the story of techsoup for libraries

Once upon a time…The TechSoup for Libraries story.

TSG staff meetingApril 2011

How libraries fit at TechSoup Global

Usual suspects:• Donation program• Content (articles, blog posts, webinars, newsletter)

What you might not know:• Libraries share

information• Libraries collaborate• Libraries are innovators

Putting faces to the names

How we do it: we listen

• By phone

• By listservs

• At conferences

• By surveys, polls

• Drive bookmobiles to rural communities

• By blogs, Twitter, Flickr

Survey: which tools do you use?

BTOP grantee resource

A few good stories…

Once upon a time…

There was a librarian named Madeleine.

She wasn’t afraid to hack.

$$$

Madeleine had a problem

Like a good librarian, she researched

“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 MundtTeton Cty Library, WY

Once upon a time…

There was an “IT Guy” named Steve.

He hated reinventing the wheel.

Regional workshop, inviting all library folk from Kansas who deal with technology, not just “IT Guys” like himself.

Emporia Public LibraryEmporia, KS

Steve had a problem

"Why don’t we talk to other libraries in Kansas to see what they use?"

Once upon a time…

There was librarian named Faye.

She was fearless.

“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 LibraryHearne, TX

Once upon a time…

There was librarian named Bess.

She had an epiphany.

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 LibraryTappahannock, VA

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.”

It’s National Library Week…

Thank your local librarian!

TechSoupforLibraries.org