City, library upgrading tech
Published 12:15 pm Thursday, January 9, 2014
After computer lab’s success, laptop, tablet checkout could be next
The city of Austin is gearing up for a few technology upgrades this year, from a new server to a laptop and tablet renting service at the Austin Public Library.
The library is undergoing large technological decisions after its computer lab became massively popular with residents. A computer lab set up in 2011 to accommodate resident use has been so successful, library staff are finding more ways to get residents the tech access they desire.
“We’ve had lines before,” executive director Ann Hokanson said.
To that end, the library secured a $35,000 grant from The Hormel Foundation this year, with another $7,000 put up by the library, to install a vending machine-like laptop and tablet checkout for residents. The rental system, which could come to the library as soon as this summer, will allow residents to use the computers for as long as the battery runs before they are returned.
“You scan in who you are with a credit card, you scan in under the procedures, and it dispenses either a laptop or a tablet,” Hokanson said. “People can have those for a certain amount of time, and the potential is there for [people] to leave the building with those.”
Returned computers would have their data wiped, to ensure borrower privacy.
In addition, library staff is also looking at potentially expanding its children’s computer system. The library employs Userful software, which allows up to 20 computer work stations to be powered through a single computer. Hokanson said library officials had yet to decide whether to expand the software’s use through the library.
Though they may not replace software, library staff will definitely replace computers. Some of the 16 public access computers residents use will likely be replaced this year, and Hokanson said there could be some changes with how the computer lab is structured next year.
All of those changes are designed to keep up with demand for computer time, especially given the limitations of the library’s computer lab.
“We’ve already got 16 PCs in there, and there’s no room for more,” Hokanson said.
City upgrades
The library isn’t the only group to get more technology.
The city of Austin is scheduled to replace five of its computers and one of its servers this year.
Manager of Information Systems Don Tomlinson said one of the city’s servers was purchased in 2008. The League of Minnesota Cities usually recommends cities replace servers and computers every three years, but city staff usually wait longer to replace equipment.
“I try to get more than that, to save money that way,” Tomlinson said.
The five computers are also more than three years old. Each computer will cost about $1,200 to replace, and all computers will go to the city administration office at Austin City Hall.