Technology advisory boards for libraries

One of the ways that libraries can engage their patrons in the process of building out the technical infrastructure inside library buildings and in online services is to create volunteer technology advisory boards which convene on occasion to give tech staff a chance to meet with and talk to techie patrons in the community.

This process can be as simple as networking from your staff and board and Friends of the Library to find the people they know who have tech expertise, and can be extended out in larger cities and bigger organizations to reach out to executives in tech companies in the area.

An example from my own experience was getting invited to be on such a board at the Ann Arbor District Library, which involved a formal commitment of one evening meeting when their new catalog was first previewed before going live to give feedback to the web designers and to the systems architects. It was a chance to get people in a room around some shared goal, and fortunately the catalog itself has allowed enough room for the conversation to continue.

Some other instances I'm aware of only from a review of the net -

Library Journal writes in late 2004 about the Free Library of Philadelphia assembling a technology advisory board of CIOs of local companies to ensure that the rehab of their central library meets the information needs of the day. Read about their Central Library Project online. They have a comment box on the site, but no way I could see to read other patron comments.

I'm sure there are more, large and small, some formal and some informal. I'd like to hear about them...

Comments

[Patricia Uttaro]

Again, another great idea! I have a couple informal tech advisors, but not a formal advisory group. I think that will be one of my goals for the new year!

[Dan Romanchik]

I was on the AADL tehnology advisory committee for a while, but became a little disenchanted when it was clear that all they wanted was comments on their new website. While that was laudable, I was hoping that they'd want some input on what they should add to their collection in various technical fields.