Director Briefing - August 26, 2024

Computer and Network Services (CANS) Memos: Tickets and Tech Training

The CANS Department asked to share the notices below: two further clarifications on tickets and information on the technology training the System provides for you and your staff. Minimum Standards requires annual technology training for library staff, and Kelsy's trainings fulfill that requirement.

Tickets for On-Site Library Visits

For Efficient Tech Support, Submit Issues Online Before Library Visits

To ensure timely assistance with technology problems, please submit a ticket to support@owwl.org before a Computer and Network Services (CANS) staff visit.

CANS staff often manage visits to multiple libraries in a single day, meaning that preparation and schedules are critical. CANS staff are unable to work on technology issues that have not been discussed prior to the visit. Pre-submitted tickets allow us to:

• Coordinate schedules effectively to address your concerns efficiently.
• Provide prompt support by understanding the issues beforehand.
• Bring necessary materials for troubleshooting and repairs.

Please share this information with any technology staff at your library. Thank you for your help!

Decommissioning Computers

We've recently received a few questions about whether libraries need to notify the System when removing computers from use.

If you're decommissioning any computers—whether they're for staff or public use, desktops or laptops—please submit a ticket to support@owwl.org. This allows us to remotely remove software from the device and update our inventory records.

When submitting the ticket, please include the computer's name. You can find this by right-clicking on the Windows Start button, selecting "System," and then copying the "Device name" from the Windows Settings.

Kindly share this information with any technology staff at your library.

Technology Training for Library Staff

Are you looking for dynamic technology training for your team? OWWL's Technology Services Librarian, Kelsy, is available to provide engaging in-person or remote training for your next staff meeting or training day. Choose from a list of prepared topics or request a custom session based on a topic of your choosing.

Email support@owwl.org to get started.

Summer Reading Survey for DLD

For all whose summer reading programming has wrapped up, the Summer Reading Survey is available: click here to access the survey form . Please complete the survey by Friday, September 20.

For more information and FAQs, see the Summer Reading page on OWWL Docs.

Email Suzanne with any questions on this.

Talkspace Go through The EAP

The September Newsletter from the EAP included information on Talkspace Go, a free benefit for any participating libraries:

We are happy to introduce Talkspace Go, a new, free EAP benefit for you and any eligible family or household members aged 13+. This is a popular therapy app that can improve your mental health and wellbeing in just 5 minutes a day. Get private help for relationships, parenting, depression, anxiety, stress, burnout, trust, and much more with self-guided programs. There are also weekly counselor-led classes, assessments, journaling, and more. Click here to learn more.

Talkspace Go is just one of the many therapy options available to you through your EAP. Other options include:

• Telephonic in-the-moment counseling from clinical professionals 24/7/365 for anxiety, depression, mental health issues, and more. Call our toll-free number day or night – 800.252.4555.
• Follow-up therapy: Options include text, voice, and video messaging, telehealth, and local in-person therapy.
• One-to-one professional coaching for stress management, resilience, and wellness issues. Call 800.252.4555 to talk about Coaching options.
• Online mental-health self-help resources, including assessments, articles, videos, and more.
• Online webinars and training for stress management, resiliency, and other mental health issues.

Therapy can be a very helpful tool for wellness, and utilizing these resources available through the EAP removes some of the barriers to accessing therapy.

Digital Access for All - Accessibility Survey Coming this Fall

Tor from DLD let me know about this upcoming opportunity to improve accessibility of library services. Let me know if you have any questions on this.

Digital Access for All

The New York State Library’s Division of Library Development is working with ConnectALL (the NYS Broadband Office), the Empire State Library Network (ESLN), and the New York Association on Independent Living (NYAIL) on a project around technology, accessibility, and libraries intended to help libraries better serve all members of their communities.

Building on a pilot program administered by the South Central Regional Library Council, this project will support libraries in first conducting accessibility assessments and then using their results to implement suggested improvements. This will be guided by an advisory committee made up of the library workers, agencies and organizations who serve the disability community, disability advocates, and people living with disabilities lending their expertise to the project. 

Funded through ConnectALL’s digital equity program, the assessment phase will occur this fall and be administered by NYSL in partnership with NYAIL. NYAIL will oversee a number of in-person accessibility surveys as well as the creation of a self-assessment tool for public libraries to identify gaps in their accessible technology offerings. Each library will receive individualized suggestions, and NYAIL will also create a wider report with general recommendations for all libraries. Following this, libraries will be eligible for grant funds administered by ESLN to obtain equipment and staff training to better serve individuals with disabilities.

For the first phase of in-person evaluations, libraries will be contacted directly by NYAIL, so there is nothing you need to do at this point. Not all libraries have independent living centers in their service areas, but most do; to see the full list of centers, please visit the NYAIL website (a map is also available). All libraries, regardless of proximity to an independent living center, will be able to use the subsequent self-assessment tool and be eligible for assistance in making suggested improvements.

We are very excited about this project and look forward to seeing New York’s already awesome libraries become even more so!

This Week in OSC Audits

One OSC audit stood out this week, it was from the Southern Westchester BOCES and focused on network user accounts.

Audit	Key Findings	Takeaways for Libraries
Southern Westchester BOCES	BOCES officials did not adequately secure nonstudent network user accounts, maintain complete and accurate IT inventory records and develop an IT contingency plan. As a result, BOCES officials cannot ensure that IT systems, which contain personal, private and sensitive information (PPSI), along with physical IT assets, are properly safeguarded from inappropriate use and access. In addition to sensitive IT control weaknesses that we communicated confidentially to BOCES officials, we determined that: 101 enabled nonstudent network accounts were no longer needed and, if accessed by attackers, could be used to inappropriately access and view personal, private and sensitive information or disable the network. 16 IT assets could not be traced to or from BOCES’ inventory system and 40 IT assets were not properly recorded in the system.	These issues are corrected through the OWWL Library System Systems Access and Confidentiality of Library Records Policy. As long as libraries uphold this policy there will be no issues in a tech audit. It is not only an ethical obligation for libraries to protect patron data, but a legal requirement.