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Clearinghouse of Professional Information
Technology Resources
This section lists resources that may be helpful to libraries as they plan and manage computer technology projects, library automation and Internet
connectivity projects.
OLS – North provides assistance with Technology Planning through its Library Development Service.
Technology Planning is assigned to Rebecca Larocque our Library Development Advisor, Technology who can be reached by phone or by e-mail at
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Topics include
General Resources |
Adaptive Technology | Digitization and Preservation |
E-books |
Internet Connectivity |
Images |
Programs | RFID |
Standards (including Z39.50) |
Sustainability |
Systems |
Trends | Web 2.0 |
Website Design |
Wireless
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indicates an item written by SOLS staff |
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indicates an item written by OLS-North staff |
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Clicking on certain topics will open a new window, if the link is to a topic included in an other Clearinghouse page |
- 24by7 TEKdesk (OPLN) An Ontario Public Library Network initiative. 24by7 TEKdesk provides
computer support for all Ontario Public Libraries in concert with SOLS and OLS-N.
- "32 Tips to Inspire Innovation for You and Your Library" Part 1;
Part 2 and
Part 3 by Stephen Abram, MLS, SirsiDynix vice president of Innovation in Sirsi OneSource, volume 1 issue 7 and volume 1 issue 8
- Dotto Tech
Award-winning television host Steve Dotto show how to make the most of technology. The show appears on Bell Globemedia's national CHUM network and
on Canada's independent educational channels. Clips from previous shows can be seen on the website and
past seasons can be borrowed on DVD at many public libraries
- HTML Code Tutorial
- Innovative Internet Applications Intended primarily for the library community, this is a sampling of new and
interesting uses of the Web by public, corporate, academic, and school libraries. Provides best practices models of both traditional and
non-traditional library service provision using Internet technology. (Wilton Public Library)
- Library Technology Guides
« Website aims to provide comprehensive and
objective information related to the field of library automation. This site
has no affiliation with any library automation company. Whether you are in
the process of selecting a library automation system, or just want to keep
up with developments in the field, Library Technology Guides is the place to
start.»
- OLITA: Ontario Library and Information Technology Association
(OLITA)
Toolkits on Internet
Access, RSS, Wireless
- Public Internet Access
Links to sites selected by OLS on this topic
- Standards and Guidelines for Digitization Projects
(.pdf)
(The Canadian Culture Online Program). This document outlines
technical requirements that digitization projects must meet and offers guidance on technical issues.
- Stay
Connected Toolkit (Gates Library Foundation) A toolkit of activities
designed to help libraries engage local communities in their technology
programs and enlist their help in sustaining them. In addition to specific
steps on how to gain financial, political and technical support in your
state and community, the kit also includes 'good ideas,' examples of
successful programs created by libraries.
- Technology Planning
(WebJunction)
- TekDesk e-learning
Thanks to a grant from the Trillium Foundation, all courses and events are FREE for Ontario Public
Libraries located in centres with populations less than 20,000. Due to
funding parameters, courses are available to all other libraries for a
suggested donation. Invoices are available.
- TechEase
(Educational Technology Clearinghouse.) Quick answers to day
today technology questions.
- TekDesk Tutorials
Word, EXCEL, Outlook etc
- TechSoup: Canadian
portal
The
TechSoup Canada Technology Donation Program is an online product donation
service that connects nonprofits with technology product donations from more
than twenty-five leading corporate and nonprofit technology partners.
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Top
Technology Trends for libraries (ALA - Library and Information Technology Association)
- WebJunction.org "A portal designed to help library staff make the best
use of emerging digital opportunities. It was launched May 12, 2003 by OCLC Online Computer Library Center, with funding from
the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The resources on WebJunction are practical and down-to-earth and address real
problems that librarians face every day. Most important, at WebJunction you can identify and communicate with your peers
about topics that are important to you." LJ
Products
These products have been selected as examples only. Their inclusion here is
not an endorsement.
- Adaptive Computer Products
- Browsealoud
Will read websites out to you and highlight words as they are read out
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Dewey
Pictograms (California Library Literacy Services) Reproducible images
portraying collections within the Dewey Decimal Classification System,
enabling people with disabilities, low literacy skills, etc., to better
locate materials in the library's collection; these can be mounted on
bookstacks or special mounts in the collection. Many thanks to OCLC (all
copyright rights in the Dewey Decimal Classification System are owned by
OCLC; Dewey, Dewey Decimal Classification, DDC, OCLC and WebDewey are
registered trademarks of OCLC) and to Oakland (CA) Public Library for making
these images freely available.
- DigiMemo Pad Place a letter-sized
notepad on the DigiMemo and write on the paper with the digital inking pen.
The DigiMemo will record anything written on the pad in its built-in storage
device.
