Wishing you a happy and peaceful holiday.
We'll be taking some holiday downtime ourselves. TechSoup Customer Service will be closed from Friday, December 23, at 12 p.m. Pacific time through Monday, January 2, 2017. We will resume regular service hours on Tuesday, January 3, 2017.
"Our library doesn't have a social worker. We're all social workers here," says Todd Stephens, county librarian, Spartanburg County Public Libraries.
His libraries take what he calls a "tender and attentive" approach to supporting patrons who are homeless. This approach informs everything from security staff training to public access computer policies and much more.
Check out the library spotlight to learn how they do it.
Library Link Roundup is a recurring series in which we'll share articles, blog posts, and resources related to library technology, innovative projects, and other news we think will be of interest to our TechSoup for Libraries readers around the world. Enjoy!
November was quite the month to say the least, what with the aftermath of the elections in the United States. I've found a lot of comfort, hope, and guidance from the response in library circles. Here's a roundup of the latest links, news, and library resources to recover and cope after the tumultuous political season.
Ever wonder what your fellow librarians are interested in learning? Here are the top 5 TechSoup webinars your fellow libraries tuned into in 2016.
"The future is always happening now" — Mark Strand
As the speed of technology change continues to increase, libraries are increasingly concerned with how to adapt and stay relevant in the future. It seems fitting that the topic of the latest Library 2.0 mini-conference addressed the future of libraries.
Does your library have enough broadband to meet the needs of patrons and staff? Technology use in libraries is at an all-time high. Without enough bandwidth coming into the library, patrons are unable to stay connected, and staff productivity is blocked. How can libraries plan for the future when it comes to broadband? And how can libraries leverage the E-rate program to increase bandwidth and the availability of high-speed Internet?
At our October webinar, we received E-rate advice and practical broadband planning tips from Amber Gregory (Arkansas State Library) and Emily Almond (Georgia Public Library Service).
As Emily said in her presentation: "Broadband is part of what makes libraries a beacon in our society. Our mission is to provide access to everyone, regardless. We can't do that without broadband."
Here are Emily and Amber's tips for increasing the availability of high-speed Internet for your library.
TechSoup is committed to the furtherance of civil society, defined as the organizations and individuals, separate from the worlds of both government and commerce, who undertake the tasks of improving the circumstances of the underserved and creating conditions in which people of goodwill can engage in discourse and find solutions for the many problems that impact the globe.
Recent elections and events across the world have stirred strong emotions and often seemed to highlight differences. No one knows the extent to which rhetoric will be acted on, and this uncertainty creates anxiety for many. In this context, we want to reiterate that TechSoup holds cardinal values around nondiscrimination, diversity, and inclusivity. No matter the context, we will stay true to these values and we will make common cause with others, in this country and across the globe, who share them.
Library Link Roundup is a recurring series in which we'll share articles, blog posts, and resources related to library technology, innovative projects, and other news we think will be of interest to our TechSoup for Libraries readers around the world. Enjoy!
We certainly love nonprofits and libraries here at TechSoup. The only thing we like better is when they get together to do extraordinary work. Ready, Set, Connect! (RSC) is a collaboration of Oakland Public Library and the nonprofit Community Technology Network (CTN) in the Bay Area.
Their Ready, Set, Connect! project provides serious technology career training to local teens who then provide digital literacy tutoring at the library. It is an innovative program that both organizations hope can be replicated across the country.
With the boom in tech over the last several years, more and more public librarians are finding themselves thrust into training roles in an attempt to meet community needs. These "accidental trainers" want to equip their patrons with knowledge and skills to successfully navigate the digital age but often lack the time and experience to take the first steps. Gail’s Toolkit, a free resource from the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin, Illinois, answers this need.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.