The Windsor Public Library encourages the participation of community members of all ages in both the individual and collective pursuit of knowledge, enrichment, and enjoyment through books, timely information, programs, public gatherings, and events.

Windsor, Vermont, located on the Connecticut River ten miles south of White River Junction, between exits 8 and 9 of Interstate 91, is the “Birthplace of Vermont.” Here, in 1777, Vermont declared itself a republic, which it remained until it became the 14th state in 1791.

In 1882, a group of Windsor citizens raised subscriptions in order to open a new public library. The funds, which were matched by Charles C. Beaman and William M. Evarts, went toward the purchase of about 1,500 new books. Added to this were approximately 1,100 volumes of U.S. public documents and 600 miscellaneous books.

“The proprietorship of the library was vested in a corporation, organized for the purpose, under the General Statutes, and certificates of shares were issued to the subscribers at the rate of five dollars per share.” [From the library catalog issued in December 1883 and classified as No. 017.1W, Accession No. 3449, in the Librarian's office.] Thus, the Windsor Library Association was formed.

Today, the library is governed by a Board of Trustees, selected by the library Corporation. One trustee is selected by a vote of the citizens of Windsor or, alternatively, is appointed by the town's Board of Selectmen. The library abides by all state library department guidelines to assure its continued effective status as a public library.

Between 1883 and 1904, the library collection was housed in two temporary locations. The present building was erected in 1903 by Benjamin F. Blood of Waltham, Massachusetts, formerly of Windsor. Blood was also responsible for the libraries in West Windsor and Reading. The Windsor Public Library opened the doors to its present building on April 30, 1904. It will celebrate its centennial year during the current Five-Year Plan (2001-2005).

The Windsor Library serves a population in Windsor of approximately 3,200. Of that number, about 55% are registered borrowers according to a 1995 survey. In addition, there are over 300 non-resident borrowers from surrounding small communities, such as Cornish, New Hampshire, which have small, or no library facilities of their own.

Local taxes support approximately 65% of the library's annual expenditures, with interest on investments and private fundraising efforts accounting for the rest. The library has an active Friends group which provides significant funding for special projects. In 2000, they contributed a large part of the funds necessary to recarpet the entire building.

Also in 2000, we added a concrete and granite handicap-access ramp to the front of the building. It was funded entirely through private donations and a small grant.

The new Five-Year Plan, covering the years 2001-2005, envisions, among other improvements, a significant expansion to the library. Planning and fundraising during that time will lead, we hope, to groundbreaking shortly before the beginning of the next five-year plan.

As of the end of 2000, the library has four computers running. They are not networked. Three are used primarily (and intensively) by the library staff and two are devoted to public access. Three computers, including one public access system, is connected to the Internet. Both public access computers have printers attached to them and offer a variety of basic productivity software packages (Microsoft Word, etc.)

The library does not have an automated catalog—that is one of the primary goals of this Technology Plan. We have a web page (www.together.net/~windsorl), managed by a volunteer webmaster and hosted on server space at Together Networks of Burlington, Vermont. (In 2001, Together Networks was purchased by Earthlink.) The web page contains new books listings; a “cybrary” of useful web sites; an events calendar; several special service forms that allow patrons to reserve, recommend, or renew items online; email links; and library documents (bylaws, etc.).

With a technology-savvy Board of Trustees, and staff and patrons eager to take advantage of state-of-the-art computer and Internet capabilities, we are poised on the cusp of major technology enhancements over the next three to five years. Those enhancements, discussed in detail below, will be aimed primarily at computerizing the collection, upgrading the existing hardware and software, networking existing stations, and, as demand requires, introducing additional stations for patron use.

Computers and the Internet are changing the face of small public libraries.

Computerized collection records relieve small staffs of time-and labor-intensive chores, freeing them for more face-to-face interaction with patrons and for more program development work.

The Internet is changing the nature of what constitutes a library's collection, increasing the resources a small library can offer through online access to a huge and growing collection of free and fee-based products and services.

This Technology Plan for the period 2001-2005 addresses development goals in the areas of Public Service; Collection Development; Human Resources; Equipment and Support; Community Relations; and Interagency Cooperation.

Numbered objectives are followed by the target date for their completion.

By 2005, the public will be able to share access to in-house and remote library products and services (such as an automated catalog of local and remote collections), from the library or from any point with Internet access. Staff and patrons will enjoy high-speed access to the Internet simultaneously from at least one staff and two patron stations. In-library services will expand to include scanning, high-quality color printing, and technology training, among other technology benefits not yet envisioned. There will be at least three staff and three patron stations (purchased or donated), all of which will be networked, running Windows 2000 or some successor OS, with general access to all Office Professional applications, as well as a smorgasboard of additional pertinent technology applications such as genealogical research.

