This document tells stories about four innovative librarians - Madeleine, Steve, Faye, and Bess - who found creative solutions to problems at their libraries. Madeleine hacked a solution to create a inexpensive self-checkout system. Steve started a regional workshop for libraries to collaborate. Faye was not afraid to learn new technologies. Bess had an epiphany to start an "Adopt-a-Computer" program to get funding for new computers. The document promotes thanking librarians and provides the TechSoup for Libraries website for more information.

1. Once upon a time… The TechSoup for Libraries story. TSG staff meeting April 2011

4. Content (articles, blog posts, webinars, newsletter)What you might not know: Libraries share information Libraries collaborate Libraries are innovators

5. Putting faces to the names

6. How we do it: we listen By phone By listservs At conferences By surveys, polls Drive bookmobiles to rural communities By blogs, Twitter, Flickr

7. Survey: which tools do you use?

8. BTOP grantee resource

9. A few good stories…

10. Once upon a time… There was a librarian named Madeleine. She wasn’t afraid to hack.

11. $$$ Madeleine had a problem

12. Like a good librarian, she researched

13. “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 Mundt Teton Cty Library, WY

14. Once upon a time… There was an “IT Guy” named Steve. He hated reinventing the wheel.

15. Regional workshop, inviting all library folk from Kansas who deal with technology, not just “IT Guys” like himself. Emporia Public Library Emporia, KS Steve had a problem "Why don’t we talk to other libraries in Kansas to see what they use?"

16. Once upon a time… There was librarian named Faye. She was fearless.

17. “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 Library Hearne, TX

18. Once upon a time… There was librarian named Bess. She had an epiphany.

19. 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 Library Tappahannock, VA

20. 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.”

21. It’s National Library Week… Thank your local librarian!

22. TechSoupforLibraries.org