Here's an example of the kind of thing I'm talking about when I say
"micro-development board":
http://technabob.com/blog/2011/02/03/dreamplug-mini-power-plug-computer/This
isn't the best example - it's obviously being sold to a certain extent
as novelty hardware, and it shows, but something like this could work fairly
well as a web server for the area.
You can actually get substantially cheaper than this, if you're willing to
do some digging and/or do some component assembly - although, of course,
then your mailing expenses might rise. It won't solve the lightning problem
(which is fascinating/terrifying to me - outlet to device arcing is
freaky!), but many of the small linux single-board computers are low enough
power draw that an APC or other battery solution could run them for a long
time off of wall power; you'd need someone to unplug it when the storm was
coming, but that's going to be true of the iPhone, too, likely.
If you were able to find or build the right software, I could see something
like this working as a server, with an iPod touch serving as the scanner,
for example. You could also (if you got one with a video output) attach a
scanner via USB, and use it for both check-in and check-out.
If you do go the iDevice route (or Android, etc), you might be able to get
away without a physical scanner attached - there are several apps that do
barcode recognition through the devices' cameras.
Hope at least some of this is helpful.
- Dave
On Mon, Sep 26, 2011 at 10:24 AM, Roy Tennant <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> From the person in a position to know: "We have not yet figured out
> pricing. We are definitely considering the needs of the developing
> nations but don't have answers yet. At this point we are most focused
> on the feature set that can be activated with no human intervention.
> Looking for the intersection of the basic need and most automatable
> (that probably is not a word)."
> Roy
>
> On Sun, Sep 25, 2011 at 3:14 PM, rowan eisner <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
> > Ok, I tried to sign up for WSSL and you have to be in US. Also, if it
> will
> > cost 'a cup of coffee a day' am I right that would be at least $700 a
> year?
> > That's our entire annual budget. So probably only for first world
> countries
> > anyway. And you're meant to have one or two full-time staff which we
> don't
> > have. Still, I'll email them and see what they say. There are probably
> 1000s
> > of 3rd world libraries doing everything manually still and if there are
> > economies of scale we may be able to afford it.
> >
> > Cheers
> > Rowan
> >
> > On 24 September 2011 17:10, David Mayo <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >
> >> It's so experimental, that it's having a Free *Trail*.
> >>
> >> That is a good suggestion, by the way - I'm just amused by the typo. It
> >> appears twice on this page, once on the sign-up page, and perhaps
> >> elsewhere. Also, "absolutely" is misspelled as "absolutley" on the
> sign-up
> >> page.
> >>
> >> - Dave Mayo
> >>
> >> On Sat, Sep 24, 2011 at 6:45 PM, Roy Tennant <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
> >>
> >> > Actually, I have an even better option from OCLC:
> >> >
> >> > Web Site for Small Libraries (WSSL)
> >> > http://experimental.worldcat.org/lib/
> >> >
> >> > It is really aimed at very small libraries, so it is very easy to use
> >> > but still has some basic circulation capabilities. It's in free trial
> >> > mode now, so take a look and see if it does what you need.
> >> > Roy Tennant
> >> > OCLC Research
> >> >
> >> > On Sat, Sep 24, 2011 at 12:22 AM, JONATHAN LEBRETON <
> [log in to unmask]
> >> >
> >> > wrote:
> >> > > You may be able to do something with OCLCs so-called Web Management
> >> > System whereby your OPAC (in the form of WorldCat local.) and circ
> >> > functions are in the cloud..
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > > Jonathan LeBreton
> >> > > Senior Associate University Librarian
> >> > > Temple University Libraries
> >> > > Philadelphia PA 19122
> >> > > Voice: 215-204-3184
> >> > > Fax: 215-204-5201
> >> > > Mobile: 215-284-5070
> >> > > [log in to unmask]
> >> > > [log in to unmask]
> >> > >
> >> > > ----- Original Message -----
> >> > > From: rowan eisner [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> >> > > Sent: Friday, September 23, 2011 11:51 PM
> >> > > To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
> >> > > Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Can a library automate without a computer
> yet?
> >> > >
> >> > > Hi Dave
> >> > >
> >> > > It's an honesty system, card based, the way most community libraries
> >> used
> >> > to
> >> > > work before computers. Because it's unstaffed about 15% of books
> aren't
> >> > > returned but we get a similar amount of donations. So we have that
> >> > constant
> >> > > churn to take in and out of a card catalog manually.
