State Library of Iowa
Technology Plan Checklist
Universal Service Discount Program

Library Name: North East Iowa Library Service Area Consortia
Address: 415 Commercial St City: Waterloo, IA 50501-1317
Phone: 319-233-1200 Fax: 319-233-1964
E-mail address: davenport@neilsa.org
Contact Name: Kenneth M. Davenport

Technology Plan Components Included in this plan

___x___1.Mission Statement - Page 2 of 5
___x___2.Goals and strategy, including action items, time lines, responsibilities - Page 2 - 4 of 5
___x___3.Assessment of Current Status - Page 4 of 5
___x___4.Staff Development Plan - Page 4 of 5
___x___5.Intent to Use Universal Service discount and Budget Assurances - Page 5 of 5
___x___6.Plan Evaluation - Page 5 of 5

TECHNOLOGY PLAN

for the NE Iowa Library Service Area Consortium

Program Years: V, VI & VII

 

NOTE: Consortia Plan Limits.  This plan covers only the libraries below listed and limits it scope to those services defined by the SLD Eligible Services List [CC DOCKET NO. 96- 45] as posted 01/02/2002.

The Libraries of NE Iowa Library Service Area Consortia
Alpha by city w/ SLD entity #:
Allison Public Library 132133
Alta Vista Public Library 132134
Aplington, Legion Memorial 132135
Arlington Public Library 132137
Aurora Public Library 199821
Beaman Community Memorial Library 132139
Calmar Public Library 132485
Cascade Public Library 132454
Cedar Falls Public Library 1321401
Clarksville Public Library 132145
Clermont Public Library 132486
Colesburg Public Library 148213
Conrad Public Library 132147
CONSORTIA (See NEILSA) 132214
Cresco Public Library 132487
Decorah Public Library 132482
Delhi Public Library 1325301
Denver Public Library 132149
Dike Public Library 132151
Dubuque County: Farley, Holy Cross 132463
Dubuque, Carnegie-Stout 1324491
Dumont, Brown Memorial 132153
Dunkerton Public Library 132154
Dyersville, Hoffman Library 132456
Earlville, Ruth Suckow Memorial 132457
Edgewood Public Library 132458
Elgin Public Library 132489
Elkader Public Library 132461
Elma Public Library 132158
Evansdale Public Library 1322172
Fairbank Public Library 132159
Farmersburg Public Library 132465
Fayette Public Library 132491
Fort Atkinson Public Library 132492
Fredericksburg, Upham Memorial 132161
Garnavillo Public Library 132467
Greene Public Library 132167
Grundy Center, Kling Memorial 132170
Guttenberg Public Library 132469
Harpers Ferry Public Library 151539
Hawkeye Public Library 1324933
Hopkinton Public Library 1325373
Hudson Public Library 132172
Independence Public Library 132174
Ionia Public Library 132175
Janesville Public Library 132176
Jesup Public Library 132179
Lamont Public Library 132180
Lansing Public Library 132495
LaPorte City, Hawkins Memorial 1321811
Lawler Public Library 132497
Lime Springs Public Library 132498
Manchester Public Library 132472
Maynard Public Library 132185
McGregor Public Library 132499
Monona, Murphy Memorial 132500
Nashua Public Library 132186
New Hartford, Martin Memorial 132190
New Albin Public Library 132502
New Hampton Public Library 132189
NEILSA 132214
Oelwein Public Library 132191
Ossian Public Library 132503
Parkersburg, Kothe Memorial 132193
Plainfield Public Library 132195
Postville Public Library 132505
Readlyn Community Library 132196
Reinbeck Public Library 132197
Shell Rock, Benny Gambaiani 132199
Spillville Public Library 132506
Strawberry Point Public Library 132479
Sumner Public Library 132202
Tripoli Public Library 132205
Volga Public Library 132480
Wadena Public Library 132507
Waterloo Public Library 1322151
Waterville Public Library 2020362
Waucoma Public Library 132508
Waukon, Robey Memorial 132510
Waverly Public Library 132208
Wellsburg Public Library 132209
West Union Community Library 132512
Westgate Public Library 132211
Winthrop Public Library 132212
February 6, 2002 (10:21AM)
1 Self file 2 Unknown 3 CIPA Dropped

NOTE: Individual libraries may have submitted more detailed local plans in addition to their inclusion in this plan.

NEILSA Library List:  Counties:          
Allamakee Butler Dubuque
Black Hawk Chickasaw Fayette
Bremer Clayton Grundy
Buchanan Delaware Howard
    Winneshiek

Consortia  MISSION Statement: The NE Iowa Library Service Area Consortia exists to serve the e-rate [FCC/USAC/SLD] programing needs of the public libraries of Iowa and specifically in the 13 county area of NE Iowa, by the provision of services, on a demand basis, in four areas:

  1. Consulting

  2. Program specific education

  3. Support e-rate reference services

  4. Long term and projection planning for technology.

NOTE: (See the cover) This plan deals only with telecommunications technology and its related materials.  Other technologies are covered in other/overall plan(s).  e.g A book is a piece of technology, and a very sophisticated one at that, but this plan deals with books in only the most peripheral way.

Technology MISSION Statement: The Consortia will use electronic technology in provision of its members services where that technology has been proven or appears to have an opportunity to provide a service in a more cost effective manner than the service could be provided otherwise.

GOALS & STRATEGY:

GOALS:

  1. Support the Intellectual Freedom of all Iowans, by open and free access to electronic resources.

  2. To support the informational and recreational needs of Iowans through their libraries.

    Responsibility:  The overall responsibility for all services lie with the local public library and its board.

 

The goals of the service areas are:

  1. Consulting  - To provide the public libraries with professional services and information about the e-rate program.  To support the individual libraries by completing Forms and assuring compliance with program rules as far as possible.