- Kursweil Educational Systems
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New Augmentative and Alternative (AAC) Devices
- ReadPlease
Text to speech software
- Vendors specializing in technology for the blind (New
York Institute for Special Education)
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ZoomText Magnification and reading software for the
vision impaired.
- Connectivity Presentation
- A 2003 presentation by Barbara Franchetto, SOLS Director of Resource Sharing, on the Connectivity Project
managed by SOLS on behalf of the Ministry of Culture. For more on this project, see our Connectivity section in Resource Sharing
- Connectivity Survey - A summary of
the results of a survey conducted by SOLS, looking at the impact of the Internet Connectivity project on libraries and library
patrons. For more on this project, see our Connectivity section in Resource Sharing
General resources and Definitions
Finding an ISP
Routers
Satellite communications
Usage statistics for your website
xDSL (ADSL, SDSL, HDSL, VDSL)
- Community Access Program (Industry Canada): connecting Canada's communities to the
information highway.
- JASI
The Joint Automation Server Initiative "JASI" is a cooperative project of member
libraries in Ontario. Libraries pay a membership fee to share an automated library system
and a single set of servers. This project is ongoing and new members are welcome. To see the libraries
catalogues please visit
www.jasinorth.ca.
RFID - Radiofrequency Identification Technology
-
Automated
Systems Marketplace 2008 Vendors profiles (LJDigital)
feature written annually in LJ by Marshall Breeding.
- Biblio Mondo
 Multilingual automated system,.Headquartered
in Montreal, BiblioMondo has established itself as Canada’s favorite library
automation system vendor, counting among its customers some of the country’s
most recognized public library and government clients.
- RFP Writer's Guide to Standards for Library Systems
(.pdf) National
Information Standards Organization (NISO) identifies critical standards in the areas of Bibliographic Formats, Record Structure,
Character Sets, Exchange Media, Serials Identifiers, Binding, Circulation Protocols, Barcodes, Interlibrary Loan (ILL), Electronic Documents,
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), Information Retrieval, Metadata, and Web Access. For each standard, the applicability to libraries
is described, sample RFP language is provided, and compliance assessment issues are discussed.
- Evergreen Open source library system
- A
Field Guide to Servers (TechSoup) Understanding how servers can make your
nonprofit’s tech infrastructure more powerful.
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Insignia Library
System
Is a full-featured library system. It can be installed as Windows-based or web based
or web enabled, it has simple point-and-click navigation and is easy and fun for
library patrons and staff.
- LibLime Provider of open source
software like Koha Integrated Systems;
Search Blue Mountains Public
Library catalogue as an example
- Library Automated
Systems (Internet Library for Librarians)
- Lib-Web-Cats: Library Web Pages, Online Catalogs, and System Profiles,
a resource of over 4,000 libraries worldwide. (Vanderbilt U)
- Mandarin Look for the free
download of Mandarin M3 and lots of other features
- Millenium (Innovative Interfaces)
- Ontario Library
Consortium (OLC)
OLC consists of 25 library systems: 11 county and regional municipality and 14
medium-sized public libraries located in southern Ontario. It includes over 200
branch libraries and 20 headquarters, serving approximately 10% of the Ontario
population. The group is using Sirsi-Dynix technology.
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Perceptions 2009:
An International Survey of Library Automation This survey and its analysis
reflect my ongoing interest in following trends in the library automation
industry. It is designed to complement, and not replace, the annual Automation
Systems Marketplace.
- World Wide Web Consortium Was created in October 1994 to lead
the World Wide Web to its full potential by developing common protocols that promote its evolution and ensure its
interoperability.
See also our Public Internet Access page under
Wireless Access
- How Wireless Networking Works (How
Stuff Works) Including wi-fi
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PUBLICip.com Public IP provides a
simple to use wi-fi authentication and control solution for the
do-it-yourselfer. The solution is perfect for the small shop owner, or a hotspot
operator that has several hotspots to manage.
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Securing Public Access PCs Without Shutting Out Users: serve users without
sacrificing safety, privacy, or sanity, by Jessamyn West,
January 26, 2006 This article, originally published on
Web Junction, was written for librarians, but the advice is appropriate for
any organization with public computers, including CTCs
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Sauers, M. «
Four Commandments for Writing Policies for
Public-Access Wireless Networks.»
Computers in
Libraries v. 26 no. 3
(March 2006) p. 16-18, 20
(Wilson Web)
- Wi-Fi (Wikipedia)
- Wireless Community Networks. A Guide for Library Boards, Educators, and Community Leaders
(Texas State Library) This guide offers a beginner's look at
the process of using radio frequency wireless technology to connect the
computer networks of two or more local public organizations—school
districts, public libraries, municipal and county offices, and others.
- Wireless FAQ - General Q&A
- Wireless LAN Standards
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Wireless Networking in Libraries An interesting social space for
wireless libraries on Web Junction. See the wireless library logo.
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(Commission d'accès à l'information) A very good overview of the technology,
the applications, the issues