Tonjes is the D.C. Public Library chief technology officer. What role does a technology officer play in a library?
I have to make sure all 10,000 computers work, all the telephones work, and keep implementing new, innovative ways for people to maximize the library’s resources through technology in reliable and cost-effective ways. This is the best job I’ve ever had. It’s wonderful to see the immediate effect that the work we do has on the public. And I get to read books.
What kind of projects have you started for D.C. public libraries?
We have been giving computer classes for a long time. We have many requests from senior citizens for classes, and we thought, wouldn’t it be great if not only we could give them a class, but also computer? And a computer isn’t worth very much if you don’t have Internet access. We were able to partner with Cricket, a nationwide program, and we provided 500 broadband cards for 500 refurbished computers. We just had a graduation for two classes aimed at Ward 5 and Ward 7. … It was incredibly touching.
What is your newest project?
We just released a new version of our iPhone app. When the iPhone came out, we just loved it — and we thought, why don’t we make an application for D.C. libraries? We released the first library application in the country. Now 10,000 people have downloaded it.
What does the new version offer?
Anything you can do on our Web site you can do through the application. You can reserve a computer in the library, if you are out and about and you don’t want to wait for one when you get here. You can see what the most popular books and DVDs are, and reserve them. We also have a visual library ID, so if you forget your card, you can scan your phone. We have also released a BlackBerry version.
— Hayley Peterson
