Desktop Tower (and Windows) Optional: Alternative Hardware Solutions for Your Library

No ticket required, regular session.

Presenter 1: Heather Braum

Presenter 2: Carla Kaiser

Presenter 3: Sarah Walker-Hitt

Links / Handouts:
http://kslibassoc.org/2010Conf/handouts/AlternativeHardware.pdf

Description: Tired of the same computer desktops in your library? Or, need some affordable, creative options that might fit in your tiny computer area? Find out how librarians have deployed Macs, Ubuntu machines using old hardware, NetBoxes, and NetBooks in their libraries. This session will discuss why these options were chosen, how to sell it to your board (and patrons), and why the patrons love it!

Length: 1hr

Room Number: 208

Track Type: Digital Information and Technologies

Abstract: Traditional library computer hardware has typically been desktop towers running Windows operating systems. However, many libraries have limited funding and dying, out-of-date computer hardware that isn't working for patron needs. Other libraries have patrons asking for different computer experiences. Even more libraries have extreme space restrictions for their computer areas. Heather Braum, NEKLS Technology Librarian, Sarah Walker-Hitt, Lyndon Carnegie Library Director, and Carla Kaiser, Basehor Community Library Director will look at ways to meet these library and patron needs, and overview the libraries that have deployed theses alternative hardware options. First, Heather will provide a quick overview of the alternative hardware deployment projects at various NEKLS libraries. These projects include the use of Mac patron computers at Winchester Public Library, Silver Lake Public Library, and Basehor Community Library; a Mac laptop training lab and staff computers at Basehor Community Library; NetBoxes (mini desktop computers) at Lyndon Carnegie Library, Carbondale City Library, Oskaloosa Public Library, and Horton Public Library; Netbooks (mini laptop computers) at Effingham Community Library and Richmond Public Library; and open source operating system software use on old, recycled computer hardware for general patron use at Mary Cotton Public Library and Basehor Community Library, as well as for a job bank lab at Tonganoxie Public Library. Heather will then cover the many reasons why alternative hardware options were considered for several libraries in the NEKLS region, instead of the traditional computer hardware approach. Basehor Community Library and Lyndon Carnegie Library were two libraries that have deployed alternative computer hardware. Carla and Sarah will discuss how their library computer hardware needs were determined, as well as the needs of other libraries deploying alternative hardware, and also discuss the process of convincing the library staff and board to choose the alternative options. Heather will then discuss the implementation process of these various alternative hardware options. Carla and Sarah will discuss patron feedback after these options were deployed. Finally, Heather will wrap up the presentation with a quick look at the risks and potential problems with these options. At the end of the session, attendees will have an opportunity to see some of the hardware used in these projects.