JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Jefferson County Public Library Finds IT Support With Integrity
WITH JUDI TERPENING
Jefferson County Public Library , established in 1818 , is the oldest public library in Indiana . Today , the library serves approximately 33,000 people . In addition to lending books and other items such as video games , the library offers outreach deliveries , genealogy research , craft programs , author talks , computer assistance , faxing and notary services , and more .
“ A lot of what we do is highly based on technology ,” said Judi Terpening , library director . “ For example , we have public access computers that are free for the public to use . Many times , our patrons visit the library because we ’ re in a rural area , and they don ’ t have internet access at home . More and more people bring their own devices , so we also offer Wi-Fi services .”
Quite a few people need assistance when using computers , which is why staff started offering one-on-one assistance . Many younger people struggle to use a computer because they are so used to working on their phones . The dedicated staff helps patrons with everything from printing to job applications . Local agencies often send people to the library for help completing forms , setting up email addresses , filing for unemployment and social services , etc .
Having the public-use model puts the Library in a unique situation when it comes to IT . Many IT organizations can handle businesses , but a public library is different because there are so many different people using devices . This adds a whole other layer of complexity . When Terpening became director , she was concerned about security issues .
“ Our devices were mismatched and inadequate ,” she said . Once she reached a point where she could understand some of the problems , she realized it was time to outsource .
“ When we were looking for an IT company , we interviewed several of them . Many had no idea how to work with a public library system . AVC did ,” Terpening remarked . “ In fact , often AVC attends library training webinars . It ’ s nice to know AVC is keeping up with changes in the library field as well as technology needs .”
ESPECIALLY FOR A LIBRARY , HAVING AN IT TEAM AS WELL-VERSED AS AVC ADDS A LEVEL OF INTEGRITY AND EXPERIENCE .
“ We know we can trust them ,” Terpening says . “ They listen to our goals and needs . Each year we sit down and talk about our big dreams for the library . AVC makes it happen .”
One nice and thoughtful thing AVC does is schedule updates during the night which minimizes downtime during the day . This ensures continuity in services . If there is an issue , staff who submit a helpdesk ticket receive a quick response .
Here ’ s Terpening ’ s advice to other organizations looking for IT support : “ It ’ s really hard to hand off your IT . It ’ s like handing off your banking . You need trust . AVC is trustworthy , they have integrity , and they follow through . They ’ re also responsive . AVC listens to your concerns and helps you tailor a program that fits your budget and your goals .”
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