A sound IT infrastructure is essential to any public computing project. These resources will help you get started. If you have a tool in mind that we haven't listed, please tell us how you use it, and we'll spread the word.
Through TechSoup Global, you can request donated brand new software and hardware for your eligible organization at savings of 80-90 percent. Check out the donation programs your U.S.-based nonprofit or library may be eligible for through TechSoup's agreements with companies like Microsoft, Adobe, Cisco, and Intuit. TechSoup carries over 500 products — too many to list below. We've intentionally omitted popular productivity software (like Microsoft Office and others) in order to focus on the titles most relevant to deploying training programs.
If you need software or hardware donations for multiple or affiliated organizations in your network (for example, the YMCA or a large library system), you may be able to get help requesting large orders through TechSoup.
Any organization that's outfitting a computer lab or a library needs to create specifications for the technology they purchase and deploy. We asked BTOP grantees to share their thoughts and their specs so you could learn from the hard work they've already done.
We asked folks who work in public computing to share what goes into an Internet use policy. A few sent us their own policies to use as examples, below.
Image: Work Place, Shutterstock
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