[Libs-Or] FW: September News from TechSoup for Libraries

Tue Sep 7 15:52:07 PDT 2010

More useful webinars and software deals from TechSoup for libraries.

From: Stephanie from TechSoup for Libraries [mailto:techsoupforlibraries at techsoupglobal.org]
Sent: Monday, August 30, 2010 11:23 AM
To: MaryKay Dahlgreen
Subject: September News from TechSoup for Libraries

[http://tsg.convio.net/images/tsl_web_copy.jpg]

Welcome to the September TechSoup for Libraries<http://tsg.convio.net/site/R?i=tT00TLZCng7juyRwdBcFrw..>newsletter! This month, we have news about upcoming webinars, information about lockdown and security tools, a TechSoup Stock Product Spotlight, and a new survey. You received this email because you participated in a webinar, contributed content, ordered products, or were interested in resources from TechSoup or the MaintainIT Project.

Free TechSoup Webinars [http://img.getactivehub.com/act2/custom_images/techsoup/TStalks-banner.gif]
Social Media Decision Making<http://tsg.convio.net/site/R?i=hPAyEtvoQD9vIytXZulbwA..>

Tuesday, September 21, 2010, 11:00 a.m. Pacific (Noon Mountain / 1pm Central / 2 pm Eastern)

You've heard that social media can be useful to your library... but how useful? What measurable outcomes result from social media?

Kami Griffiths of TechSoup will interview Laura Quinn, Executive Director of Idealware. In partnership with the New Organizing Institute, Idealware recently created the Social Media Decision Guide, which provides a step-by-step process to decide which social media channels are useful for your organization. We will also hear from Tex Dworkin, Social Media Director at Global Exchange. She will share the story of how social media was introduced to her nonprofit, and the steps and challenges that followed.

This webinar is ideal for nonprofits and libraries that are struggling to understand social media and the time required to implement, train and sustain a program. Use this webinar to support your case for why you should or shouldn't take the next step with social media.

Donor Management Solutions<http://tsg.convio.net/site/R?i=eHplb6F0RAjeWizLinqRZA..>

Tuesday, September 30, 2010, 11:00 a.m. Pacific (Noon Mountain / 1pm Central / 2pm Eastern)

Are you looking for a new donor management tool, but aren't sure where to start? Attend this free webinar and learn about three popular donor management tools for nonprofits and libraries. Hear from executive and development staff directly about their favorite features, tips, and strategies for managing and tracking donor relationships using GiftWorks<http://tsg.convio.net/site/R?i=DbvpmDPmj9S8TQDTGFGrDQ..>, DonorPerfect <http://tsg.convio.net/site/R?i=JzHCCH45I9l9CC_Jn2p--Q..> and eTapestry<http://tsg.convio.net/site/R?i=Amdr8l178lslzrgHmLpxBQ..>.

You can discuss TechSoup webinars on Twitter with the hashtag #techsoup<http://tsg.convio.net/site/R?i=wuD9oKp8OIzkUUV9F_JCtg..>, join us for a live-stream of the events in Second Life<http://tsg.convio.net/site/R?i=ePT7JgnYAlFQQrUY2ovDCw..>, or visit our archives<http://tsg.convio.net/site/R?i=dirLQOsEp2yBJV-YSGVxaA..>.

TechSoup Stock Spotlight: Microsoft Educational Software<http://tsg.convio.net/site/R?i=0v9lmOlpGhMwRA3N67no9g..>

Well, it's back to school season, so education is on our minds. Recently, when reviewing our most frequently ordered product donations, we discovered that Microsoft Math (part of the Microsoft Educational Software Program<http://tsg.convio.net/site/R?i=sYUkt1iA6OYhzFzT7o9sAw..>) tops librarians' lists.

<http://tsg.convio.net/site/R?i=46JLybCMiDFCRTa-DWAhmw..>[algebra]<http://tsg.convio.net/site/R?i=46JLybCMiDFCRTa-DWAhmw..>Microsoft Math <http://tsg.convio.net/site/R?i=46JLybCMiDFCRTa-DWAhmw..> is a set of mathematical tools that help students solve problems and gain a better understanding of mathematical concepts, from pre-algebra through calculus. The primary tool is a full-featured scientific calculator with extensive graphing and equation-solving capabilities. It is designed to work like a handheld calculator but offers additional tools that deepen students' knowledge of complex mathematics.

