Those who recently read about the actions of the Chicago Public Library
with respect to access to services by the visually impairred may find this
article of interest.  The missing equipment represents a bit less than one
per cent of the funds spent on building a network of 1,200 computers at
the libraries in and around Pittsburgh.  Presently, each location has a 20
inch monitor, but only a handful have JFW or Magic screen enlargement
software.  The EIN is considering how best to use a grant of $80,000 for
assistive technology.  More may be learned at
http://www.clpgh.org/clp/LBPH/access.html  and http://www.einpgh.org

--- article from http://www.postgazette.com  ---

   Computer equipment is missing from library

   Thursday, December 24, 1998

   By Lawrence Walsh, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

   Where are 121 pieces of computer equipment valued at $104,000 that
   were purchased by the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh?

   It's a mystery.

   The missing items include 30 personal computers valued at $54,012; 37
   monitors worth $14,091; seven laptop computers that cost $22,403; 14
   printers valued at $5,976 and 33 scanners worth $8,250.

   The equipment was bought for the Electronic Information Network, a
   collaborative program that includes the library, the Allegheny County
   Library Association and the Commission on the Future of Libraries in
   Allegheny County.

   The network links more than 70 libraries and provides shared use of
   databases, access to the Internet and an on-line catalog of all
   library materials. It is the nation's largest public library network
   of its kind.

   Private foundations contributed $8.8 million of its $10.5 million
   cost. The county paid $1.7 million.

   County Controller Frank Lucchino, whose auditors determined the
   equipment apparently disappeared between Jan. 1, 1995 and March 31,
   1998, yesterday said there are several possible explanations for what
   happened:

   The library has the equipment, but lost track of it because the serial
   numbers weren't recorded when it arrived.

   The equipment was never delivered.

   It was stolen.

   Lucchino believes the equipment was stolen but said the library is
   conducting a thorough search to make sure it wasn't misplaced. He said
   the vendors "aren't under suspicion."

   Lucchino doesn't believe criminal charges could be filed against
   anyone "because the equipment was stored in areas that were not
   secure. Although we have our suspicions, there is no evidence of
   criminality."

   County auditors said the library's asset management system was so poor
   that: Computer equipment was paid for before it was received; there
   were no written agreements between the library and its three primary
   suppliers; delivery paperwork was discarded, which prevented library
   personnel from confirming the vendors' shipping invoices; and a
   comprehensive list of where computer equipment was located didn't
   exist, a major failure that now is being corrected.

   Library President Ellsworth H. Brown yesterday said his staff has made
   "significant efforts" to correct things after the auditors first
   disclosed the problems.

   "This is old news to us because we learned about it in mid-1997 and
   promptly did something about it," he said.

   Brown said the library brought in new management to run the network,
   hired consultants to evaluate and reform the program and is conducting
   a top to bottom inventory of the network's more than 3,600 pieces of
   computer equipment.

   "We had some loose connections that have been tightened up
   significantly," he said. "As a result, we also were able to upgrade
   the quality of the network service because of input from our
   librarians."

   Lucchino, who is on the library's board and chairs the Commission on
   the Future of Libraries in Allegheny County, said he was disappointed
   to learn about the library's inventory control problems.

   He said he now is satisfied that library officials are doing
   "everything they can to protect the investment county government and
   the region's foundation community has made in the [network]."


   Problems are opportunities in work clothes.  --  Henry J. Kaiser


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