New Acer model

[Michelle Mears]

https://www.acer.com/us-en/desktops-and-all-in-ones/add-in-one/add-in-one-24

Acer is coming out with a new Chromebase-type of computer, with a Chromebox that fits in a slot in the back of a 24 inch monitor.  It is supposed to allow for upgrade of the box and use of the same monitor.

Having used Chromebases now for over 8 years in our library, I am happy to see this development.  I was worried all we would be left with is the weird HP model with the cone base speaker that has no network port.  I am not yet ready to put all of our public access computers on wifi.

I am also starting to put Chrome AIOs at staff workstations that do not need Windows.  We are a Google workplace, so all staff email and file storage is through Google.

Michelle

 

Michelle Mears, Rolling Hills Consolidated Library, MO

 

[Lucien Kress]

I agree, I'm looking forward to seeing the pricing. The upgradability and the ability to repair the chromebox and the monitor separately is a huge selling point for me.

Tangentially to this group, I'm interested in hearing about your Google Workspace experience, especially now as Google has raised prices for the second time in two years, and Microsoft is charging libraries next to nothing. Assuming others in this group do not have the same interest, may I correspond with you separately about this?

Lucien

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Lucien Kress IT Manager 360-906-4910 Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries – Operations Center 1007 E Mill Plain Blvd Vancouver, WA 98663

[Taylor Devlin]

Very cool news, thanks for sharing Michelle.

Taylor Devlin, Technology

Watertown Free Public Library

Watertown, MA 02472

617-972-6431 ext. 17142

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[Paul Mills]

Hi Lucien,

We do not pay for Google Workspace.  It took our IT Department months to connect to the right people at Google, but we have not paid annual fees for many years.  I'd be happy to dig up the notes our IT Manager wrote if you like.

Thanks!

Paul

[Lucien Kress]

Paul, that would be great! I've had no luck. 

Lucien Kress
IT Manager

360-906-4910

Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries – Operations Center 

1007 E Mill Plain Blvd, Vancouver WA 98663 

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/chromebooks_lib/4f0e5961-1a13-4d62-a905-0892df088262n%40googlegroups.com.

[Paul Mills]

Sure thing.  

It took our IT Manager about 6 months of talking with Google, but he did it.   :)

Here are his notes from the process

BEGIN

Pre-Requisites Before You Request a Google Nonprofit Account

- you must have an existing G Suite account using the main library domain name, i.e. fountaindale.lib.il.us not fountaindale.org (we have our G Suite configured with fountaindale.org as a secondary or alias domain)

- your G Suite licenses/domain must be owned/managed directly with Google, they cannot be with a 3rd party reseller (Fountaindale application for Google for Nonprofts Account was rejected once because our G Suite licenses were originally purchased/owned/managed by a 3rd party reseller, Promevo. I had to go through the process of having them transferred from Promevo to Google and then reapply with Google)

- you must have an existing TechSoup account that recognizes the library as a nonprofit organization

- the name on your TechSoup account must be comparable to the name of the main library domain name of your G Suite Account, i.e. TechSoup account name "Fountaindale Library", G Suite main library domain name "fountaindale.lib.il.us". (Fountaindale application for Google for Nonprofits Account was rejected once because our TechSoup account name was originally "Bolingbrook Library" and Google complained they could not find a connection between "Bolingbrook Library" and our G Suite domain of "fountaindale.lib.il.us". I had to request TechSoup change our account name to "Fountaindale Library" and then reapply with Google)

Request a Google for Nonprofits account

- request a Google for Nonprofits account directly from Google using their online process. 

- respond to all emails from Google regarding your request with any information they request.

According to Google; The most common reasons for rejection are either the domain isn’t actually set up with a Google Apps account or the domain ownership has not been  

verified. So make sure you have completed both these steps if you have not  

already:

Set up your domain at  

https://www.google.com/a/signup/?enterprise_product=GOOGLE.G4NP&hl=en.

Verify your domain using one of these options:  

https://support.google.com/a/topic/1409901.

Finally, a couple of observations; 

1) the process took several months with multiple fits and starts as it is all conducted online and through email, and Google is very particular with requiring all i's dotted and t's crossed to be exactly the way they want. 

2) in my experience there is no consistency in how companies recognize and grant non profit status to libraries. 

END

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[Taylor Devlin]

Unfortunately, public libraries do not qualify as non-profit with TechSoup anymore so that route no longer works, Paul. You can, however, sign up for a Google Cloud Identity Free account which allows for free enterprise device management via the Google Admin Console. This is what we are using, and is the best option for libraries looking to manage public chrome devices only, who do not need a whole Google workspace environment. If you are already paying for Workspace and would like to switch to Cloud Identity Free, you can do so within the admin console under billing > subscriptions > add Cloud Identity Free + remove Google Workspace. Note: You will still need to pay for the device specific Enterprise licenses.

For those who need a full Workspace environment for staff, I believe the only current way to get free/non-profit pricing is to sign-up via a 501c3 group (Friends of Library, etc). if your library has such a thing. Google no longer recognizes libraries themselves as non-profit groups.

Taylor Devlin, Technology

Watertown Free Public Library

Watertown, MA 02472

617-972-6431 ext. 17142

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/chromebooks_lib/CADUwz-JUwp-eLSX4Fs%3De5rDswb7gZ8_-Lk14CidAZD8M0YCbBA%40mail.gmail.com.

[Lucien Kress]

I wonder if Techsoup's new program giving libraries nonprofit status for Microsoft offers would reestablish a "handle" for Google to use to qualify libraries for their nonprofit program. 

Lucien

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[Paul Mills]

That's a bummer!  I do know a library in Illinois did it in 2021 with some type of modification to what we did.  I'll see if I can find out how they made it work.

[Michelle Mears]

FYI

The new Acer Add-In-One model is due at CDWG in April 2023.

https://www.acer.com/us-en/desktops-and-all-in-ones/add-in-one/add-in-one-24

 

We use LibData for our workstation management which includes time limits and print management including wireless printing.  https://libdata.com/

We have been using this since 2014 to manage ChromeOS workstations for public access.  We keep a few Windows laptops around for people who are trying to access resources that require that platform, but for 98% of our users a web browser works fine and they mostly have Google accounts themselves.  There have been very few problems over 8 years, mostly with W2s, bank statements, and check stubs that create a PDF on the fly but I think that might be mostly worked out.  We don’t have to license or install any freeze programs, office software, or other security.

 

I have been trying for a long time to get other public libraries in my state to look at ChromeOS as a viable desktop for public computing but can’t seem to reach anyone.  For a small library without tech staff, I think it would be great.  I am glad we did it and won’t go back, though I may add a few Macs in the future if we do a media studio.  I am starting to switch out staff workstations for ChromeOS when Windows is not needed.  Even a few here and there will lower our third-party IT support charges.  And with the all-in-ones we have saved energy as well.  We don’t check out Chromebooks for general use but we do have 4 circulating kits with a Chromebook and wifi hotspot for our Excel high school diploma program.

 

If you are trying to sign up for Google for Non-Profits and your Friends or Foundation group is 501c3 but not really as cooperative as you would wish, you really do not need them to do much but sign up for TechSoup and verify their 501c3 and then I think there is a small verification code to generate to share with Google but after that you never have to interface with the non-profit that creates the account.  There is some domain stuff if Google is going to do your email, etc., but again it does not require help, assistance, or sign-off from the 501c3.

[Lucien Kress]

I think it's a great solution. I would love ideas to help wean staff from the assumption that Microsoft Office is 100% essential on public computers, not to mention staff computers. That is really the limiting factor for us.

Lucien

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