    Technologies used:      
    Telephone - both fax and voice
    Computer based
    Face to face meetings
    Teleconferencing
     

  2. Program specific education - To provide for the Staff and Trustees of public libraries the specific education needed in order for them to meet the requirements of the program in a cost effective manner and to remain within the law and standards required of public libraries for the e-rate.

    Technologies used:      
    Telephone - both fax and voice
    Computer based
    Face to face meetings
    Distance Education

  3. Support reference services - To provide to public libraries answers to information requests about the program whether these libraries are Consortia members or not.  We also "do" schools.

    Technologies used:      
    Telephone - both fax and voice
    Computer based
    Face to face meetings
    On-line conferencing
     

  4. Long term and projection planning for technology.- To provide for libraries Consortia planning and state of the art plans for improvement of services deliverable via the support of the e-rate program.

    Technologies used:      
    Telephone - both fax and voice
    Computer based
    Professional Networking
    Face to face meetings
    On-line conferencing

STRATEGY: We are in the information business, NOT the technology business.

  1. Consulting  - To provide the public libraries with professional services and information by responding to requests within 48 working hours, by handling"emergency" requests immediately.

    By completing necessary e-rate forms in concert with our members allowing each to have adequate POTS and high speed Internet access.  To support them in planning for expansion of existing systems and projected planning for new needs.

    Technologies used:      
    Telephone - both fax and voice
    Computer based
    Face to face meetings
    Teleconferencing
     

    Responsibility:  Shared by Consortia members and Director

  2. Program specific education - To provide for the Staff and Trustees of public libraries the specific education needed in order for them to meet the requirements of the program in a cost effective manner and to remain within the law and standards required of public libraries for the e-rate.

    Technologies used:      
    Traditional Classroom educational opportunities in a workshop format (usually).
    Telephone - both fax and voice
    Computer based
    Professional Networking
    Distance Education (ICN)

    Responsibility:  Ken Davenport - Consortia Director & wider e-rate community, SLD, SLI and others.

  3. Support reference services - To provide to public libraries answers to information requests about the program whether these libraries are Consortia members or not.  We also "do" schools.

    Technologies used:      
    Telephone - both fax and voice
    Computer based
    Professional Networking

    Responsibility:  Shared by Ken Davenport - Consortia Director And Library Specific education about e-rate resources, such as SLD help-line et. al.

  4. Long term and projection planning for technology.- To provide for libraries Consortia planning and state of the art plans for improvement of services deliverable via the support of the e-rate program.

    Technologies used:      
    Telephone - both fax and voice
    Computer based
    Professional Networking
    Face to face meetings
    On-line conferencing
     

    Responsibility:  Ken Davenport - Consortia Director

Clearly the planning provided is provided by the entire consortia, and by the wider e-rate and technology community sharing responsibilities and using their expertise in special areas, vendors, applicants & program administrators.  

ASSESSMENT OF CURRENT STATUS:

The tools needed are, in general, in place or are available through cooperative agreements with other agencies.  Some of these tools are weak e.g. teleconferencing, or old e.g. POTS and training labs but at this point are "functional".  Changes are planned for these three areas specifically

At this point all Consortia members have adequate POTS, all but two of the 83 libraries in the Consortia area have Fax capability and all have at least one e-mail account. 

The bad news is that the vast majority does not have access to high speed Internet through local vendors and 12 do not have access to Internet except by long distance dial-up connections.  Nine of the libraries in the Consortia area have ICN classrooms or cart based conferencing capabilities but at this point none have access to other forms of video conferencing in the public library.  

STAFF DEVELOPMENT PLAN:

Staff in local libraries are expected to maintain a professional level of current competence in their areas by self study, attendance at workshops, attendance at special Consortia workshops, distance learning and conference attendance and e-rate workshop attendance.  The Consortia supports these by giving workshops and through frequent e-mailings of Consortia news and updates. Since the Consortia staff is generally on the leading edge it is nearly impossible to predict what educational choices will be most useful to them and part of their responsibility as professionals is to maintain their own education at a currently competent level.  Since these are highly trained professionals this is not seen as a problem anytime soon.

Local public library staff & trustees are provided with frequent workshop opportunities as well as other information sources.  

IN-PLAN PROGRESS NOTES:

Training example - Consortia Director will attend ALA Annual meeting(s) for updates on e-rate and other technology related learning experiences.

INTENT TO USE UNIVERSAL SERVICE DISCOUNTS AND BUDGET ASSURANCES:

The local public libraries & Consortia at the Library Service Area intend to use the Universal Service discounts on the following services and equipment

  1. Purchase and installation of telecommunications services:
    1. local and long distance "800" & "cell" telephone service.
  2. Purchase and installation of Internet connectivity:
    1. Internet access fees.
  3. Purchase and installation of eligible internal connections equipment:
    1. internal wiring, a portion of a network file server, hubs, CSU/DSU, routers and other eligible services.
    2. Consortia intends to investigate and, if possible, set up a video conferencing system within NE Iowa

    B. The non-discounted portion of telecommunications, Internet access, and internal connections will be paid as regularly  budgeted by the libraries and allocations from grants to pay for the servers, routers, hubs and other equipment as well as from fees from non-public library clients.

PLAN EVALUATION: The success of the technology plan for the Consortia will be judged on the ability of the Consortia to meet the objectives and time lines set forth in its plans.  Plans will be part of the Form 470 documentation as revised each year.  The yearly plan will be reassessed each year in March after the receipt of FCDL from SLD.  At that time the Consortia will evaluate progress and modify objectives if necessary.

IN-PLAN PROGRESS NOTES:
Plan submitted for Consortia by Ken Davenport - Director 01/02