an evaluation process to monitor progress; Should cover a period of three years , and be evaluated annually .

Questions to Consider:

Questions to Consider The plan must establish clear goals and a realistic strategy for using telecommunications and information technology to improve education or library services. What goals have you identified in your library service or school improvement plan? What accompanying strategies have already been identified to reach those goals? What specific telecommunications and information technologies (such as access to the Internet, access to remote databases, distance learning, etc.) are useful in helping you reach those goals? What are the specific resources (e.g., trainers, selected curricular software, Internet access, links to subscribed databases, etc.) that you plan to help reach your goals for improved teaching and learning or improved library service?

Questions to Consider:

Questions to Consider The plan must have a professional development strategy to ensure that staff understands how to use these new technologies to improve education or library services. What are the specific resources and strategies that you plan to implement to ensure that staff is ready to use and maintain the technologies? Who will be in charge of coordinating the professional development activities? Are there in-services set aside for technology-related professional development? Will the professional development be required for all that use it, or is it optional? If optional, what incentives exist to encourage staff to pick up these new skills? What models of professional development would work in your organization? What professional development opportunities and resources exist for your staff? Do you have the resources in house to train these staff members or do they need to go to outside courses, or a combination of the two? What financial and time resources exist to keep the staff up to date in learning about new technologies? What development opportunities are available from outside sources?

Questions to Consider:

Questions to Consider The plan must include an evaluation process that enables the school or library to monitor progress toward the specified goals and make mid-course corrections in response to new developments and opportunities as they arise. How frequently will you update the plan? Who is responsible for updating the plan? How will you determine if the technology plan was successful in meeting the goals of your institutional plans? What goals and objectives of the technology plan were you able to meet? To what extent? Were there any unexpected outcomes or benefits to having the technology in place? What goals and objectives of the technology plan did you not meet? Why? Are there ways to overcome these barriers? What is the plan for meeting unmet goals and objectives? Are there other needs that have emerged since you last wrote/revised your plan? If so, what are they? Are there any goals and objectives that are no longer relevant to your situation and should be deleted from the plan?

Other Items to Include: Vision versus the Current Environment:

Other Items to Include: Vision versus the Current Environment Vision statement The statement should be consistent with the vision statement in the library's overall plan and reflect how the library views the integration of technology for improving library services. How does technology generally facilitate the role of the public library? How does the impact of technology on society affect library management and services? How is the role of the public library changing because of technological advances? What is your vision for technology in the library? What benefits do you anticipate? The vision statement usually serves as the plan's introduction. Description of the current environment What is the current technological capacity of the library? What equipment and telecommunications services are already available?

Other Items to Include: Goals to Set:

Other Items to Include: Goals to Set Goals and objectives for using technology in the library Broad goals form the plan’s framework. Each objective should be measurable & lead to action steps. What administrative functions will be more effective/efficient using technology? What patron services or programs do you want to provide that require technology/telecommunications? What type of environment do you want to create? What specific skills do you want staff and patrons to acquire? What changes must be made to the facility to accommodate technology/telecommunications?

Other Items to Include: Strategies to Achieve the Goals:

Other Items to Include: Strategies to Achieve the Goals Strategy or action plan for achieving goals & objectives The action steps should be specific enough to justify services and equipment for which you seek discounts. Include the specific activities or action steps that must take place. For each action step, usually placed within the framework of the goals and objectives, consider: Staff and any necessary training Budget implications Building renovation Policies and procedures Equipment, software, telecommunications, and/or wiring needs Implementation timelines.

Example Technology Plans:

Example Technology Plans McMillan Memorial Library – Wisconsin Rapids, WI Windsor Public Library – Windsor, VT Bridgeport Public Library – Bridgeport, WV West Hartford Public Library System – West Hartford, CT

References:

References E-Rate Central Universal Service Administrative Company