When Cheryl stepped into the director role 12 years ago , things looked a lot different than they do today . “ Our computers were not dependable and not standard , being hand-built as we needed them ,” she said with a laugh . Eventually , the library selected a managed IT provider in the area , but because of a cyberattack scare , Cheryl decided to switch to AVC Technology in 2019 .
A NEAR MISS
Another library in the area , which used the same IT service provider that Greenwood Public Library partnered with prior to working with AVC Technology , experienced a ransomware attack . It took three months to get them back up and running , and like any diligent leader , Cheryl wanted to ensure her organization wasn ’ t going to experience the same outcome .
“ I called them up and asked , ‘ How did that happen ?' she explained . They said it was because the servers weren ’ t being updated regularly , so she asked what anyone would . “ Are ours being updated regularly ?” When they told Cheryl that she was in the same boat as their client that had just experienced three months of downtime , she immediately decided to find a new provider .
At the Indiana Library Federation Conference , she saw AVC Technology do a presentation all about cybersecurity , and that sealed the deal . The switch wasn ’ t painless , but that was mostly because of where Cheryl and her team had been positioned by the previous provider . “ It was a hard switch in some ways because our system wasn ’ t great . We didn ’ t realize how out of step we were ,” she admitted .
MORE THAN BOOKS
When considering technology needs , it ’ s important to remember that libraries do so much more than check out books to patrons . They provide community events , access to technology , and so much more . For Cheryl and Emily , watching and listening to their community to adapt to its needs has become second nature . Ten years ago , not many people were looking for a space to record a podcast or film a video , but today , everyone needs recording studios , so the Greenwood Public Library prioritized building one in the recent remodel of their 52,000-sq . -ft . campus .
“ We noticed over the last six years the need for families who are having appointments with social workers , therapy sessions , or supervised visits . We ’ d see families huddled together in a corner of the library for hours at a time , and when we finally figured out what was happening , we decided they needed a dedicated space that was more private and intimate ,” Cheryl explained , as she was recounting the story for how the GPL Living Room came to be .
Cheryl , Emily , and the 37-person team at the Greenwood Public Library are constantly changing their approach to better serve their community . They know what it looks like to be solutionoriented and innovative , and it ’ s those same qualities that make the working relationship with AVC Technology so seamless .
BOOTS ON THE GROUND
Emily , as part of her role , serves as the main liaison between AVC Technology and the library staff . She monitors ongoing IT challenges and helps keep a log of all the issues that are sent to the team at AVC . “ They are very easy to work with ,” she said of the team at AVC . “ No matter who answers the phone , they don ’ t treat me like I ’ m stupid . They listen to my concerns , help me understand what ’ s going on , and provide a solution .”
For years , the staff and patrons at GPL dealt with public computers that would have “ out of order ” signs plastered on them more often than not and faulty printers that took up more space than they were worth . But since AVC came into the picture , those same issues rarely happen . The team at AVC stops by regularly to ensure that everything is working properly , connect with the library staff and the community it serves , and stay updated on how things are set up .
It might sound unnecessary to stop into the library when most IT issues can be solved remotely these days , but for Emily , having an IT provider who knows where things are in the library is an immense help . “ They know the lay of the land . They ’ ve done some labeling for us to make things easier , so when I ’ m in a certain closet with switches and plugs , they know where everything is and how to direct me . That ’ s a huge difference from how most places operate ,” she said .
A LIBRARY ’ S FOCUS AREA : LITERACY
At the end of the day , everything the team at GPL does is to promote literacy in their community . Community outreach events help draw people into the library who may not have been exposed otherwise , and even the GPL room plays a role in connecting children who usually don ’ t spend much time in public libraries to a lifelong resource center . “ We have after-hours events for adults , a teen room for teens , and summer reading programs for all ages ,” Emily explained . “ We ’ ve seen local reading scores drop since 2019 in our area , and they haven ’ t recovered . We ’ re trying to do everything we can to build those up .”
The Greenwood Public Library has a big task at hand , and to be able to do it , the team needs a company like AVC Technology that they can depend on . There isn ’ t enough time in the day to deal with inefficiencies , bad service , or — worst case — a cyberattack that shuts them down for months on end . With AVC , they get to focus on what matters most : their community .
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