Life is what happens to you when you're making other plans

Volume 20, Number 4 • April 2000

Life is what happens to you when you're making other plans — The more generic your plan, the safer you are
by Michael Schuyler

THE VIEW FROM THE TOP LEFT CORNER column discusses technology planning for libraries. Observes that a "technology plan" is a political document, and 90 percent of the people who read technology plans have no particular expertise in modern library networks. Says that if a technology plan is to be judged, it will not be on the technological elements, but on other issues that can be pinned down. Notes that the plan has to be in sufficiently simple language to convince a board of trustees that one knows what one is doing and is spending tax dollars wisely. Wishes for a peer review to judge a technology plan or an annual conference where ideas are presented for review. Points out that type of approval system would give the power of review to people who actually have a chance of knowing how it all works.