Once upon a time, there were several librarians who faced technology challenges and found creative solutions. Madeleine hacked a freeware self-checkout system for $1200. Steve addressed the problem of reinventing the wheel by organizing a regional workshop. Bess raised $365 per year for 3 years through an "Adopt-a-Computer" program. These stories show how sharing challenges and solutions can help libraries overcome issues and advance technology use.

1. Once upon a time…
The power of a good <tech> story.
ILEADU
June 15, 2011

2. TechSoup for Libraries
What might be
Listen “that’s nothing”
Share
Learn
} to you may be an
“aha!”
to someone else.

3. What’s your challenge?
Flickr user: stuant33

4. TechSoupforLibraries.org = stuff
FREE content DONATED
FREE events + Products
(save 80‐90%)
FREE resources

5. This is how we do it: Spotlights

6. This is how we do it: Guest bloggers

7. Donated Products
webinar & phone conferencing * FLICKR
staff scheduling * refurbished computers * financial
management * FLIP VIDEO * keyboarding for
patrons * educational software * photocopiers
MICROSOFT * web site design * graphic design
video cameras * virus protection * label makers * donor
management * SYMANTEC * GIS (mapping) * Wikis
ADOBE * hard drives * remote desktop * firewalls
postage machines * enterprise applications telephony
* computer–based courses

8. Some topics we cover

9. This is how we do it: Webinars
Coming up
ed!)
 Register Your Organization hi v
a rc PAST archived webinar:
(all
 Requesting a Donation
 Evaluating Digital Literacy
Programs
 Green IT Programs Flip’n out at your library!
 Winning Grants

10. How we do it: we listen
• By phone
• By listservs
• At conferences
• By surveys, polls
• Drive bookmobiles
to rural communities
• By blogs, Twitter, Flickr

11. How we do it: Tweet Chats

12. MaintainIT Project Cookbooks

13. BTOP grantee resource

14. Why do we do this?
•Reinventing the
wheel isn’t fun.
•Stories are
powerful.
•You don’t know
what might be
happening in
Tappahannock,
VA.

15. A few good stories…

16. O nce upon a time…
There was a librarian named Madeleine.
She wasn’t afraid to hack.

17. Madeleine had a problem
$$$

18. Like a good librarian, she researched

19. “We now have a
freeware self-checker
that only cost us the
price of the touch
screen monitor, the
scanner, an Internet
connection and some
retired hardware
($1200).”
Madeleine Mundt
Teton Cty Library, WY

21. O nce upon a time…
There was an “IT Guy” named Steve.
He hated reinventing the wheel.

22. Steve had a problem

23. Steve had a problem
"Why don’t we talk to
other libraries in Kansas to
see what they use?"

24. Steve had a problem
"Why don’t we talk to
other libraries in Kansas to
see what they use?"
Regional workshop, inviting
all library folk from Kansas
who deal with technology,
not just “IT Guys” like himself.
Emporia Public Library
Emporia, KS

26. O nce upon a time…
There was librarian named Faye.
She was fearless.

27. “You can't fear that you're
going to screw up; you just
have to get in there and say,
'Okay, I'm going to learn how
to do this.'”
Smithwelch Public Library
Hearne, TX

29. O nce upon a time…
There was librarian named Bess.
She was from Tappahannock, VA

30. Bess needed $$$
“When it comes to the library's
computer network, we've been
very much like Blanche Dubois,
depending on the kindness of
strangers.
(insert breathy voice here.)”
Essex Public Library
Tappahannock, VA

31. Adopt-a-Computer
“Local organizations, businesses, or
even individuals or families can adopt a
computer by committing to donating
$365 a year for three years.”

33. O nce upon a time…
Corporations and coders combined forces…
…for good.

34. X Li brary
Google, Microsoft, Yahoo!, NASA,
& the World Bank

35. Why does TechSoup replay ?
• To instill confidence
• To promote your work
• For advocacy

36. This is all great, but…
How can YOU benefit from the stories
around you?

37. Conferences (like this one!)
• Organize a session
where librarians
come together to
share challenges
and successes.
• Outsiders
welcome!
ARSL 2010, Denver CO
“Don’t just be a sage on the stage, be a guide on the side.”

38. Book clubs
•Short texts, nothing heavy-duty (unless
that’s what folks crave)
•Advocacy
opportunity
•Outsiders
welcome!

39. Meetups
•Get together to chat about technology
challenges and solutions
•Get outside your library!
•Outsiders welcome!
Netsquared.org Meetup.com
Why leave the fun of field trips to the kids?

40. Podcasts
Maurice Coleman,
Technical Trainer
Harford County (MD)
Public Library

41. What makes a good story?
"It's not the daily increase but daily decrease.
Hack away at the unessential."
- Bruce Lee

42. Elements of a good tech story
What might be
•Humble “that’s nothing”
to you may be an
•Think daily grind
•Outcome-based “aha!”
to someone else.

43. Homework!

44. Resources
• TechSoup for Libraries: www.TechSoupforLibraries.org
• Notes from a Great Conference: LibTech 2011 blog post
– Broadband: Stories from the Field: http://broadband.wiki.techsoup.org/
– NetSquared: http://netsquared.org
– T is for Training: http://tisfortraining.wordpress.com
– Steve Stone post:http://www.techsoupforlibraries.org/blog/sharing-it-
experiences-from-kansas
– Bess Haile posts: http://www.techsoupforlibraries.org/search/node/bess
%20haile
– Faye Hover spotlight: http://www.techsoupforlibraries.org/spotlight/faye-
hover
– Random Hacks of Kindness: http://www.rhok.org/
– Madeline Mundt post: http://www.techsoupforlibraries.org/blog/a-cheap-er-
self-checker-system
– Photo credits:
• Book clubs: flickr user New Jersey Library Association
• Second life: flickr user joannamkay
• Open book: flickr user Jo Naylor

45. TechSoup is here to help.
sarah@techsoupglobal.org
lori@lorireed.com
TechSoupforLibraries.org