Prior to the interview, I sent Marian a list of questions that I was planning to ask – and she emailed her answers back to me. Now, I have finally got around to posting them! Here is our pre-interview interview!

Is your network wireless or wired?

Both

What type of network configuration and Internet connection do you have?

We have two bonded T1 lines provided by MSLN, and a cable connection from Suscom (part of the Town’s contract) used only for backup at the circulation desk.  Internally, we have a firewall with multiple Ethernet subnets defined: two for the public (adult and children), one for the staff.  The Wireless subnet is actually outside the firewall.

Do you have “hot spots”?

We have four wireless routers in the building for public access.

What brand of automation system do you use?

Curtis is part of the Minerva statewide consortium, which uses Innovative Interfaces Millennium system.

Are you happy with it?

Hmm…Not an easy answer.  I think I can say our biggest difficulties are not with the software but with the coordination involved in being in a consortium.

What modules do you have?

Circulation, cataloging, serials, acquisitions.

Is the system web-based?

The system is a client/server based system that runs over the Web to a server in Orono.

Does it have any interactive elements?

If by this you mean things like tagging etc, then no, this version does not have these elements.  III has a version that does provide this, but the consortium has not decided to spend the money to purchase that interface.

What are the specifications for your server?

The server is managed by a staff out of the State Library and we don’t have any information about it.

What are the specifications for your computers?

For staff computers, we are currently acquiring computers that run at 2 – 3 GHz (dual core), have 2GB memory, at least 80 GB hard drive, and flat panel screens.

What are the specifications for your workstations?

For the public workstations “it depends.”  We have 15 thin clients that provide catalog access, 30 thin clients that provide Internet access to the public (no word processing etc.) and 5 PCs (similar to the staff PCs) that provide the Microsoft office suite to the public.

Does the library have any PDA’s?  Laptops?  Mobile computing?

CML has one laptop for staff use only.  A few staff members have PDA’s that they sync with our mail system.  We have begun to think about providing PDA support on our 5 public access workstations, along with more support for other media (e.g. photos).

Does the library support PDA’s, laptops, and mobile computing?

Not at the moment, but we hope to.

Does the library’s Web portal support PDA’s?

CML was a very early implementer of Web technology, but unfortunately we have not kept up with current trends.  We are intending to completely redesign our Web presence and would take PDA’s into consideration at that point.

How many patron workstations do you have set up?

Full workstations: five.  Internet access: another 30

Is maintenance & repair on the system done by staff or by an outside contractor?

Maintenance of PCs is done by staff.  Maintenance of the automated system is done by the Maine State Library.  We also have two servers in house, one for our e-mail and document maintenance (an IBM i5 running Lotus Notes) and one for in-house Web applications (archival newspaper index, The Great Outdoors, Children’s’ Resource Handbook…) which are maintained minimally by the systems librarian, and supported by vendor.

Who does the technology planning?

The systems librarian plans and budgets for technology.

Who does the budgeting?

Systems librarian suggests requirements and dollars.  The director then determines which of those dollars we can afford to spend.

Do you have a Web page/Web portal?

Yes.

Who maintains it?

The staff (responsibilities split among an admin person, a reference person, a youth services person, and the systems librarian).

Do you support a social network via a Web portal (i.e. a Blog or a Wiki)?

We have had a library Blog for perhaps a year, but no one besides the library staff has ever entered anything on it, including comments.  We are currently exploring the potential uses of a wiki by defining one to use as a sandbox.

Do you have RSS feeds on your site?

Again, not at the moment, although two of us have attended a course on doing that, and are working on the technical aspects.

Do you have Instant Message reference services?

Not at the moment, although we have discussed it. 

Do you support patron preferences, reviews, or other interactive feedback on you site?

This is what we are exploring with our sandbox wiki.

What is your approximate budget for technology?

This is not really an apples to oranges question.  Directly we budget about $20,000 on annual fees, plus whatever we need for equipment replacement, depending on the needs of the year and what the budget will support.  But this does not include the costs of the T1 lines or filtering, both supplied by MSLN, nor of our online databases, which are provided by the Maine State Library.

Who is your Internet service provider?

GWI.

What type of Internet connection do you have (speed)?

T1 (two of them) and cable for circ desk backup.

Do you have any policies for technology use?

We have an acceptable use policy which displays each time a user sits down at a public access computer.  We do have time limits on our computers (2 hours per day) but not because we don’t have enough computers.  Rather, we implemented time limits to keep users from camping out at a computer all day.

Are there other organizations who are allowed to use your equipment outside of the library?

No.

Do you find that there’s enough space in the library for technology?

Our building was constructed in 1999, and was designed with future networking needs in mind.  Mostly we are happy with it, though we could use more outlets and jacks in a couple spots.

How do you solve any space problems, if they arise?

Haven’t gotten here yet….

Is there appropriate furniture for technology such as computers, online stations, and staff workstations?

Mostly.  We are crowded with our public stations, so some of them don’t have enough leg room, and the chairs could be better.

Are there enough: electrical outlets? Network outlets? Cable outlets? Wireless access points?

Mostly.

What works for you in your technology program?

We are lucky to have incorporated so many Internet access stations for the public as a part of the 1999 rebuild of the library.  The public seems to really appreciate the fact that there is almost never any wait to log on.

What doesn’t work for you in your technology program?

No backup for the one staff person who handles technology.