New State Requirements: If your technology plan expires at the end of the current fiscal year, you must submit a new DRAFT to SCSL by Oct. 23. The final plan must be submitted to SCSL by March 15.

The Technology Plan template provides guidelines established by the SC State Library to assist you in developing a comprehensive technology planning document for your Library. Depending on the size of your library and the extent of your plan, the planning document may be very short, or extensive. Either way, the guidelines indicate particular information that must be included in the plan for it to be certified by the South Carolina State Library.

Present recommendations indicate that a Technology Plan should cover a two (2) year period. Depending on how technology is used in your library, your plan may cover  a shorter or longer period, not to exceed three (3) years.

All SC public libraries must have a current technology plan on file with the SC State Library. As members of the South Carolina Library Network, SC public libraries are listed in the filing for E-Rate discounts for Internet Access and some telecommunications. Therefore, all libraries must have a technology plan that meets SLD-USAC requirements. The window for filing E-Rate forms 470 and 471 usually opens in early November and closes in January. The Technology plans should be submitted to SCSL for certification no later than March 15.

Technology Plan Template

Download: Technology Plan Template

Details: The template has been saved in Rich Text Format (.rtf) for cross platform accessibility. Save the template to your hard drive before editing the file. [The bracketed red text indicates guidelines that can assist you in preparing your technology plan. Also indicated are sections required by the USAC Schools and Libraries Division for E-Rate discount approval. Delete any red text before submitting the final technology plan.]

Submission: Please send one (1) copy of your completed plan, including the certification/signature page, to:

South Carolina State Library
ATTN: Catherine Buck Morgan
P.O. Box 11469
Columbia, SC 29211

Once your plan is approved by SCSL, you will receive a signed copy of the confirmation page for your record of receipt. Questions may be directed to Catherine Buck Morgan, Director, Division of Innovation & Technology, at 803.734.8651, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Additional Resources

• Documenting Your Network

  MOREnet provides instructions on how to create a network handbook that will make your job easier.

• E-Rate

  South Carolina State Library’s E-Rate Web page

• Schools and Libraries Eligible Services List

  This Eligible Services List provides guidance on the eligibility of products and services under the Schools and Libraries Program from Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), an independent, not-for-profit corporation designated as the administrator of the federal Universal Service Fund by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

• Schools and Libraries Technology Planning

  Schools and Libraries Technology Planning from Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). The technology plan documents the library service strategy or the school improvement purpose of requested telecommunications services or Internet access under the Universal Service Program.

• Technology Planning

  Articles on Technology Planning from TechSoup.org.

• Technology Planning for Public Libraries

  South Carolina State Library presented Technology Planning for Public Libraries at System Manager's Exchange, February. 6, 2003.

• WebJunction.org

  WebJunction is an online community where minds meet to share the ongoing successes and challenges of supporting public access computing.