flickr.com/photos/toymaster/491821159/
Tinkering in the
Techie Toybox:
Staying on Top of
Consumer Technology
David Lee King
davidleeking.com
Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library

http://www.flickr.com/photos/musashi2000/3640352591/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dimitrijvolcov/3582337614/in/pool-19253565@N00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/loran/3497205276/in/pool-timbuk2

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephiestephie/3612505217/in/pool-19253565@N00

What is a
Techie
Toybox?
flickr.com/photos/tubedesign/2131802578/

What is a
Techie Garage
aka Gadget
Toybox?
aka Technology Petting Zoo

Topeka’s
Techie
Toybox

a bit of
history...
Jan 2007: Friends gave us $10,000
I asked staff for ideas
purchased in the Fall

What did
we buy?

flickr.com/photos/michaelsphotos/2232535957/

flickr.com/photos/saravanan07/2830487624/

flickr.com/photos/stevekeys/2094104968/
Success so far!
Our toys are getting used
we’re making media
Next Steps - buy more toys

Success so far!
Our toys are getting used
we’re making media
Next Steps - buy more toys
assuming there’s $$$

What are
other libraries
doing?
flickr.com/photos/thepma/2998043913/

Princeton Public Library’s Gadget Garage
princetonlibrary.org/research/techcenter/
gadgetgarage.html

Massachusetts
Library Association
created a tech petting zoo
hardware & software demos
loaned equipment during the conference

Webjunction list

flickr.com/photos/mybloodyself/325718307/
Island of
MisFit
Toys

What if we have
no money?
flickr.com/photos/s3a/2314898971/

start small

http://flickr.com/photos/bidari/2969429885/
http://flickr.com/photos/monta/78744330/

Why?

Keeps staff
current

Training
opportunities

New
Services!

participate!

What
gadgets
does your
library
have?

thank you!
davidleeking.com