Rowan, you mentioned that a computer might be stolen or fried by lightning.
The more I read, the more I think a computer is the way to go, at the very
least to set up the database. Is there a way you can use surge protectors
and create a cage to go around the computer with it's scanner?
Nicole
MLS Student
Southern Connecticut State University
On Tue, Sep 27, 2011 at 11:50 AM, rowan eisner <[log in to unmask]>wrote:
> Yes, I'm betting WSSL will be what we're looking for. It's whether we can
> afford it and whether we can set up a secure self check point in an
> unstaffed library that doesn't have to be plugged into power.
>
> Thanks Cary
>
> On 27 September 2011 07:51, Cary Gordon <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > I'll bet that WSSL has a report generator that, while not necessarily
> > better than the eight of you, will allow you to more easily get
> > information about what your patrons are doing.
> >
> > Cary
> >
> > On Mon, Sep 26, 2011 at 11:33 AM, rowan eisner <[log in to unmask]>
> > wrote:
> > > Wow, that's amazing. That certainly opens up possibilities. It would be
> > > quite a challenge to get it all working buy they reckon it takes 3
> years
> > to
> > > barcode the books anyway, so it might keep me busy trying to figure it
> > out.
> > >
> > > I signed up for WSSL and just said I was in Philadelphia and emailed
> them
> > > and it does look like a possibility if we can afford it. Maybe the
> could
> > > license it out to a developing country to run it for the 3rd world at a
> > > tenth of the cost!
> > >
> > > Thanks so much for all your help. I've called a committee meeting this
> > > afternoon. The librarian is very resistant to automating and is highly
> > > skeptical that it can be made to work here. In the mean time eight of
> us
> > sit
> > > around on a monday afternoon being computers, just as they have for the
> > last
> > > 60 years!
> > >
> > > Cheers
> > > Rowan
> > > On 26 September 2011 09:43, David Mayo <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > >
> > >> 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
> > >> > >> > >> > >
> > >> > >> > >> >
> > >> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> > >
> > >> > >> >
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >
> > >> >
> > >>
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Cary Gordon
> > The Cherry Hill Company
> > http://chillco.com
> >
>
|
