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A manual designed for front-line to upper-level managers responsible for making decisions about public access computers in libraries, covering both technical and managerial aspects. Topics covered include facilities planning, hardware and software, staff training, and more.

Tabla de contenidos provista por Syndetics

• Acknowledgments(p. vii)
• Preface(p. ix)
• Introduction: A Public-service Approach to Public-access Computers(p. xi)
• 1 What Does a Manager Need to Know About Technology?(p. 1)
• Kinds of Knowledge: Micro-level and Macro-level(p. 1)
• Basic Computer Concepts for Managers(p. 4)
• Further Information(p. 17)
• 2 Facilities(p. 19)
• Physical Space(p. 19)
• Electrical Power(p. 20)
• Furniture(p. 22)
• Dual-purpose Computer Classroom(p. 34)
• Facilities Check Questions(p. 36)
• 3 Computer Hardware(p. 41)
• Microcomputers: Bigger and Faster(p. 41)
• Other Hardware(p. 49)
• Acquiring Hardware(p. 56)
• 4 Software(p. 61)
• System Software(p. 63)
• Application Software(p. 65)
• Purchasing Considerations(p. 70)
• Access to Software: Servers and Hard Drives(p. 75)
• 5 CD-ROM(p. 77)
• CD-ROM Hardware(p. 79)
• Providing Access to CD-ROMs(p. 82)
• Full-text CD-ROM Sets(p. 85)
• Circulating CD-ROMs(p. 85)
• Personal CD-ROMs in the Library(p. 86)
• 6 Printing(p. 89)
• Printer Essentials(p. 89)
• Types of Printers(p. 90)
• Networked Versus Non-networked Printers(p. 91)
• Printer Maintenance and Service(p. 93)
• Paper(p. 93)
• Toner and Ink Cartridges(p. 94)
• Pay to Print(p. 96)
• 7 Working With the Systems Department(p. 103)
• Improving Communication(p. 105)
• Reporting Computer Problems(p. 108)
• 8 Security(p. 115)
• Security Policy(p. 115)
• Physical Security(p. 117)
• System Security(p. 122)
• 9 Staffing Issues(p. 139)
• What Do Public-access Computer Staff Do?(p. 139)
• Who Staffs Public-access Computers?(p. 140)
• Part-time Staff(p. 141)
• Staffing Levels(p. 142)
• Scheduling Staff(p. 156)
• 10 Communicating With Staff and Staff Training(p. 163)
• Communicating With Staff(p. 163)
• Staff Training(p. 173)
• 11 User Relations(p. 191)
• Communicating With Users(p. 191)
• Feedback From Users(p. 198)
• Conflicts With Users(p. 206)
• Index(p. 215)
• About the Author(p. 223)

Reseñas proporcionadas por Syndetics

Library Journal Review

An emphasis on management distinguishes this work from other introductions to library technology, at the same time lending it a hybrid quality. Barclay (Teaching Electronic Information Literacy, Professional Media, LJ 3/1/96) begins with an explanation of basic computer concepts, then addresses facilities planning, hardware, software, and security, all very methodically. A somewhat pass chapter on implementations of CD-ROM might have been better spent on particulars of network design and performance. (Barclay assumes for the most part that libraries' systems staff are distinct from their public and technical services staffs, the network being a given.) Finally, in addition to providing a realistic survey of issues involved with day-to-day operation and maintenance of public PCs, the text treats topics such as staffing, training, and communication. While these sections are germane, they are in places a bit cursory and not fully integrated with the discussion, reading like appended distillations of more general management literature. Sample forms (for keeping statistics, gathering survey data, training, etc.) serve as useful tools. An alternative recent work, Stephen Paling's A Hardware and Software Primer for Librarians: What Your Vendor Forgot To Tell You (Professional Media, LJ 4/15/99), has more detail about technology but does not address management per se. Despite its flaws, Barclay's book is recommended to public and academic library staff for its well-paced, practical approach.DDean C. Rowan, Whittier P.L., CA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

"Effective management of public-access computers is a balancing act," Barclay says, between providing access to computers and maintaining them. He attempts to provide a one-stop source of information to enable achieving success at this balancing act. He first reviews the types of information about technology that a manager needs to know, then discusses the physical facilities for computer installations, hardware, software, CD-ROMs, and printers. Next, he turns to management issues (such as working with the systems department), security issues, issues relating to staffing public-access computer installations, staff training, and relations with end users.