This technology plan will be revisted annually, in January, and extensive revisions, updates, and additions will be implemented. It will be done under the auspices of the Technology Committee described below. This Committee will be set up sometime during calendar 2001 and will be ready to assume its responsibilities at the first annual revision.

1. Determine desired features, research products, and identify three top automation program candidates. (December 2001)
2. Begin purchasing new books with both paper- and electronic-based processing. (July 2002)
3. Fund, purchase, and install Library Automation System software. Modules will include Circulation, Catalog, Serials, Acquisitions, and OPAC. (December 2002)
4. Implement the Serials module. (March 2003)
5. Begin using the Circulation module, entering/acquiring records in the Catalog module as required by patron usage. (March 2003)
6. Fund and build the Catalog module through volunteer labor and selected purchased record conversions. (From early 2003)
7. Replace the card catalog with the automated system. (September 2003)\
8. Enable Internet-based catalog access. An Internet-ready OPAC is typically offered as an optional module in integrated library automation software, and this module will be added at this time. Records will then either be transferred to an ISP's servers or provision will be made to retain them locally and make them Internet accessible. There will be extensive technological advances made between now and then, and exactly how the Internet OPAC will be implemented is difficult to say just now and would almost certainly be changed by the target date in any event. (September 2004)

1. In 2000, the one public access computer in the library was utilized by adults and children about 50 times each month, or about three times each day we were open. Our goal is to expand that number by 10% in 2001 and by 20% in 2002.
2. We fielded approximately 500 reference queries in 2000, but did not break down which ones were answered through use of technology. Most were not. We will begin keeping track of that statistic by the beginning of 2002.
3. Replace existing workstations and printers that are more than five years old. (Ongoing beginning in 2002)
4. Conduct surveys to determine future needs and to gauge patron usage and satisfaction with existing technologies. (June 2002 and thereafter)
5. Install a flatbed scanner. (December 2002)
6. Measure onsite and remote usage of technologies. (December 2002 and thereafter)
7. Develop a plan and implement Office 2000. (December 2002)
8. Investigate patron check-out units. (September 2003)
9. Investigate system for the digitization of audio and video collections. (December 2003)
10. Research an electronic commerce system that will enable us to accept credit card payments for services such as document delivery, gifts, fundraising, etc. (December 2004)
11. Explore technologies such as Net meeting, Webline, videoconferencing, etc., to offer interactive uses to patrons. (December 2004)
12. Develop and continue to re-design Library web page to incorporate new services and make it more user friendly. (Ongoing)

1. Provide clear, concise, and thorough documentation for electronic resources available in the Library, for adults and children alike. (Ongoing)
2. Establish a training program for groups and individuals in the use of available Library technologies. Expect at least 50 patrons to take part in these programs in the first year and 75 in the second and subsequent years throughout this plan's life. (December 2001)
3. Investigate feasibility of linking to resources such as GeoCities to allow patrons to develop their own Web pages at the Library. If feasible, expect to enable 10 to 25 patrons to do so during the first year of operation. (June 2002)
4. Provide the public with electronic tools to assist them with personal growth in technological areas and help prepare them for employment opportunities. Expect at least 10 patrons to take significant advantage of training and employment tool resources in the first year they are offered. (June 2003)
5. Develop online tutorials for using the Library Catalog and for other onsite technological resources. Expect at least 50 patrons to take advantage of such online tutorials in the first year they are offered. (December 2003)

1. Provide email-based “push” services to Outreach patrons regarding new books and other library services. This has already been done through our web site. However, statistics on web site usage are not yet available from our ISP. A negligible number of patrons are making use of several email-based push services now available. Our goal is to have at least 25 patrons making use of these services by the end of 2001, with 20% growth in usage in each of the succeeding years. (December 2001)
2. Expand connectivity to homebound patrons by providing an online catalog and automated reserve and renewal services. Renewal services are available now, but note the caveat in the item immediately above. The usage rate for homebound patrons will be included in the rates described above. (December 2003)
3. Provide specialized electronic services to homebound patrons (resource links, listservs, chat, e-books, etc.) Expect to serve at least 20% of homebound patrons (specific numbers are not known at this time) by the end of the plan period. (June 2004)

1. Research and determine community needs for adaptive technologies. (We have no reliable numbers on handicapped patrons in our area at this time.) (December 2001)
2. Develop a system-wide plan for implementing adaptive technology on Library workstations. (December 2002)
3. Implement workstation services for visually impaired patrons, including screen reader and text enlarger. (December 2002)
4. Investigate the feasibility of implementing Windows 2000 accessibility options on Library workstations. (December 2003)
5. Implement voice-activated software. (December 2004)
6. Expect to serve 100% of handicapped patron library needs, vis-a-vis technology, by the end of the plan period.

