The museum (and rare-book-archive) world probably already has solutions for this, given that displaying artifacts in the museum requires constant monitoring of temperature and humidity. Of course, I expect those solutions to be expensive due to the critical nature of the components contained therein.

To summarize, it's probably been done before, so building your own might not necessarily be the way to go.

But really, this is just a thought experiment, isn't it? :)

--Joel


Joel Richard
Lead Web Developer, Web Services Department
Smithsonian Institution Libraries | http://www.sil.si.edu/
(202) 633-1706 | [log in to unmask]


On May 1, 2012, at 3:39 PM, Ellen K. Wilson wrote:

> This is really more of a thought experiment than an actual project, but 
> I thought some people might get a kick out of it - maybe someone has 
> even done it.
> 
> We are in the process of redesigning our library homepage. During the 
> fall semester we had a team of freshmen CIS students do a basic 
> usability and design service learning project and we are now 
> incorporating as much of their feedback as possible. We'd like to be as 
> student-centric as possible.
> 
> This got me thinking about the top two suggestions in the library's 
> feedback box - 1) we want a coffee shop and 2) it's too cold/hot in the 
> library. I figure I covered number one by throwing in some Javascript on 
> the page (*groan*) but I see an opportunity with the second one. We do 
> have microclimates within the library, so while it may be hot on 3N, 
> chances are good it's freezing on 4S. Given that actually fixing this is 
> beyond the library's control, what if we put wireless temperature 
> sensors throughout the building and displayed their readings on the 
> library homepage?
> 
> So, if one were to attempt this:
> -How would you go about it? (hardware- or software-wise)
> -Could it be done for cheap?
> -Would it be OCLC-approved?
> 
> Best regards,
> Ellen
> 
> DISCLAIMER: The a/c is out in the library (again) and I think the high 
> temperatures in my office may be frying my brain.
> 
> -- 
> Ellen Knowlton Wilson
> Instructional Services Librarian
> Room 250, University Library
> University of South Alabama
> 5901 USA Drive North
> Mobile, AL 36688
> (251) 460-6045
> [log in to unmask]