Expanding Computers With In Library
Executive Summary
The Ocean County College Library proposes to expand the number of computers for the growing student body population. Ocean County College is happy to announce a new partnership between our main campus and Kean University. This new partnership will provide a substantial increase in students using our library facility. We are seeking to increase the number of computers by 30 as well as provide each computer with productivity software. If we accomplish this we expect to satisfy the needs of the student’s requests for additional computer workstations. We are requesting 26,998.50 dollars which will cover the costs of the computers, productivity software and the cost of our IT department’s installation fee.
Background
Community: Ocean County College (OCC) is located in Toms River New Jersey and is known as Ocean County’s “First Community College.” As of the Fall of 2009, the campus serves 10,415 students and the numbers continue to grow each semester. Students are able to obtain degrees on campus as well as through our distance learning program. Over the past 3 years we have developed a growing partnership with Kean University. A student now has the opportunity to earn a 4 year degree at a 2 year institute through this partnership.Keeping up with our demands it is within our mission that we “Provide a well-designed campus with advanced technology.” (Ocean County College Website)
Library: Ocean County College Library (OCC Library) is located on the main Toms River Campus. It is with great pleasure that we provide students with all instructional and research needs. The library has an impressive collection that houses over 80,000 books, periodicals, audiovisual material and online resources. We currently have a dedicated computer lab that houses 21 computers as well as 34 additional computers throughout the library. Each of these computers contains Microsoft Office 2007 as well as institutional software as needed by the students. Keeping up with the demand of our students is top priority. Since our new partnership with Kean University, many students intend on staying with us for the next 4 years. Here is where we would benefit greatly by having an additional computers placed throughout the library.
Staff: The OCC library is very dedicated to providing a full-time staff for our students. During the day, the library consists of four librarians, two circulation staff, three technical service staff and one lab assistant. The evening staff consists of one librarian, two circulation staff, and one lab assistant. Additionally, we have an on campus IT department run by Sungard Higher Education that will provide the assistance for installing each new computer.
Statement of Need
OCC library has been providing students with computer access for more than 20 years. It is our objective to provide students with the most convenient access to all of their technology needs. Within our library, students are able to access their online classes, guides to avoid plagiarism and citing their sources, our various research databases, full versions of Microsoft Office 2007 and much more. They also have the ability to watch and listen to various DVD’s and music CD’s we have to offer. Students may also request interlibrary loans easily from our website. Our library has recently become wireless for the students that prefer working on their own laptops.
Since our increased enrollment and our partnership with Kean University, it has become increasingly harder to provide each and every student with a proper workstation. Even though we offer Wi-Fi connection, we still have a great majority of students that rely on the college to provide them with a computer and the proper software for their various educational needs. “Many students simply cannot afford the technology or the software applications.”(Hawkins and Oblinger, 2007) This has put an increased burden on the staff we are constantly trying to keep balance between the students who are already using a computer against the student trying to find a computer to use. “…we must prepareourselves–and our lab assistants–for the heavy demands which our computerusers will cast upon us.” (Moore, 2001) Increasing the number of computers by 30 will provide more than enough access for each student.
Proposed Initiative
Project Goals
- Purchase 30 PC’s
- Install Datadrops (access points) for each PC
- Install productivity software (MS-Office 2007) on each computer.
Material Needed
- 30 Dell PC’s
- 30 Licensed Copy of MS-Office 2007
- 30 Datadrops (access points for computers to connect to the network)
Planning and Implementation Schedule
- 03/01/2010 Purchase the computers – The IT department will place order
- 03/15/2010 Receive computers – From here, the IT department will place each computer at their proper location according to the libraries structure.
- 03/22/2010 Install Productivity Software – Once each computer is properly setup, IT will begin the installing process of the productivity software.
Method of Evaluation
Survey’s will be conducted to gain a sense of level of satisfaction with our students. Questionnaires will be made to determine the usefulness of our productivity software. Nightly statistics will be kept of the overall usage of each computer.
Budget
PURCHASE COSTS
30 DELL PC’S – 599.99 each 17,999.70
30 MS-Office 2007 – 499.95 each14,998.50
30 Datadrop (access points) – provided by our IT department 3,000.00
Total:35,998.00
Program Funding
Budget from Library Funding 8,999.50
Grant from Foundation being Solicited 26,998.50
Total Funding 35,998.00
Conclusion
The demand for technology continues even in our economic crisis. The myth that libraries no longer need computers is just that. With the ever growing costs of higher education, students face a challenge beyond getting the grades they deserve. They now face the growing costs of obtaining productivity software which is required for their classes. The library is ahead of the game as we have the room and the desk space to accommodate each new computer. Wehas a community college have provided this service for all of our students for the last part of the 20th century. With your support of 26,998.50, we can continue to fulfill our mission of providing students with advanced technology as well as helping them prepare for success.
Appendix Materials
- Computers Needed
- Productivity Needed
- Library Mission Statement
- Budget Cost
- Library Background
- College Background
References
Balas, J. (2009).Computer Lab in Libraries.Computers in Libraries, 29(3), Retrieved from
Hawkins, B, & Oblinger, D. (2007, September/October).IT Myths: The Myths about the Needs for Public Computer Labs. Educause, Retrieved from
Moore, C. (2001). Libraries to Labs: Managing Public Access Computer Labs in an Academic Library environment. Reference Librarian, 35(74), Retrieved from
Ocean County college Current Statements. (2009). Retrieved from
Ocean County College Library. (2008). Retrieved from
Sungard Higher Education. (2010). Retrieved from