Unit 8

This week we did a lot of reading about technology plans for libraries. I was not aware of technology plans and found it to be quite interesting and helpful to learn about. I noticed some common advice in the readings about what a good technology plan should consider and include:

• the plan should be based upon the organization's overall mission
• users should be the main focus
• the plan should have top management involvement and support
• involve as many stakeholders and end users as possible
• recognize that technology is a means to an end, not an end in itself
• the plan should be a living document and updated often

I looked closely at two technology plans from Connecticut libraries, one from the Avon Free Public Library and one from the West Hartford Public Library. I thought that they were both quite good and were very similar in structure: they each included a technology vision statement, a description of the current technology environment in their libraries as well as their specific needs, their goals with the technology, as well as general plans for staff training and evaluation. I felt that they were thorough yet concise.

I do believe that any networking will be valuable to me in assisting in technology planning in my future career. I believe that a technology plan would be useful to any organization, and having a background knowledge in technology would help in assessing the needs of the organization, as well as how those needs relate to its the goals and mission.