Res 1997-172 - Laserfiche WebLink

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TIF Application: FORM 3 FORM 3 Narrative In less than three pages, briefly describe your proposed project. Please provide information about the type of connection you intend to offer and the type of service and assistance you intend to offer library patrons. If you are applying for Program B, describe why your organization is able to support dedicated Internet access. The San Marcos Public Library currently provides public access to the Internet via two dial-up workstations located in the library. In the sixteen months that these stations have been available, over 6,500 patrons have used them. In addition to these two public access stations, library staff have dial-up access to the Internet at the reference desk and on three staff computers in the work area of the library. In 1994 the library automated its card catalog and circulation system using Ameritech software on an IBM RS 6000 platform. In 1995 we began offering dial-in access to our online catalog. Patrons dialing into the catalog are able to check on the circulation status of library materials, renew library materials, and reserve materials. Dial-in use of the library catalog has not been as popular as we had hoped. We feel that making the catalog available over the Internet along with other current information about library programs and services would greatly increase use of the library catalog ITom remote locations. Recently, the City of San Marcos installed a wide area network that connects city computers ITom many remote locations to a central NT server located at City Hall. However, the library is not currently connected to the city network. In the next phase of its networking project, the City plans to purchase an Internet server and Tl connection to a local Internet service provider, Century Telephone. The city will then have its own domain name, maintain its own web pages, and provide e-mail accounts for city staff. The city also plans to make information about city employment opportunities, utility billing information, the library catalog, and other community resources available to the public over the Internet'. The focus of the library's TIF grant project is on connecting the library to this new T 1 line and Internet server at city hall so that the library's online catalog can be accessed over the Internet. In addition, the library will triple the number of public access Internet stations available at the library and will improve its Internet services by providing access through a dedicated T 1 line rather than through a modem connection. Once these services are established, the library anticipates developing and maintaining a web page which not o.nly highlights library activities and our own library catalog, but also provides links to related library resources at SWTSU, the Central Texas Library System, the Texas State Library, and elsewhere. In addition to the obvious public benefits of this project, the library will achieve certain administrative benefits and economies of scale by being connected to the City's computer network and Internet server. 5