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Residents check out cool new library technologies
Showcase gives sneak preview of pilot project
Friday, July 3, 2009
 Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photo by SARA POYNOR
Michael Brown of Automated Graphic Systems discusses digital variable printed books.
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From solar-powered computers to downloadable books, there was something for everyone at a technology showcase at the La Plata library Tuesday.
The Charles County Technology Council and Charles County Public Library co-sponsored the first-ever event.
The showcase was free for library patrons and featured vendor presentations about technologies being tested at area libraries.
"It's a very interesting time to be a librarian," said Aaron Krebeck, who manages information technology for the Charles County library system. "Libraries are getting the opportunity to reinvent themselves."
Just two weeks ago on June 12, self-checkout was installed at the Waldorf location. Approximately 611 customers were served during the first week with an average transaction time of 1 minute and 23 seconds, he said.
As early as this week, the La Plata branch will begin "green computing" with the Sun Ray 2, a virtual desktop device where everything runs directly from a remote server, Krebeck said. Ivan Segal of Ashbourne Technologies said the Sun Rays "use less energy and are a fraction of the cost." They use 4 watts where regular computers can use up to 400 watts.
Other technologies discussed were online book clubs, language learning programs available on removable flash drives and downloadable books from the Internet.
According to Michelle Gallinger of the Library of Congress, "We have to meet people where they are."
The Library of Congress maintains a long tradition of preserving different materials, she said.
In an effort to get more exposure and make material easily accessible, the Library of Congress launched a Flickr pilot project with more than 3,000 images. They also put video clips on YouTube and now have a following on Twitter.
For Krebeck, the growth of technology "is a great opportunity for libraries which have always been a static building to go outside of that building and into the community," he said. "... to really make everything we have to offer more accessible to the community ... and not just being a repository of that content, but a provider."
One technology is being tested at each branch, Krebeck said. Eventually each technology will be available at every branch.
The tech council sponsors events throughout the county and hopes to spread "community technology awareness and support," said Mark Czajka, council chairman. The organization will sponsor a green technology night at Regency Furniture Stadium on Aug. 29.
To learn more
Contact the Charles County Technology Council at mczajka@ags.com. Go to www.ccplonline.org. The tech council will sponsor a green technology night at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf on Aug. 29.
