walking paper: tech needs pyramid

Below is a diagram illustrating the levels of technology needs for libraries. Just as in Maslow’s scale, those at the base are core, essential needs that must be met for survival. As we look up the pyramid, we see technologies that can be considered higher functions.

It’s an interesting method of sifting through the amount of technical possibilities available to know where to focus your energies.

Of course the priorities change for the different library types. For example, in the medical/academic library I work at remote database access goes on the bottom. Our users absolutely demand it and resources they have to come into the building to use don’t get nearly as much use. They simply don’t have the time or patience to wait.

Something not listed are laptops. We have a set of 4 iBooks patrons are allowed to use in the library and they are in use constantly.

• Our scanners are also popular, both for personal and work-related uses.
• We have one or two PDA databases that are well-liked (Doctors seem to love PDAs).
• It’s not a device but it’s still technology-related, we seem to be the first stop for questions even though we’re in the same building as the campus computing center. Everything from how to insert images in powerpoints and how to burn a cd on the patron’s own laptop to connecting to the campus wireless network come to us. Knowledge of current software should probably also be included.

I’d like to see this list extended into a set of suggested needs for creating individual library models. If you have items to add, send them to me and I’ll add them.