Capstone Portfolio

Wegner Health Science Information Center
Technology Plan

The Wegner Health Science Information Center (WHSIC) is a unique library model. A registered 504(c)3 non-profit organizations, the WHSIC provides services to eleven partner organization and their constituents. The primary patron groups are medical and healthcare professionals, students, and consumers.  When it opened in January 1998, the WHSIC was fortunate to receive a telecommunications grant of $205,000from the United State Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service (USDA/RUS). These grant funds have served as the technology funds for the WHSIC since 1998 but will be completely expended in 2004. The WHSIC Director has budgeted $10,000 for 2005 and 2006 knowing that these funds will not expand the libraries technology capabilities, but will simply maintain the technology.

There are four major technology challenges to be addressed in the three year technology plan. First is the migration from PALS to the ExLibris’ Aleph 500 integrated library system. Second is replacement of aging network hardware – transceivers, switches, and servers. Third is the replacement of aging public desktop computers and networked printers. And fourth is the replacement of aging staff desktop computers. The majority of hardware being replaced has been functioning 24 hours a day, seven days a week since the WHSIC opened in January 1998.