For immediate release:
December 17, 2007
For more information, contact:
Lee Anne George
Association of Research Libraries
202-296-2296
leeanne@arl.org
ARL Publishes Managing Public Computing, SPEC Kit 302
Washington DC—The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) has published Managing Public Computing, SPEC Kit 302, which reports on how ARL member libraries are supporting the public computing needs of their patrons.
Computers have been a major resource in libraries for many years. From the first OPAC terminal to librarian-assisted DIALOG searching, the role of computers in service to library patrons has come a long way. Today, library public computers serve many different needs of patrons. Public computers are OPACs; gateways to databases, e-books, e-journals, video and audio content; information resources about the library and its many services; e-mail kiosks; and a destination where patrons find numerous software applications. All of these resources are often loaded on each public computer, and patrons flock to them. These computers are fully networked and often configured for, or attached to, numerous peripherals.
This public computing environment presents a wide range of challenges to academic and research library staff and administrators. In an environment that demands more of the resources, the infrastructure, and the staff who work to keep public computing the stable and reliable door to all things digital in the library, how are libraries managing and supporting public computing to meet the needs and expectations of today’s library user?
The focus of this SPEC Kit is on the management of those computers that are located in public spaces for use by library patrons, as distinct from staff computers and servers. By jointly looking at the scale of the public computing operations, the staffing and organizational structure, budgets, upgrades, maintenance, security, polices, and assessment, this publication pulls together and expands on issues covered in several previous SPEC Kits.
This SPEC survey was distributed to the 123 ARL member libraries in July 2007. Of those 123 libraries, 69 (56%) responded to the survey. The respondents were primarily library deans, directors, and heads of library information technology or library systems departments. All 69 respondents indicated that their libraries contain public computers that need support. Responsibility for the support, service, repair, and replacement of computers in public library spaces falls solely on library staff in 44 of the responding libraries (64%). Support is shared with non-library staff in 21 of the libraries (30%). In 4 libraries (6%), the institution’s central IT staff provides sole support. In none of the libraries is computer support contracted out or provided by a consortium’s IT staff.
This SPEC Kit includes documentation from respondents in the form of job descriptions, public computing policies and procedures, and organization charts.
The table of contents and executive summary from this SPEC Kit are available online at http://www.arl.org/bm~doc/spec302web.pdf.
Ordering Information
SPEC Kit 302, Managing Public Computing
Michael Cook and Mark Shelton • November 2007 • ISBN 1-59407-796-7 • 182 pp. • $45 ($35 ARL members)
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SPEC Kits Exchange Information
Designed to examine current research library practices and policies and serve as resource guides for libraries as they face ever-changing management problems, each SPEC Kit contains a summary analysis, survey questions with tallies, pertinent documentation from participating libraries, and a reading list and Web site references for further information on the topic.
Subscribe to SPEC!
2007 SPEC Kit subscription (ISSN 0160-3582): $215 ARL member/$285 nonmember, six issues per year, shipping included (additional postage may apply outside North America).
The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) is a nonprofit organization of 123 research libraries in North America. Its mission is to influence the changing environment of scholarly communication and the public policies that affect research libraries and the diverse communities they serve. ARL pursues this mission by advancing the goals of its member research libraries, providing leadership in public and information policy to the scholarly and higher education communities, fostering the exchange of ideas and expertise, and shaping a future environment that leverages its interests with those of allied organizations. ARL is located on the Web at http://www.arl.org/.
