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IT supervisor outlines network upgrades, security and two-person staffing limits
Summary
IT specialist Jason Orr presented a wide-ranging update on the library's technology infrastructure, including cloud migrations, server virtualization, network monitoring (Zabbix), public Wi-Fi usage and the limitations of a two-person IT team.
Jason Orr, the library's IT specialist, briefed the board Feb. 18 on technology operations, security measures and recent upgrades at all three library locations.
Orr said the IT team supports nearly every patron-staff interaction and described core responsibilities: maintaining servers and network devices, overseeing public and staff Wi-Fi, managing meeting-room audio-visual systems and ensuring security and backups. He noted the library runs six physical servers hosting roughly 45 virtual machines, about 270 client computers and more than a dozen core network devices and roughly 25 Wi-Fi access points across buildings.
Orr described several recent changes: migration of email and cloud services to Microsoft's cloud (noting a Microsoft donation program that reduces licensing cost), implementation of Deep Freeze on public PCs to restore machines to a baseline at reboot, and deployment of Zabbix network monitoring that now watches more than 13,700 items. He said Zabbix replaced a prior monitoring product after vendor-price changes.
Orr also detailed AV upgrades completed at Fairmount (teleconferencing added to each meeting room as part of a CIP project), increased camera coverage in staff and children's areas and expansion of on-site backup copies across multiple buildings to protect data. He explained why some AV and meeting-room installations were contracted out to specialized vendors.
On staffing, Orr and trustees noted that IT operations are run by a two-person team. Collins and others said the staffing level saves the city money but means key expertise is concentrated in a small group.
Orr closed by thanking the board for recent IT budget increases that enabled equipment upgrades and said staff will continue planned upgrades such as Windows 11 rollouts and future changes to virtualization software.
Ending: Trustees expressed appreciation for the detailed briefing and for the IT team's work maintaining uptime and supporting expanded services.
