![Smiling librarian standing in front of bookcase](/sites/default/files/2023-02/PhilShapiro2023OSDC.jpg)
Phil Shapiro has been an educator, teaching students from pre-school to graduate school for the past 35 years. He currently works at a public library in the Washington, DC area, helping youth and adults use their public Linux stations. Between 2007 and 2012, he blogged for PC World magazine on various technology topics and currently writes for Ars Technica, MAKE magazine, FOSS Force, TechSoup for Libraries, Computers in Libraries, Information Today magazine, and Opensource.com. Visit him at his antique ebook store.
Library Journal Movers & Shakers Award, 2024
And see his library dance videos on YouTube.
WashPost - The Man Who Gives Computers to Kids (May, 2000)
PCWorld - Does Free Software Restore Dignity?
PCWorld (original article)
I like to teach. David tenor guitar
The Day My Mind Became Open Sourced
Professional associations and organizations I support:
Internet Press Guild
Women in Film & Video
Washington Apple Pi
Northern Virginia Linux Users Group
Virginia Macintosh Users Group
Omaha Linux Users Group
Columbia Area Linux Users Group
Let's Play America
HacDC
East Harlem Tutorial Program
Higher Achievement
Small Things Matter
Carpe Diem Arts
Vietnamese American Services
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Journalism I support
MAKE magazine
NPR
Hackaday
CoolTools
FOSS Force
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"All of the flowers of tomorrow are in the seeds of today." - Chinese proverb
"The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper." - Eden Phillpotts
Authored Comments
I was very moved to read this comment over on Hacker News --
"I never could afford a computer as a kid growing up. All my computers were donations or throwaways that I tinkered with and learned on and fixed up. My first computer was an SE/30 that was getting thrown away. I ABSOLUTELY would not be where I am today if it was not for the kindness of others who gave me the opportunities to tinker and learn."
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9665746
I hope that person gets around to setting up an account here on Opensource.com -- and maybe tell their story (stories?) here on Opensource.com If anyone happens to know who they are, kindly pass along that message.
Stu, your Asian Penguins initiative has been a constant inspiration to me. For folks not familiar with Asian Penguins, Stu has written about this initiative here on Opensource.com and has assembled a whole lot of inspiring videos on YouTube. Search YouTube for: Asian Penguins to view these. Whether you live in St. Paul, Seattle, Miami, San Diego, Kansas City, Chattanooga or elsewhere -- there's always creative ways of extending technology access to those with more limited access. Where there is a will, there is way. Start with your public libraries, I say, but by no means don't stop there...