Phil Shapiro

2673 points
Smiling librarian standing in front of bookcase
Washington DC-area

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.

Bluesky

Library Journal Movers & Shakers Award, 2024

GoFundMe for medical expenses

And see his library dance videos on YouTube.

Octave Ukes

Stories menu (old)

New stories menu (new)

Pairs Math Game

Updated resume (2022)

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

-----

Journalism I support

MAKE magazine
NPR
Hackaday
CoolTools
FOSS Force

--------------

"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 Content

Install Linux on a used laptop

Now that Windows XP has been officially discontinued there are a huge number of Windows XP laptops for sale on eBay. Many of these run really well with a light Linux distro…

The personality of a Linux-loving teen

At my public library job I work in Takoma Park, Maryland, I talk with several hundred youth every week. I try to boost their curiosity, guide them in their wonderings and…

Authored Comments

TuxPaint can provide endless hours of fun for children ages 3 to 6 (and older). At the public library where I work, when I hear a 3 year old gurgling with delight, I know already what is on their computer screen. It's TuxPaint.

Runs on Linux, Mac, and Windows. Download the TuxPaint Config file to make sure TuxPaint is running full screen on your monitor. Search YouTube for TuxPaint videos.

Thanks for sharing this wise advice, Hugo. Many people will benefit from this.