Using computers and the internet in every part of library work goes without saying today. For library work to succeed, reliable, supportive technology matters greatly alongside a committed library team, an appealing range of services and welcoming rooms. Only then can the team concentrate fully on its tasks.

A library is no longer a mere lending point but a living, low-threshold centre of culture and communication for young and old, for Christians, for members of other faiths and for those rather distant from the church, for locals and newcomers – in short, for everyone.

The technology introduced here has proved itself in practice with us and has helped rather than added to the burden. In our working and administrative processes we follow „Bücherei : entdecken, verstehen, mitmachen – Ein Praxishandbuch".

For our advertising monitor, a Raspberry Pi with Raspberry Slideshow from Binary Emotions.

Library software

The technical heart of a library is its library software, which as a rule shapes every working process. Here we have used the now very successful library software BVS from the beginning. Among libraries run by churches or by volunteers, BVS is, as far as we know, the most widely used software and has the most users of any maker in wholly German ownership. More information at ibtc.de/bvs.html.

We get our labels and ribbons for our Godex RT200 printers from Bernhard Pleuser GmbH.

Online catalogue

More than 79% of people in Germany are now online and every second one browses the internet out and about as well. Over 95% of young people aged 12 and up own a mobile phone and more than 85% own a smartphone. In today's digital world, an interactive online catalogue is therefore essential alongside an appealing, informative website. Here we rely on the online catalogue BVS eOPAC, which is more than a mere search catalogue with a view of your reader account and can be used with a wide variety of library software. Only the absolutely necessary data is held on the internet for the catalogue to work. More information at ibtc.de/bvs-eopac.

Online knowledge databases

Libraries are among the most important public institutions devoted to providing digital information. In a knowledge society, information is a raw material vital to survival. Here we rely on what the information providers Munzinger and BROCKHAUS offer.

For more than 100 years the name Munzinger has stood for reliable information. What sets it apart from freely available sources on the internet is its reliability: its own editors and specialists extend and add to a broad range of information about people, countries, world events and more every day. More information at munzinger.de

BROCKHAUS offers a high-quality, well-ordered digital educational collection that is continually updated and extended. The BROCKHAUS knowledge service opens up relevant, checked knowledge — quickly, precisely, with clear structures and versatile search functions. More information at brockhaus.de

Online backup

A library's data usually represents a considerable amount of work, whether in first capturing it or in maintaining and adding to it. Backing up regularly is therefore vital when computers are used in a library. Where personal data is processed or used automatically, legal requirements have to be observed as well. For online backup, in addition to our local backup, we rely on the market leader MOUNT10, which meets the legal requirements on encryption, on where data is kept under German and European data protection law, and on secure storage.

Online reading promotion

As a complement to the most effective reading promotion of all — at home in the toddler and pre-school years — libraries also contribute considerably to awakening a pleasure in reading. Here we rely on the innovative online reading programme Antolin and run it entirely ourselves. Pupils from year 1 to year 10 read a book and then answer interactive quiz questions about it online. Correct answers earn points. In this way Antolin builds the motivation to read while developing comprehension. More information at antolin.de

Specialist library hardware

To organise library work sensibly, specialist library hardware such as receipt printers and barcode scanners is needed alongside standard hardware like PCs and printers. It should be not only capable but also up to date. Here we rely on the high-quality, field-tested products offered by bibservice on good terms. More information at bibservice.de/hardware.html.

Social networks

The internet has become indispensable as a medium for providing and obtaining information. Social media in particular are now part of the everyday life of the younger generation. For that reason we have profiles on the social networks Facebook and Instagram, and a YouTube channel by way of a trial: facebook.com/owbib, instagram.com/owbib and youtube.com/channel/UCroCAD5qzM_WkrWPxFcyRxQ

Team culture

Good team culture and effective cooperation need matching communication. Instead of sending emails to one another or to everyone between team meetings as we used to, internal communication now runs mainly through the messenger Signal.

Since the whole team is usually not present at team meetings — above all as the team keeps growing — we want to offer the possibility in future of taking part virtually from home, and to discuss as much as possible online and promptly. For that we rely on online meeting and conference solutions.