The Information Technology department at Parkland is made up of professional individuals who work tirelessly to ensure that all technology related library services are running smoothly. This is no small feat considering how reliant we are on the various technologies we use day to day. The IT department provides desktop computers, laptop computers, FortiGates (essential for SuperNet connectivity and security), wireless access points and essential peripheral equipment (budget allowing) to Parkland’s member libraries. In addition to providing this hardware, the IT team will also support libraries with the management of their regular printers and scanners and their barcode scanners and receipt printers. In 2023 alone, Parkland invested over $125,000 worth of new hardware for our member libraries.
The hardware on its own isn’t quite enough though so the IT department rolls out a whole host of software to libraries at no cost. This includes everything from Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office, and the Office 365 apps to the Polaris Leap Integrated Library System. Parkland also provides Sentinel One antimalware software for staff computers and Deep Freeze privacy and reboot software for the public computers. Finally, the IT department provides thorough website management to all member libraries at no additional costs. In 2023, this amounted to $180,000 in software maintenance and subscriptions.
In addition to providing these essential services to our member libraries, the Parkland IT team provides the management of the connection to the Alberta SuperNet for each connected library and the provision of Internet access to all member libraries. The Internet is not synonymous with the SuperNet but rather the two work in harmony. Parkland pays for this service every year at a full cost of $10,800 a year.
All further IT related questions can be sent to helpdesk@prl.ab.ca.