The NEKLS Tech Team has seen a few significant changes in 2009 that are well worth sharing.
Everyone on the Tech Team is encouraged to stay current on the latest relevant technology and to make recommendations for its use in library services. Basically, we are all responsible for ‘research and development.’ We love to hear ideas from member libraries and also chat with Tech staff in other Systems about innovative and useful technologies for libraries. From time to time, we share ideas, tips, and interesting bits of technology-related information on the NEKLS Tech Blog.
Heather Braum, Technology Librarian, is charged with:
- Developing and maintaining the NEKLS Web sites
- Coordinating ILL services for member libraries
- Developing and maintaining the NEKLS professional collection
- Assisting Brenda and other NEKLS staff with training, including continuing education for school librarians
- Specifically, Heather provides training and support on ILL, cataloging, Google apps and email, social media and WordPress
- She is also a member of the NExpress team, charged with cataloging training and assisting with migration projects
- Serves as a back up for the Technology Specialist
Technology Specialist is the full-time technician position 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 and software. This person will work with Heather 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 (Liz) with managing and supporting technology resources, including networking
Liz Rea, Networking Administrator, is our systems administrator (not to be confused with Jim, our System’s Director) and is charged with:
- Maintaining Internet connectivity, networks and servers used by NEKLS
- Quickly resolving problems with a minimum of downtime and managing back-ups
- Administers the statewide My Kansas Library on the Web project and assists with training and troubleshooting
- Administers email services for the System and member libraries. Also maintains the domain name server and assists with the purchase of domain names
- As a member of the NExpress team, Liz assists with member support, troubleshooting, Web development. She also helps communicate 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
- Administers the Kanguard Web filtering project
- Assists Tech Team as needed with advanced Web development, network infrastructure and security, and training
As the Technology Consultant, I – Sharon Moreland – herd the cats*…and take responsibility for all technology-related functions of the Northeast Kansas Library System. Specifically, I am charged with:
- Leading the system’s technology services program, collaborating with and supervising other technology staff
- Taking a leading role in the NExpress project, including orientation, migration, training, support and communicating with the NExpress support and hosting provider
- Working with Brenda and Heather to coordinate and provide technology training for member libraries and System staff
- Coordinating utilization of Kan-ed services
- Working in collaboration with the Director (Jim) and other System consultants (Mickey, Laura and Brenda) to plan and implement the System’s long range goals and mission
- Some of my ‘other duties as required’ include assisting with collection development and weeding projects, coordinating WordPress training for My Kansas Library on the Web participants in the System and statewide and assisting with Technology Planning
I hope this provides a brief overview of what the various roles and responsibilities are of the NEKLS Tech Team. We look forward to serving you. As part of this Web site’s redesign, a more complete directory will be created for all NEKLS staff. My intention is to reintroduce the NEKLS Tech Team now that several new duties and responsibilities have been added, altered and changed.
Sharon Moreland
Technology Consultant
NEKLS
*No cats were harmed or offended in the writing of this post.
