Library Technology 101

(An Infopeople Online Learning Course)
May 22, 2007 - June 18, 2007

Library technology has changed dramatically since the days of card catalogs and IBM Selectric typewriters. Now, libraries have entire departments of workers dedicated to automation and public computers and the hundreds of computers, servers, networks, and systems required to keep today's libraries functioning. This course provides an overview of library technology being used today and provides perspective about how we got here.

• Have you ever wondered what makes an integrated library system (ILS) an integrated library system?
• Would you really like to understand the difference between a server and a router?
• Are you interested in pursuing a technology-oriented library position?
• Ever wondered what a library technology plan is?

This online workshop will provide participants with an historical perspective of library services before computers played a dominant role and then look at all the ways that computers and computing technology are used to provide the same services plus a whole lot more.

Workshop Description: This four-week online learning course will provide participants with many opportunities to learn about technology being put to use in libraries today. Using reading assignments, exercises, the online discussion board, podcasts and other online resources, participants will have the opportunity to get a broad overview as well as dig deeper into certain topics that they find particularly compelling.

During the course, you will be doing exercises, reading, listening to podcasts and exploring websites. You will also participate in online discussion forums as part of the online learning process.

Preliminary Course Outline: Using your web browser and your Internet connection, you will log in to the Infopeople online learning site and complete the following learning modules:

• Module One: Traditional Library Services
  • How did we do it before computers?
  • Growth of Integrated Library Systems (ILS)
  • Electronic Resources and Virtual Reference
• Module Two: How the PC and Web Changed Library Services
  • PCs and the digital divide
  • Literacy, information literacy, and computer literacy
  • Core competencies
• Module Three: Today's Libraries
  • Click and brick - services in the library and on the web
  • Other technology: RFID, self check, automated sorting
  • Current library technology jobs
• Module Four: MySpace, Games and Younger Patrons
  • Characteristics of the Millenials
  • How libraries are using MySpace and other social networking websites
  • Staying current

Online Learning Details:
This four-week course will be taught online using the web. When you register, you will receive a registration confirmation that will include the URL to get to the course, as well as a username and password.

Every student proceeds through the online learning modules at his or her own pace. Students should expect to commit to spending a minimum of 2 to 2½ hours per week on this course in order to be successful. You can work on each module at your own pace, at any hour of the day or night. However, you will be expected to log in to the course each week to do that week's assignment. We ask that you log in sometime during the first week of the course to begin the course work.

Your instructor will be available for limited consultation support for two weeks after the official end date of a course, and the course material will stay up for an additional two weeks after that, to give those who have fallen behind time to work independently on the course. However, you will be expected to accomplish the majority of the course in synchronization with your peers during the first four weeks.

Who Should Take This Course: Anyone from the library community with an interest in how libraries function "under the hood."

Prerequisites:
This course is taught over the web. You must:

• Have an Internet connection and Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher.
• Be able to save Microsoft Word .doc or Adobe .pdf files to your computer and print them out. (For .doc files, a free Word Viewer is available at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/search.aspx?displaylang=en. Search for "Word Viewer." For .pdf files, a free Adobe Acrobat Reader is available at http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/main.html).
• Be comfortable navigating on the web and navigating back and forward on a website that uses frames.

System Requirements: The online learning product that Infopeople uses is called Angel. The following are minimum system requirements for using Angel. You will need access to a computer that has at least these specifications to participate in an online course:

• Windows:
  • Internet Explorer 6.0 and above, Netscape 7.1 and above, or Firefox 1.5 and above
• Macintosh:
  • Mozilla 1.4 and above (which is the same engine as Netscape 7.1), Safari 2.0 and above, or Firefox 1.5 and above
  • OS X and above (OS 9 will NOT work with our online learning product)

If you are not comfortable with any of the above, please consider taking this course with a colleague who does meet these requirements.

Fee: $75 for those in the California library community and $150 for those out-of-state. Because of grant funding, California rural libraries can take this course at special pricing.

Course Start: This four-week-long online learning course starts on May 22, 2007.