tinkering in the techie toybox: staying on top of consumer technology
DESCRIPTION
Do you have patrons asking if their MP3 players will work with your digital book collection? Trying to plug their digital cameras into your public computers to upload photos to Facebook? If so, you just might need a Techie Toybox.TRANSCRIPT
Tinkering in the Techie Toybox:Staying on Top of Consumer Technology
11/14/2008David Lee King
Digital Branch & Services ManagerTopeka & Shawnee County Public Library
What is a Techie Toybox?
What is a Techie Toybox?
aka Gadget Garage
aka Technology Petting Zoo
Topeka’s Techie Toybox
A bit of history…• Jan 2007: Friends approved $10,000• I asked staff for ideas…• Purchased in the fall
What did we buy?
http://flickr.com/photos/michaelsphotos/2232535957/
Success so far!• Our toys are getting used• We’ve been creating social media• Next steps – buy more toys
What areother librariesDoing??
Princeton PublicLibrary’s Gadget Garage
http://princetonlibrary.org/research/techcenter/gadgetgarage.html
Massachusetts Library Association
• Created a tech petting zoo• Hardware and software demos• Loaned equipment during the
conference!
http://mlamasslib.blogspot.com/2008/03/volunteers-needed-technology-petting.html
Webjunction list• http://blog.webjunctionworks.org/
index.php/2008/08/18/creating-a-technology-petting-zoo-webinar-recap/
What if we have no money $$$ ?
Start Small
http://flickr.com/photos/bidari/2969429885/
http://flickr.com/photos/monta/78744330/
Why???
Keeps staff current
Allows staff to try out new gadgets
Community leaders
Training Opportunities
http://flickr.com/photos/prupert/68375339/
New Services!
Participate!
Thank you!Thank you!
davidleeking.com