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Hi All,

I'm grappling with some IT woes, and I'm wondering how other
small-to-midsize museums have dealt with similar issues.

Specifically, we have no IT person (and can't afford one), and I'm trying
to set up systems that allow our IT hardware to "organize itself" with
minimal labor on my part, since I prefer to concentrate on designing
building new exhibits, not sorting computer cords.

We have 30 employees, and about 90 computers, including machines that are
used for summer camp programs and exhibits.

Things I'd love input on:

   - *How to document networking and other IT infrastructure?  *Regardless
   who does the IT work- volunteers, contractors, me - the work needs to be
   documented well so others can troubleshoot effectively, or make changes
   that cooperate with existing infrastructure
   - *Organization-wide password databases? *so we don't get locked out of
   computers / other hardware when the person who knows the password leaves
   - *IT volunteers?* Do they help, and what are best practices for keeping
   them happy and ensuring effectiveness?
   - *How to enable all staff to keep the common IT hardware storage
   organized?*  One thing I'm considering is creating some storage
   containers for every type of hardware (VGA cables, DVI cables, power cords,
   stereo mini-plugs, multi-RCA plugs, etc.) with crystal-clear pictorial
   labels, enabling people to put the cords back where they found them.
    Anyone seen such labels so I don't have to make them all?
   - *Books or online resources that explain this sort of thing.  *Googling
   has been fruitless...
   - *Anything else that helps things go smoothly...*

I'm not trained in IT, so maybe I'm missing something glaringly obvious
that an IT person would think is basic.


Thanks for any advice you can provide...
Steven

-- 
*Steven Valenziano*
Exhibit Design Coordinator

Impression 5 Science Center
200 Museum Drive
Lansing, MI 48933
office: 517-485-8116 ext 135
cell: 919-210-4080

impression5.org

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