May 30th, 2009
Get Well Soon Chris!
Before you read this, if it is the first you have heard the news it will come as quite a shock. It was very unexpected and while it isn’t good news by any stretch, things are starting to look a little better than they were last week. Here’s what is happening:
Last week, Chris Peters, a very dear friend of Libraryland, employee at techsoup and MaintainIT, author, former Washington State Library and Gates Foundation US Library Program employee and all around good person, very unexpectedly had a stroke at his home in San Francisco. He has been receiving intensive care and observation for almost a week now. Happily, things are starting to look better. In fact, I very unexpectedly just got off the phone with him shortly after getting a text message from him (which had me very nearly squealing with excitement I must confess). His text and call demonstrate that, all things considered, he is functioning very well. It was a such huge relief to hear his voice and have a conversation with him! His parents and his sister are at his side now and he is in good hands.
And it even looks like Chris will be up and around enough in the not too distant future to share more info himself and reply to well wishes. In the interim we wanted to let folks know what happened and that he is doing better. It would also be nice if you folks out there in Libraryland would send him good wishes.
At this point we don’t have an address to share that you can send cards (or cookies, assorted treats or amazon gift certificates) to. I’ll definitely share that here once we have it. Until then, it would be good to drop him a good wish on his facebook page, in comments here or via an email. If you can view it, his fb profile is here and his email is chrispeters72**at s i g n ** gmail dot com. You might even consider sending @cpetersc a message on Twitter. I’ll be sending well wishes via all those channels and I hope you’ll join me!
If you don’t know Chris, believe me, you really, really do want him to get well. He has worked tirelessly for many years to share, support and grow libraries. As Brenda Hough recently said on the techsoup blog: “Chris Peters, MaintainIT Cookbook author (is) one of my favorite people to turn to when I need to better understand something about library technology. If he doesn’t know the answer to a question I ask, he sees that as a challenge and soon he does know and explains it to me, too.”
Yep, that’s good ole’ Chris!
Here is a little more Chris Peters goodness for you…
Lot’s of folks have loved Chris’s writing work on “Recipes for a 5-Star Library” which you can download and use for yourself via this page. And just so you know, he’s got more cookbook authorship under his belt that you can find if you poke around a bit (like here).
And here is some of what he are written and published online at work for libraries and non-profits:
Choosing the Best Internet Connection
Tips for Buying Refurbished Computers
Understanding Cookies and Their Effect on Your Privacy
Selecting and Configuring a Firewall
How to Extend Your Wireless Network
Choosing a Disk-Cloning Solution for Your Nonprofit
Tips for Hiring IT Staff: Balancing Skills and Communication
Managing Your Organization’s Technology Assets
Leasing Computers and IT Equipment for Your Nonprofit
Anti-Spam Solutions for Nonprofits
Here is a link to his blog on the MaintainIT site.
Heck, he was even very recently was shown some love on the Google blog.
As you can see, Chris is thoughtful, informed, curious, engaged, and generous. It would be good to drop him a line of support during this difficult time.
Chris, we all wish you a speedy recovery and send you mad love, my brother!
PS- Here are some shots of Chris in action. The good stuff above is part of why Chris is our friend, but the pictures help tell more of the story. For one, Chris loves snacks. 
He shows great restraint or course, but my man loves a good snack:
This was a fun night for geeking out:
Chris presenting with me at last years Internet Librarian conference:
Chris charming an audience at WLA in 2008:
Hangin’ with his homies:
Hi Chris,
I don’t know you but my Facebook friend Michael Porter values both you and your work very highly and I trust his judgment. He said you were ill so I am wishing you the best of health and good thoughts for a speedy recovery!
Sincerely,
Luis
Luis Interiano
linter2@tigers.lsu.edu
MLIS candidate Aug 2009
health science libraries
LSU School of Library & Information Science
Thanks so much for this post, Michael! We’ve never met but I’ve heard your name both from Chris and Sarah since I work with both at TechSoup.
Sarah and I (and my hubby and toddler) visited Chris and his family today — we’ve been waiting impatiently for the A-OK to visit — so we were thrilled when we got his text messages and immediately loaded up the car and headed over to Redwood City.
Considering the circumstances, Chris looked terrific and was quipping and making clever comments, which was a huge relief to see our dear Chris as (mostly) himself.
He’s got some hard work ahead, but his level of improvement even in the past few days has been remarkable, according to his family.
Just to keep his mind and sense of humor in tip-tip shape as he recovers, we smuggled in some crappy magazines, books, cookies and pretzels (’cause he does like the snacks!) We weren’t there five minutes when he requested his first cookie — all good signs!
Anyway, thanks again for sharing the warm post about him. There are more people rooting for him than you might be aware because he really, truly is a wonderful guy.
Becky from TechSoup
This is just awful news to hear. Best wishes to Chris for a speedy recovery.
Chris,
I see you completely well and living your bliss.
Thank you for contributing your passion to libraries. Libraries are better for your contributions
Will be following your complete recovery and will be enjoying the benefits of your insights SOON!
Best,
Terry Barksdale
Librarian and Friend of Libraries
Chris,
I’ve been following your career from your time at the Washington State Library to your experience at techsoup. I just heard about your illness and am happy to hear that the real you is on it’s way back.
I wish you well as you recover. You’ve contributed a lot to libraries and I hope to hear a lot more of you and from you in coming years.
Take care,
Priscilla Ice
Spokane County Library District
Chris,
I just saw the news about your health issues. Just want you to know that we in the Library Development program of the Washington State Library are pulling for you and send you our best wishes and virtual hugs. You are missed around here. Wishing you a full and speedy recovery.
Rand Simmons
Chris, my brother, is an amazing man with an amazing brain. He had a massive stroke, which went untreated for several days, but has made tremendous progress in just a few short days. He is so blessed to have so many friends, new and not-so-new, supporting him. Let’s keep thinking positive thoughts for a continued speedy recovery.
Wow what a shock. I’ve known Chris for a few years now through projects we’ve worked on. Thank you for sharing this news. Annie my thought are with you and Chris and the entire family.