LA State Library desperately seeking PCs and printers, help, please:

[blondeatlast]

This was sent to a librarian list, please pass on to trusted sources:

SPECIAL NOTICE
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LOUISIANA STATE LIBRARY ISSUES URGENT CALL FOR COMPUTERS, PRINTERS
The State library of Louisiana has sent out this call for computer
equipment. If you are interested and able to send computers, here is
the request from the Louisiana State Librarian, Rebecca Hamilton.

"To all-we are in desperate need of computers/printers. We are being
inundated with evacuees needing to file FEMA applications,
unemployment, search for loved ones, etc. and are coming into our
public libraries to use the computers. Our libraries have greatly
extended their hours to accommodate the people but they need
additional computers and printers. If you can please put the word out
that if anyone wants to help immediately, this is our greatest need."

Equipment Specs:
* Pentium 3
* Windows 2000, prefer XP
* Laser printers if you can still get toner for them

Send equipment to:
State Library of Louisiana
701 North 4th Street
Baton Rouge, La. 70802-5232

If you are able to assist them, please let Rebecca know via email at
[e-mail] to help her know what to expect.
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Please kick this--most public libraries are hand to mouth as it is and unable to help. This is absolutely critical. Thanks.

[Deja Q]

1. Should beggars be such choosers?

A Pentium-1 with 128MB of RAM and Windows 98 would suffice for their IMMINENT needs, even if they are technically crap. Heck, put Linux on it and you've got a reasonable small-time server. I doubt they're rendering 3D graphics... :eyes: (sorry to complain, but I was about to run out to reclaim 2 computers I'd put in the apartments' "donate" box to ship down there, but they are P1-class.)

Hell, my laptop is a P1, 200MHz, with 128MB RAM. It works great for word processing and internet, even 56k speed.

As for laser printers, no argument. Most inkjets use dye-based inks that would smear and wash away quite quickly. Ditto for the toner comment, sending them THAT old of a printer would be dumb.

[blondeatlast]

2. I don't know much about the specs, that's Mr. Bs job, but I've worked

a public service desk in much calmer circumstances. Speed counts when people aren't despearate; it sure as hell counts when thousands upon thousands ARE DESPERATE.

Thanks for kicking this up, anyway.