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Book Review of The Accidental Techie: Supporting, Managing, And Maximizing Your Nonprofit's Technology

tatjana avatar reviewed Stuffed Full of Insightful tidbits on + 27 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1


This book is for those of us who found ourselves, through our love/understanding of computers, as our small organization's de facto IT department. It gives one step-by-step information and resources about being effective in that role.

As one who entered and found myself floundering around because I had no idea where to begin in an organization that had no foundation for technology services. This was a miracle... even if you do not believe in miracles. I received this book in an interlibrary loan programme after doing a desperate keyword search on Amazon. No joke. I was completely overwhelmed. I thought, why the hell not? It was exactly what the doctor ordered. Everyone who is working for a smallish nonprofit needs this book. If only to realize you are not alone, you need this book.

The corresponding websites and forums alone are worth the price of the book. In spite of the age of the tome (2005), the information is not outdated. From advice as basic as, "Take an inventory of all of your machines with all of the software etc on them and keep a copy of it off site" to "Get involved with a local group of nonprofit techies who deal with CMSes and here's how to find one". There's a bit of information valuable to every level of experience.

It's rather like the precursor to a wiki. Indeed there is a wiki now that reflects the book itself.

Cheers, techie.