Need for Technology Plan

From SLD regarding the Technology Plan

It is critical that technology planning not be viewed or treated as a separate exercise dealing primarily with hardware and telecommunications infrastructure. There must be strong connections between the proposed physical infrastructure of the information technology and the plan for professional development, curriculum reform, and library service improvements.

Why Do I Need a Technology Plan?

• A Technology Plan is a detailed, written document that relates technology development to the library's mission and long range planning.
• The plan identifies ways that the library can improve the delivery of its services, programs, and operations with technology.
• Technology planning provides direction and a "roadmap" to produce continuous action that creates and maintains a technology-rich learning environment.
• A technology plan helps libraries prepare for the acquisition of technologies to support the library's strategic goals.
• Any library receiving Universal Service (E-rate) discounts for anything other than basic telephone service must have a current, approved technology plan.
  
  

Why Do I Need A Techology Plan For E-rate?

Libraries participating in the Universal Service (E-rate) discounts must have an approved technology plan on file with the State Library of Iowa.

• The technology plan must be written (creation date) before the 470 Form is submitted (certification from the State Library not required until 486 Form).  The written plan must include all required five elements.
  
• The technology plan must address all E-rate requested services for the time period requested.
  
• The approved plan must cover the entire time period of the Funding Year(s) of which service is requested.
• The approved plan must cover three years (include goals, strategies and budget information for three years.)
• The plan should cover at least three years, but goals and objectives should be evaluated annually.
• Public libraries with multiple branches can create one technology plan for the entire system.
• The more complex the service, the more complex the plan required.
• If a library applies for POTs only (plain old telephone, which would include local/long distance, fax, cellular, voice mail) then a technology plan for E-rate is NOT required and you do not have to have a plan on file. You certify on the 470 and 471 forms that no technology is needed.
• A technology plan is required for libraries that have telephone systems that include advanced features as call forwarding or call transfer or those that have phones through a central CENTREX system, as these are not POTS.
• A technology plan is required for the telecommunications bucket for data circuits as T1 or DSL.
• A technology plan is required of all ICN libraries as telecommunications video service and part III leases are requested by the Department of Education consortia application.
• Technology plans are needed for any Internet service.
• Technology plans are needed if the library applies for Internal connections (setting up LAN).