> >> > >
> >> > > We need borrowers to be able to check out books. I was thinking
> maybe
> >> > with a
> >> > > scanner attached to an iphone running an app. I didn't think
> >> librarything
> >> > > could do circulation. I thought it was just a catalog.
> >> > >
> >> > > What do you reckon?
> >> > >
> >> > > Cheers
> >> > > Rowan
> >> > >
> >> > > On 23 September 2011 21:34, David Mayo <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >> > >
> >> > >> I think it's going to be difficult to find a solution that's
> entirely
> >> > cloud
> >> > >> based.
> >> > >>
> >> > >> What functionality do you need? If you have a very limited subset
> of
> >> > >> ILS/OPAC functions in mind, theoretically a LibraryThing paid
> account
> >> or
> >> > >> similar quasi-library service might suffice.
> >> > >>
> >> > >> I'm having trouble understanding how circulation works/is expected
> to
> >> > work
> >> > >> when librarians aren't present. Is there a sign-out sheet? How do
> >> you
> >> > >> monitor for lossage?
> >> > >>
> >> > >> - Dave Mayo
> >> > >>
> >> > >> On Fri, Sep 23, 2011 at 10:42 PM, rowan eisner <
> [log in to unmask]
> >> > >> >wrote:
> >> > >>
> >> > >> > Thanks Esme
> >> > >> >
> >> > >> > No, the library is open all hours but volunteers just come in 2
> hrs
> >> a
> >> > >> week.
> >> > >> > I'm not sure how it could work but if we leave anything plugged
> in
> >> it
> >> > >> will
> >> > >> > get stolen or struck by lightning. We're in cloud forest.
> >> > >> >
> >> > >> > With koha and open-ils do we have to run the software on a server
> or
> >> > do
> >> > >> we
> >> > >> > just get an account on an existing system? Running a system
> >> ourselves
> >> > >> might
> >> > >> > take a lot for us to figure out.
> >> > >> >
> >> > >> > Cheers
> >> > >> > Rowan
> >> > >> >
> >> > >> > On 23 September 2011 16:38, Cowles, Esme <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
> >> > >> >
> >> > >> > > Rowan-
> >> > >> > >
> >> > >> > > Having a hosted catalog and circ system seems very easy to do.
> >> > There
> >> > >> are
> >> > >> > > several open source library systems such as Koha and Evergreen
> >> that
> >> > >> might
> >> > >> > > suit your needs:
> >> > >> > >
> >> > >> > > http://www.koha.org/
> >> > >> > >
> >> > >> > > http://open-ils.org/
> >> > >> > >
> >> > >> > > Are there volunteers present the entire time the library is
> open
> >> to
> >> > >> > > borrowers? Or are you counting on borrowers having smartphones
> to
> >> > >> > complete
> >> > >> > > self-checkout?
> >> > >> > >
> >> > >> > > -Esme
> >> > >> > > --
> >> > >> > > Esme Cowles <[log in to unmask]>
> >> > >> > >
> >> > >> > > "I don't need to be forgiven." -- The Who, Baba O'Reilly
> >> > >> > >
> >> > >> > > On Sep 23, 2011, at 3:27 PM, rowan eisner wrote:
> >> > >> > >
> >> > >> > > > Apologies if this is the wrong forum, but if anyone can point
> me
> >> > in
> >> > >> the
> >> > >> > > > right direction...
> >> > >> > > >
> >> > >> > > > We have an unstaffed library and can't leave a computer in
> it.
> >> Is
> >> > >> there
> >> > >> > a
> >> > >> > > > way to automate
> >> > >> > > >
> >> > >> > > > 1) with no computer - do circulation and catalog in the
> cloud.
> >> > >> > Volunteers
> >> > >> > > > bring in laptops to do circulation and clients access catalog
> >> with
> >> > >> > > iphones
> >> > >> > > > 2) that doesn't cost a fortune
> >> > >> > > >
> >> > >> > > > Thanks so much
> >> > >> > > >
> >> > >> > > > Rowan
> >> > >> > >
> >> > >> >
> >> > >>
> >> > >
> >> >
> >>
> >
>
|
