Service Target:

All Libraries

Contact Persons:

• Heather Braum – Technology Librarian
• Thatcher Rea – Technical Support Specialist
• Liz Rea – Network Administrator
• Sharon Moreland – Technology Consultant

The entire Tech Team is charged with ‘research and development’ and take time to stay current on the latest relevant technology and to make recommendations for its use in library services.

Heather Braum, Technology Librarian, is charged with:

• Developing and maintaining the NEKLS Web sites
• Coordinating ILL services for member libraries using the Kansas Library Catalog and the State Library of Kansas’ integrated catalog (currently Agent)
• Developing and maintaining the NEKLS professional collection
• Assisting NEKLS staff with training, including continuing education for school librarians
• Providing training and support on ILL, cataloging, Google apps and email, social media and WordPress
• As a member of the NExpress team, providing cataloging training and assisting with migration projects
• Along with serving as a back up for the Technology Support Specialist, continues to track software licensing and makes recommendations

Thatcher Rea, Technology Support Specialist, is our full-time technician and is charged with:

• Providing technical assistance to member libraries, including software and hardware installation and upgrades, troubleshooting, security upgrade support and other areas as needed
• Researching, evaluating and bidding out hardware. Works with Technology Librarian to provide written and oral technology recommendations for member libraries, as needed
• Provide training and assistance to strengthen local technical support personnel in member libraries
• Assist Network Administrator with planning, managing and supporting technology resources, including networking

Liz Rea, Networking Administrator, is our systems administrator and is charged with:

• Maintaining Internet connectivity, network, and servers used by NEKLS
• Quickly resolving problems with a minimum of downtime and managing back-ups
• Administering the statewide My Kansas Library on the Web project and assisting with training and troubleshooting
• With the Technology Support Specialist, planning and implementing public access computer solutions
• Administering email services for the System and member libraries. Also maintaining the domain name server and assisting libraries with the purchase of domain names
• As a member of the NExpress team, assisting with member support, troubleshooting, and Web development. Also communicating support issues with the NExpress hosting provider and Koha community via email, phone, chat and online portals, such as Bugzilla. Liz also maintains independent Koha for select member libraries
• Assisting the Tech Team as needed with advanced Web development, network infrastructure and security, and training

Sharon Moreland, Technology Consultant, takes responsibility for all technology-related functions of the Northeast Kansas Library System and is charged with:

• Leading the system’s technology services program, collaborating with and supervising other technology staff
• Taking a leading role in the NExpress shared regional catalog project, including orientation, migration, training, support and communicating with the NExpress support and hosting provider
• Providing retrospective conversion and automation planning support
• Working with other NEKLS staff to coordinate and provide technology training for member libraries and System staff
• Coordinating utilization of Kan-ed services
• Working in collaboration with the Director and other System consultants to plan and implement the System’s long range goals and mission
• Supporting development of Internet and computer use policies
• Managing the System’s Technology planning and providing support to member libraries in technology planning, particularly for e-rate
• With the Networking Administrator, coordinating WordPress training for My Kansas Library on the Web participants in the System and statewide

We encourage librarians to contact us and make recommendations for additional areas of training. Training formats include on-site consultations, hands-on workshops, classroom style workshops, and telephone consultations.

There is no charge to member libraries, except for occasional special training workshops as indicated.

Software Licenses

Contact Person: Heather Braum

The System provides software licenses to interested libraries in order to reduce costs to member libraries for mission critical software. Currently, NEKLS offers a site license for Microsoft Office, anti-virus software, Deep Freeze, and Logmein.

Description

• Microsoft Office is a high-quality office suite that has become the professional standard for word processing, spreadsheet, presentation software, simple database and desktop publishing applications. This software can be used by library staff, and installed on public machines for use by library customers.
• NEKLS also provides anti-virus software at or below cost to libraries. This software will install on any windows computer or server, and provides effective protection against computer viruses.
• Logmein is remote access software that allows NEKLS staff to log on to a computer in a library from the system office or other distant location, and perform troubleshooting and repair of minor computer problems, software upgrades, computer configuration and similar tasks. This software is provided at no charge to libraries, and may be installed on any type of computer.
• Deep Freeze is a high quality security application for computers. It copy protects computer hard disk drives to prevent any unauthorized changes to the disks, thus maintaining the original computer configuration. Deep Freeze should only be installed on public access computers.

Cost

As part of NEKLS Care, we will be providing software licenses through NEKLS according to the following scheme:

• Microsoft Office
  NEKLS provides 5 copies at no charge to member public libraries.
  Additional copies, and all copies for school, academic or special
  libraries will be available at our cost, $50.00/license.
• ESET NOD32
  NEKLS provides 20 copies to any member library.
• DeepFreeze
  NEKLS provides 20 copies to any member library.
  Additional copies will be available at our cost, around $15.00/license.

E-Mail Service

Contact Person:

Liz Rea

NEKLS offers free e-mail accounts to libraries using Google Apps.

NEKLS also hosts discussion lists on the mail server for member libraries. Discussion list software simplifies the process of distributing e-mail to a large number of e-mail addresses in a consistent manner and facilitates online discussion between people with an interest in a topic.

Computer Training Lab

Service Target: All Libraries

Contact Person: Sharon Moreland

The System provides a computer training lab with one instructor workstation and ten student workstations, projector and Smartboard electronic whiteboard, and high-speed Internet connections. The lab is used for NEKLS technology training programs.

The training lab is also available by appointment for the use of any member library for training programs for any library related training program.

For further information contact Sharon Moreland at smoreland [at] nekls [dot] org

Tech Day 2008 | Tech Day 2009 | Tech Day 2010 | Children’s Internet Protection Act