Hm.  And if you collected and recorded the data for some period of time, you might be able to use it to convince Building Services (or whoever) to try to fix the problem.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> Junior Tidal
> Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2012 4:09 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] whimsical homepage idea
> 
> Hi Ellen,
> 
> I think this is a great idea. If you could collect temperature readings with a
> date/timestamp, you could even create graphs of indoor weather over time.
> Maybe this could be done with a PHP/MySQL script, or even have the
> temperature "tweeted" using the Twitter API?
> 
> I actually had the idea of scraping temperature readings from weather.com
> and running Javascript on our blog to represent the weather. Things like
> snow or changing the brightness of the page if there's overcast.
> 
> Best,
> 
> Junior Tidal
> Assistant Professor
> Web Services and Multimedia Librarian
> New York City College of Technology, CUNY
> 300 Jay Street, Rm A434
> Brooklyn, NY 11201
> 718.260.5481
> 
> http://library.citytech.cuny.edu
> 
> 
> >>> "Ellen K. Wilson" <[log in to unmask]> 5/1/2012 3:39
> PM
> >>> >>>
> 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]