Technology Committee

June 6, 2023

Technology Committee – January–June 2023 Report

The group met 2-3 times this reporting period.

After reviewing the current PLA Strategic Plan, please tell us:

Describe the current work of this committee and how it supports our strategic goals. Include work accomplished, decisions made, and any recommended follow-up actions.
This year, we have been focused on re-defining the Technology Committee. We have decided to focus on creating Technology Competencies for library staff. Once that task is complete, we plan to focus on assessment and training opportunities for library staff, potentially creating some type of technology competency certificate for libraries.

Our chair met with the PLA board and discussed changes to our deliverables and outcomes. The board liked and approved of our direction.

We believe that the work of our committee directly supports PLA's strategic goals of Transformation, Professional Growth, and Organizational Excellence.

Do you see opportunities to better align committee work with those goals?
In our case, we focused on PLA's strategic goals during our discussions of how to re-define the committee's goals. At this point, the Technology Committee is directly aligned with the strategic goals.

What recommendations do you have for in-coming committee members? Are there particular streams of
work in progress to be carried over into the new committee year? (January–June reporting period only)
It's a great time to join the Technology Committee – we have decided what we want to accomplish. This next year will be focused on actually accomplishing our goals.

What specific activities will this committee undertake over the next six months to support that alignment? (July–December reporting period only)

Are there other PLA or ALA committees whose partnership and collaboration would accelerate meeting PLA strategic goals?
Not sure at the moment. That said, there is a LOT of overlap with committees and goals, so probably so.

Is there anything else about your committee experience you’d like to share?

Submitted by David Lee King on 06/06/2023

September 13, 2021

Technology Committee – April–August 2021 Report

The group met 0 times this reporting period.

Recent Activities

First Activity
Members of the committee presented at ALA Annual on patron digital privacy practices. This is a critical topic for public libraries to address as more patron data are shared with vendors and used by libraries to enhance services.
Meets PLA’s strategic goals for Transformation

What will your group be working on for the next six months?
We will put together proposals to present at conferences and discuss topics relevant to technology in public libraries, including broadband, recruiting, and funding.

Does the group have any policy recommendations, ideas with financial impact, or other items to bring to the PLA Board for discussion or action
Developing a relationship between the PLA Board, PLA Technology Committee and SHLB (Schools, Health, and Libraries Broadband Coalition) could benefit libraries all across the country as everyone seeks funding for broadband. I'm not sure if it fits in this category but it is something that might cause smaller libraries to consider applying for the Emergency Connectivity Funds and other federal funding in the future.

Do you have any suggestions for future products or resources (excluding conference programs) to be developed based on your group’s work?
It would be worth investing in helping libraries recruit and retain technology professionals in public libraries. I am not sure what form that could take but recruiting talent is incredibly difficult for all technology areas of focus in public libraries.

Are there other PLA/ALA committees your group might collaborate with to benefit the work of all?
CORE is a natural partner and many committees would be a good fit. As an example, facilitating a relationship between the PLA Board, PLA Technology Committee and the CORE/OCLC Spectrum Scholars in Library and Information Technology could benefit all. Perhaps PLA Technology Committee members could serve as mentors?

Have there been any issues related to meeting participation/attendance for any of the group’s members?
No

Is there anything PLA could have provided during this time that would have helped your group with its work?
It would help to better understand how the committee can support the PLA Board and its strategic direction.

Submitted by Anastasia Diamond-Ortiz on 09/13/2021

August 3, 2020

Technology Committee – April–August 2020 Report

The group met 0 times this reporting period.

Recent Activities

First Activity
Committee collaborated on proposal that was accepted for in person ALA 20 Navigating Patron Privacy Concerns in the Digital Age> when ALA was cancelled – proposal not accepted for virtual version. Committee will resubmit next year for ALA21
Meets PLA’s strategic goals for Advocacy and Awareness

What will your group be working on for the next six months?
I am no longer the chair

Does the group have any policy recommendations, ideas with financial impact, or other items to bring to the PLA Board for discussion or action
I am no longer the chair

Do you have any suggestions for future products or resources (excluding conference programs) to be developed based on your group’s work?
no

Are there other PLA/ALA committees your group might collaborate with to benefit the work of all?
not that I know of

Have there been any issues related to meeting participation/attendance for any of the group’s members?
No

Is there anything PLA could have provided during this time that would have helped your group with its work?
Steve Hoffman is the best

Submitted by Henry Miller Bankhead on 08/03/2020

September 3, 2019

Technology Committee – September–March 2019 Report

The group met 1 time this reporting period.

Recent Activities

First Activity
PLA technology committee met at ALA 2019 midwinter in Seattle as well as at ALA Annual 2019 in Washington, D.C. During the meeting at MW the committee decided to sponsor a presentation at Annual 19 about Code for America and the Public Library. Chair Henry Bankhead and Anastasia Diamond-Ortiz submitted a proposal entitled "Code for America and Your Public Library: How to Harness the Awesome Power of the Collective Will Using Open Data" that was accepted. https://www.eventscribe.com/2019/ALA-Annual/fsPopup.asp?Mode=presInfo&PresentationID=496228. The committee had a lengthy discussion on https://connect.ala.org/pla/ to organize and support the presentation.
Meets PLA’s strategic goals for Transformation

Second Activity
We are planning a program on Privacy issues for the 2020 ALA Annual conference. Anastasia Diamond-Ortiz and a number of other committee members are collaborating on https://connect.ala.org/pla/communities/community-home to organize a presentation, recruit speaker and submit a conference proposal.
Meets PLA’s strategic goals for Advocacy and Awareness

What will your group be working on for the next six months?
Conference proposal for ALA Annual 2020 and planning for meeting before PLA conference 2020.

Does the group have any policy recommendations, ideas with financial impact, or other items to bring to the PLA Board for discussion or action
no

Do you have any suggestions for future products or resources (excluding conference programs) to be developed based on your group’s work?
program on Privacy and the Public Library

Are there other PLA/ALA committees your group might collaborate with to benefit the work of all?
no

Have there been any issues related to meeting participation/attendance for any of the group’s members?
No

Is there anything PLA could have provided during this time that would have helped your group with its work?
Steve Hoffman's assistance is priceless.

Submitted by Henry Miller Bankhead on 09/03/2019