Preface vii
1 Planning 1
Life Cycle Costing 2
Integrate the Costs with the Library Budget and
Mission Objectives 3
Structuring the Technology Budget 3
Developing a Technology Plan 4
Continuity Planning 6
In Summary 9
2 Life Cycle Costing 11
What It Is 11
Performance Characteristics Needed 14
Preparing to Actually Acquire New Technology 14
3 Software Policy 23
Decide on a Software Suite to Purchase 23
Maintain Version Control 23
Games 24
Who Does Installations? 24
Standard Subdirectories 24
Where Demos are Loaded 25
User-Flexible Software 25
Security Passwords 26
Interfaces to Library Systems Software 26
Shareware 26
Configuration in a LAN Environment 27
Data Exchange Capability 27
Who Does Training? 27
4 Choosing and Supporting Applications Software 29
Choosing Software 29
General Rules that can Guide Purchasing Software 29
Expert Users 32
Word Processing 32
Desktop Publishing 33
Graphics Software 34
Spreadsheets 35
General Characteristics 35
Trends in Software 36
Purchasing Software 37
Supporting Applications Software 40
Issues 42
Software Impact on Life Cycle Costing 44
5 Choosing Hardware 45
Choosing Hardware 45
Initial Purchase 46
Upgrading 47
Should the Library Purchase Macintoshes? 48
Should the Library Purchase Thin-Clients? 49
Working with Vendors 49
Features to Look for 54
When to Upgrade 57
Backup 58
Initial Troubleshooting 58
Vending Systems 59
Hardware Trends 63
6 Choosing Utilities 65
Types of Utilities 65
Utilities to Make the Platform Viable 66
Utilities that Improve the Platform but are not Essential 69
Internet Utilities 71
Deploying Utility Software 72
Implications for Life Cycle Costing 73
7 Configuration Management 75
Record Keeping 75
Library Configuration 79
Workflow 79
End Item Accountability 80
8 Setting Up Shop 81
Patterns of Support 82
Putting Together a Support Organization 83
User Software Tools and Maintenance Roles 86
Support by Technical Staff 88
9 Support 91
Support Procedures: Who Does It? 91
The Support Environment 94
Preventative Maintenance 96
Building New Product Expertise 97
Growing the Support Organization 98
Connecting Maintenance to Life Cycle Costing and
Decision Making 98
10 Summary of the Process 101
References 105
Appendixes
Appendix A: Assessing the Organization 107
Appendix B: Life Cycle Costing 109
Appendix C: Needs Assessment 111
Appendix D: Technology Plan 113
Appendix E: Software Usage Agreement 115
Appendix F: Software Deployment Checklist 117
Appendix G: Microcomputer Configuration 119
Appendix H: Configuration Management 123
Appendix I: Tools 125
Index 127
About the Author 129
