I had given Emily an idea of the types of questions I was looking to ask and an overview of what hoped to glean from this interview and she was well prepared to answer.
It was at this point that I turned to my own technology (an cellphone app I utilize for interviews, Voice Memos) to record our conversation after gaining permission - that is all I will mention at the moment but is a tangent I will revisit before this blog is through.
I asked questions in the order I outlined in my previous "Overview & Q + A" post.
But there were a few times where Emily's response to one question would answer another. This did not surprise me, as her title suggests, she is a librarian through and through and her responses were thorough. I combined those questions below, since for one they are similar or linked through their answers.
- How does the library develop policy for technology?
Emily was kind enough to provide me with the following
Technology Statement for the library. It was also at this point that she asked
if she could step away to print this statement in which I paused my Voice Memos
app (more on this later, I promise I will eventually get to a point with all of
this foreshadowing).
- How does the library budget for and purchase technology?
Out of the yearly budget there is a portion allotted for
technological equipment, supplies, software purchase, or tech support if
needed.
- How does the library maintain and/or repair technological
equipment?
- What staff are involved in using and maintaining technology?
The equipment is mostly maintained by library
employees/staff, of which there are four main employees (and a handful of
volunteers):
In the case of needed repair there is a local tech guy the library can call upon to assist. He also offers services, troubleshooting, and general technological help to the patrons of the library with their own personal tech troubles as well.
In fact apparently more than a few patrons have requested he make house-calls (for which I am assuming are housebound tech equipment like desktops or tvs or what have you) but as of this moment he only assists with tech questions or equipment that can be brought into the library for him to assist with.
- How does the library develop instruction for the public?
- How does the library promote use of technology in the community?
- What are some technology classes offered to the public?
The main answer to this question is through the website.
The link provided above leads you into the digital resource tab of Fairfax Library's website and the picture above was one of the resources that Emily mentioned specifically.
While the library offers links to these types of resources digitally Emily did mention that they were also looking to institute some video how-to's on their own website as well.
- What are some special features of technology in the library?
One special feature I took away from this interview was that in the school that Fairfax shares their library with, there is a teacher who specializes specifically in technology, not a tech or IT person but a teacher. I found this to be intriguing for a few reasons:
Mostly because libraries have moved toward more of a focus on technology and oftentimes this type of tech education is enmeshed with library itself or another teacher and/or subject (i.e. in my experience there were teachers who were both art and media specialists and they fulfilled both needs).
Most students, like those at BFA have personal iPads or laptops for school use so it is expected that their regular teachers also guide, teach, and help them with general use. Technology is also such a large part of society at large as well that students are bound to already have some familiarity with it but having a teacher who has classes and is dedicated to the subject exclusively says much about the importance of technology in education.
Another special feature under their website, availability of non-traditional items:
There is a variety from jewelry making kits to snowshoes but some highlighted tech items include: a telescope and microscope. Patrons can borrow these items under a signed agreement and are expected to handle with care.
- What are some examples of types of technology within the library?
During my interview I had full view of the computer area, there are 6 desktops, 4 for the school, and 2 for the public. Notice the child (above) in bright blue shirt toward the right? There are partitions separating the computer he is working at and the one on his right - these are the public computers.
Emily explained that these computers do not have the same filtering that the 4 school computers do. During school hours they are only to be used by the public who may be visiting, but after school they (and the other 4) are free for anyone to use as the library does have public WiFi.
Students of a certain grade have their own iPads for school use, but there is also a mobile cart of open iPads available as well.
Other items include kindles for eBook reading and a digital scanner pen, the latter being a pen that digitizes text and transfers it to a computer.
- What types of technology are offered to the public vs. in library use only?
At this time most tech is for use in the library only and not available to borrow or rent although this may change with time.
- What are some common tech issues?
When asked this question Emily paused for a bit, and I think she took an interesting and nontraditional approach to the answer: she feels as though the biggest issue is censorship and finding that middle ground between the school and the community. This answer makes sense considering the dual roles this particular library plays.
It also hearkens back to the desktop set up and explanation above, the library gets around censorship by having public desktops (unfiltered) partitioned off from school desktops (filtered) but making them all available for public use once school hours are over.
- Is the library looking to institute new technology?
- What are some technology goals of the library?
The main and overarching answer for both of these questions is: updating. Emily mentioned the current desktops average about 8+ years old and are in need of an update. Otherwise some other new tech and goals include creating more online resources, and looking into purchasing a mobile scanner and possibly a fax machine as these are common requests patrons have, the need to scan and/or fax documents.
- What are some differences between the school and public library?
Touching on the answer to the "tech issue" question Emily said it's really all a balancing act when it comes to the differences between the school and public library. The school has certain limitations and the public remains largely uncensored and during school hours it can be difficult finding and meeting that middle ground.
