CURRENT POSITION Library Associate, Takoma Park Maryland Library DEGREE Howard University School of Law, 1986 FAST FACT Shapiro loves writing short fiction and nonfiction that he distributes for free online, in print, and in Little Free Libraries, and encourages free duplication. FOLLOW YouTube: pshapiro; opensource.com/users/pshapiro; sites.google.com/site/philshapirobookreviews Photo by Maurice Belanger

Outside-of-Library Learning

Phil Shapiro is an enthusiastic champion of digital inclusion and outside-of-school learning, assisting youth and adults with public Linux computers at the Takoma Park Maryland Library (TPML) and singing the praises of open-source software through his YouTube channel. His advocacy goes beyond library walls, however; he and a group of friends have delivered hundreds of computers donated by community members to families in need. One recipient, then a third grader, learned to touch type 50 words per minute before reaching middle school—and recently graduated from Yale. Shapiro also created Pairs, a paper-based math game, using LibreOffice Calc, and freely distributes it worldwide, with versions for preschool through middle school.

Although not a degreed librarian, Shapiro loves connecting with people and is often recruited for outreach events. He tries to learn phrases in regular patrons’ languages, from Amharic to Spanish to Arabic. “My community has residents from 92 countries,” he says. “As an immigrant myself”—Shapiro lived all over the world growing up—“I love assisting them in pursuing their academic, creative, and career goals.”

Shapiro, a knitter, wants to see more male representation in textile arts, and is actively involved in TPML’s knitting and crochet group on his own time. He also encourages people to make music which, he says, mends the mind and awakens the spirit.

What’s next? Shapiro hopes to buy a large barn to host weekly gatherings for poetry, plays, dance, music making, and what he calls “passion talks,” similar to TED talks. “When you love to think,” he says, “so much more becomes possible in your life.”