This product is available through TechSoup for an admin fee of $2.00. Here are some notable features:

  *   Ink Handwriting Support works with tablet and ultra-mobile PCs, so students can write out problems by hand and have them recognized.
  *   An animated slider lets students make changes to an equation and see the effect on the graph.
  *   Adding and storing variables and reusing common numbers and expressions helps save time when there are multiple problems to solve.
  *   Students can view, rotate, and animate large 2D and enhanced 3D color graphs.

TechSoup's donation program<http://tsg.convio.net/site/R?i=-2OGuQm2N0jE0BFaobNyXw..> helps stretch your library's budget. You can save 80-96% on brand-new software donated by top companies. The products, including Microsoft donated software <http://tsg.convio.net/site/R?i=BhTjUO0fdssvIAic5dE45w..> and refurbished computers<http://tsg.convio.net/site/R?i=-mXBbmFgAstvIsLCXKNZ0A..>, are available to all public libraries that are listed in the IMLS database<http://tsg.convio.net/site/R?i=Q38BpfFcMbcQWBwAe0pV8Q..> and/or have a valid 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and to nonprofits with a 501(c)(3) designation.

Lock 'em Up!

One of the struggles with maintaining public access computers is the fine balance between ensuring stability and security while still providing patrons the access to information they need. Libraries use a variety of tools, and many times a combination of solutions are needed to meet the needs of both the libraries and patrons. TechSoup for Libraries gathers your experiences, so you don't have to reinvent the wheel. Here are some resources to help.

[computer with lock]Lockdown utilities and disk protection software are covered in our first Cookbook<http://tsg.convio.net/site/R?i=LisEaWP0UP6n8sAU99JgbA..> (free technology manual). Also, check out our Patron Computer Software Comparison Chart<http://tsg.convio.net/site/R?i=H9XmxkkdOXA9sk43ZYhZnw..>, in our third cookbook, which includes pricing and support details and compares some of the better-known software currently in use in small libraries. We also have a maintenance chart<http://tsg.convio.net/site/R?i=jjL_UzMz-7RMpzH9OSWIDA..> that compiles all the tasks and costs of maintaining computers with lock-down and disk-protection software.

Lately, the Windows 7 and Windows SteadyState incompatibility caused many libraries to change their lockdown practices. Read more about this, as well as alternatives to SteadyState <http://tsg.convio.net/site/R?i=blp3M_EEwzyw4ypy_B2cEg..> in our blog posts by Chris Peters, and find solutions in Sarah Washburn's compilation of tools for locking down computers<http://tsg.convio.net/site/R?i=FdladX0ywPTOO3w2PVepnA..> shared by a few of your colleagues.

We don't yet have any partnerships with lockdown software vendors (yet) but would love to know more about what products YOU use to help inform our process. Take our monthly survey<http://tsg.convio.net/site/R?i=1JEnXMtyIN8crG_I0rboGw..> to let us know!

Monthly Survey: Desktop Security Software

[baby]Each month we have a 2-3 question survey to gather your ideas and to make sure we're offering products and services useful to you and your library. When you complete the survey, we enter your name in a monthly prize drawing, and Sarah's daughter selects a winner. Our new winner is Chris Grantham, from Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas! This month's survey<http://tsg.convio.net/site/R?i=agVJWmbEZLbAoWkwJb419A..> is a very short one to determine which desktop security software programs you find helpful at your library.

Many thanks for all your continued participation and support. We'd love to promote your library in our work. Tell us<http://tsg.convio.net/site/R?i=utV0rbUd8eN6kKRmjLtawQ..> a library technology story, or share a moment when you were particularly proud of solving a technology issue. Don't forget that what might be "that's nothing" to you may be an "aha!" to someone else!

-Stephanie Gerding
techsoupforlibraries at techsoup.org<mailto:techsoupforlibraries at techsoup.org>

TechSoup Global is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working towards the day when every nonprofit, library, and social benefit organization on the planet has the technology knowledge and resources they need to operate at their full potential.

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