Single-branch municipal library in heart of downtown (ver

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Promoting 2.0 Training with Fantastic
Freebies(and other Innovative Programs)
Session D305 Tech Freebies and Program Ideas

• Presented by
• Janie Hermann
• Bob Keith
• Princeton Public Library
• Princeton, NJ

Computers in Libraries 2007 Crystal City, VA
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Princeton Public Library

• Single-branch municipal library in heart of
  downtown (very close to Princeton University)
• New(ish) state-of-the-art 58,000 square foot
  building (opened in April 2004)
• Staff 54 FTE Population 31,000
• 100 computers for public use
• Fully equipped technology center with lots of
  software and a Gadget Garage

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Traditional Tech Training

• Computer Basics
• Email
• Internet Basics
• Search Engines
• Online Catalog
• Word Processing/Spreadsheets etc.
• You can do more!

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Disclaimr

• Many libraries lack staff time and money to
  expand computer classes
• Better to rephrase Computer Classes as
  Technology Training
• Several easy to implement paths to grow a Tech
  Training program
• Low cost in money and staff time
• Agile, can teach new tech quickly

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Get the word out

• Position yourself and your staff as
• Tech Gurus
• Get involved with local users groups
• Present for local groups (PTOs, Job Seekers,
  Service Clubs, Chambers of Commerce)
• Develop and/or join Technology Mailing Lists
• Create a Technology Training Blog
• Sell up at each and every class
• Tease with new content

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Never Underestimate the Powerof Attractive,
ProfessionalFull-Color Posters
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Bringing them in

• Fantastic Freebies
• Everyone likes to get something for free
• Simple to implement
• Can be presented to large groups as lectures
• Jumpstart the 2.0 buzz
• Listen to suggestions Give em what they want
• Photo editing
• Blogs
• Tips, advice, etc on how to use computers and
  Internet better

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2.0 Toolbox
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How we locate Freebies

• PC Magazine
• Top 101 Sites
• Best Free Software
• SEOmozs Web 2.0 Awards
• Time Magazines 50 Coolest Websites
• Filehippo (freeware with some shareware)

Constantly Scan Tech Blogs, Library Blogs, Tech
News Sites and the Popular Media!
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Text Editing Freebies

• Google Docs
• YourDraft
• Ajaxwrite

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Organization Freebies

• Tadalists
• Cozi Central
• Google Calendar

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Productivity Freebies

• LogMeIn
• CCleaner

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Photo and Video Freebies

• The GIMP
• Everystockphoto
• Flickr
• OneTrueMedia

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Our plans for Future Classes

• Move from Photoshop to GIMP and Pixer/Picnik
• Move from Blogger to Wordpress
• Move from Bloglines to Google Reader
• Social Bookmarking
• How to create and host Podcasts
• YouTube/OneTrueMedia/SplashCast (video editing
  and hosting online)
• Digital Scrapbooking
• Our classes are always in Constant Beta
• Keep things fresh and keep innovating!

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A few Final Tips

• Train staff and patrons together
• Creates transparency
• Boosts statistics
• Saves time and money
• Develop rotating classes
• Offer classes in series (i.e. mini-courses)
• Keeps students engaged
• Have students work on a project
• Real world application
• Sense of accomplishment

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Contact Us

• Janie Hermann
• jhermann_at_princetonlibrary.org
• Robert Keith
• rkeith_at_princetonlibrary.org
• Slides will be posted at Library Garden
• http//librarygarden.blogspot.com