1. Build, maintain, and promote a “cybrary” collection of pertinent web links, including and especially those reference works which offer a far more economical and timely resource when obtained online. As mentioned above, we are not currently receiving usage reports from the ISP, so cannot measure current use of existing resources. This will change in 2001. Our goal for HITs to our Web site catalog is 50 per month throughout 2001, with an increase of 30% in each succeeding year. ISP usage reports, which we expect to begin receiving in 2001, will verify these numbers. (Currently available and ongoing)
2. Link to area library catalogs, including the Department of Libraries' DOLCAT, PUBCAT, K12CAT, and other database resources for interlibrary loan purposes. These are already linked in our Cybrary on our Web Site. Once we are a part of PUBCAT (see VI.4. below), we expect to forge an even stronger link to DOL services.
3. Investigate feasibility of providing access to online databases, journals, e-books, and other emerging digital technologies. (December 2001 and ongoing)
4. Budget and implement access to online digital technologies noted above. Online fee-based resource access is currently quite expensive and probably not worth the level of usage our library patrons would make of it. We hope to be part of consortia contracting for these services, either under the auspices of the DOL, VLA, or some other statewide group. (June 2002 and ongoing)

1. Formally and informally survey patrons to discover which applications, beyond the integrated productivity applications of Office 2000, they desire and would use. (These might include typing tutors and other tutorials; GED and other exam preparation software; resume writing tools; pre-school and games software; graphics programs; genealogy aids; etc.) (December 2001)
2. Plan the implementation, promotion, training, and usage tracking of selected applications for the coming year. Current software usage is not being tracked. However, based on what we can estimate, we are setting the following goals for local software usage in the library (not including Internet access or applications: 10 patrons will utilize software applications to a significant degree each month beginning in March 2002. Thereafter, we are looking for growth each quarter of from 5 to 10% throughout the plan term. (March 2002)

1. Identify core competencies expected of library staff. These will include sufficient familiarity with existing and future technologies to enable all staff to assist patrons in all provided services. (June 2001)
2. Identify and evaluate current competencies of staff. (September 2001)
3. Implement in-house and outside programming to support the training of all library staff in core competencies. Most current technology training (and probably the most effective for many purposes) is self-training. However, volunteers will be sought with special expertise who will introduce staff to applications and procedures not so easily taken on independently (such as hardware maintenance, HTML coding, etc.) (December 2001)
4. Conduct annual upgrade of objectives 1. and 2. (June 2002 and annually thereafter)

1. Set up a record of resources available at the library and conduct annual maintenance and perform necessary upgrades on all hardware, software, and online resources. (June 2001 and as needed thereafter)
2. Investigate and price-budget the implementation of a three-station Windows 2000 network offering simultaneous online access to any two stations. (December 2001)
3. Budget and implement a three-station Windows 2000 network allowing simultaneous voice, modem, or fax services by any two of the stations. (December 2002)
4. Investigate high-speed (ISDN, shared T1, or other emerging technology) hookup services to retire modem-based Internet access. (June 2003)
5. Expand to four-station network, providing full services to adult and children's rooms and librarians. (June 2004)
6. Implement high-speed Internet access and a phone system allowing simultaneous usage of three lines for any combination of purposes (fax, modem, Internet, voice). (September 2004)
7. Budget for network training and support services for staff. Currently, the Board of Trustees includes several technologically savvy individuals, one of whom was a computerization and networking consultant for 15 years and is assuming the responsibility for directing, overseeing, and supporting the networking tasks related above. He will also document networking requirements and will see to it that at least one staff member has sufficient understanding of the system to maintain it on a day-by-day basis.

1. Encourage, through formal and informal programs, involvement by a wide-ranging assortment of community members (Friends, high schoolers etc.) in Web site design and maintenance, technology tutoring, presentations, etc. (June 2001 and thereafter) Currently, three volunteers work on the WPL web site. Our goal is to have at least five working on it by the middle of 2002 and seven by the middle of 2003.
2. Promote new technology acquisitions on the Web site, in the library, in the Chronicle, at board meetings, and any other appropriate venues. We are aiming for at least three different promotions monthly, via three different media, to expand awareness to existing and new patrons regarding technology offerings at the library. (June 2001 and thereafter)
3. Establish a Library Technology Committee made up of a wide cross-section of the community and charged with guiding the fundraising, development, procurement, implementation, and promotion of state-of-the-art Library Automation resources at Windsor Public Library. (September 2001)

1. Identify and pursue government and private grants for technology development. We will apply for at least three technology grants in 2001, and at least five in subsequent years of the plan. The Trustees are in the process of setting up a committee to oversee this process. (January 2001 and ongoing)
2. Investigate and, if appropriate, pursue membership in New England Library Network (NELINET). (June 2002)
3. Investigate cooperative online cataloging options for mini-ILL program among area libraries via Z39.50 compliant systems. (June 2003)
4. Following automation, participate in Vermont Automated Library System (VALS) Online Catalog program (PUBCAT).
5. Work with other agencies or organizations to pool local database access.

Windsor Public Library
Technology Plan