Home LITA Membership LITA Interest Groups Public Library Technology 2007 Midwinter Minutes

Date = January 21, 2007

Group = Public Library Technology Interest Group

Chair = Paul Keith and Irmgarde Brown

Reporter = Irmgarde Brown

Email = brown@hcplonline.info

Conference = Midwinter

Meeting = Discussion & Business Meeting

Program Title = Groovix, an Open Source Option

Attendees = 30

Current Activities:

The Public Library Technology Interest Group met for the first time at Midwinter 2007. We conducted our first discussion (including Q & A) on Groovix, an Open Source Option led by Brian Auger from Howard County (Maryland) Public Library. At the end, we had a short business meeting and asked for ideas from those present for future program ideas and direction for the group as a whole. We found that many of the attendees were from smaller library systems and were interested in attending programs that were geared to assisting systems that have minimal access to tech help. We are also interested to supporting other programs by LITA as co-sponsors.

Future Activities:

For ALA 2007 Annual Conference, we are conducting another informal discussion and Q&A with discussion leaders Scott Reinhart (Assistant Director of Operations) and Bob Kuntz (I.T. Manager)from Carroll County (Maryland) Public Library who will share tips and real life stories about moving technology forward (no matter what the starting point). Geared for mid-size to small libraries and library systems who are struggling with the "next steps" in their technology development, this session should prove beneficial and offers opportunities to ask questions in a friendly and informal setting.

For 2008 midwinter, we are planning another informal discussion, Q&A and business meeting.

For 2008 Annual, we are planning a full-fledged program on "online support sites" that can assist and provide tech support to the small sized library systems. This will be a panel discussion.