Your library's old computers may not be able to run the latest version of Windows, but they're not junk. In fact, Kinney County Public Library in Brackettville, Texas, with the help of IT consultant Rodney Greensage was able to add eight computers to its lab using systems that would have been destined for the junkyard.
By implementing what's called a thin client (a network computer without a hard drive that runs its programs from a server), the libraries were able to squeeze life out of old computers and save money at the same time.
"We just needed memory, we needed to make sure they had a video card, a network card, mouse, keyboard and monitor, and we were able to run a Unix environment terminal services by booting from the CD-ROM," said Greensage. "And we took that library from six public access computers all the way up to 14, and it was sharing their DSL."
Other area libraries are now asking about their own thin clients -- not just an overview of the technology, but how to actually set it up. "The individual libraries that were asking for [thin clients] are definitely capable of starting that," said Greensage. "And, they know that if they run into issues or problems, they've also got me -- that I can either help them out or if I don't know it, I can find it out."
So Greensage is talking to another consultant who would train 10 consultants to help Texas State libraries to set up and support their own thin clients.
