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Linux at the Library?
Dean Siren asks: "Has anyone put a copy of Linux at a public or school library, free to check out, copy, install, and return? It's legal, and for many people would be a more convenient way to get ahold of Linux than purchasing or downloading (by putting it in a school library, it's almost as much forced exposure as Channel 1). I'm still talking with my local librarians about it, and wondering if it's an effective way to get 'converts'." What an interesting thought. I may have to check on doing this at my local library and those of you interested in this can check in your neck of the woods, as well. It would be interesting to see how such an idea is received.
for those who don't have high-speed internet access. we could also go the extra step and install CD-burners on computers in libraries with fast connections. This way, a librarian could download the most recent version of whatever distro is requested. A patron would just have to bring his/her own blank CD. -or is this all just a big pipe dream?
"...today consumers have been conditioned to think of beer when they see a bullfrog..."
My library (ComBi = ComputerBibliothek) does this. They have a couple of boxed Linux Distros (including instrcutions) there and even run some KDE Workstations for Surfing. The problem with the Distributions is that they're totally outdated: Especially newbies have no use for RedHat 6, SuSe 6.4 or Slackware 5... okay they're boxed and come with a handbook etc. IMO it would be better to have some up to date ISOs there and give them away with the official installing instructions.
Boycot? Blackout? Subscriptions?
I don't care!
- If you're going to install something as complex as this, you really need your own CD.
- People who learn about software from library books tend to be techno-muggles. Are you really doing such a person a favor by throwing an entire new OS at them? What about the poor librarians who end up having to provide tech support, and taking the blame from people who unintentionally destroy their Windows installation?
- If you're going to be an evangelist, be serious about it. There are any number of ways you could make Linux CDs available, but that's like those obnoxious little religious tracts you find in phone booths. Linux isn't just a technology -- it's a community. If you want to bring people into this community, be prepared to do some actual work. Join or start a local LUG. Work with other penguinites to stage public demos and classes.
Not that a public library is useless for your purposes. It's full of resources to help you get the word out -- community rooms, tech-savy and tech-wannabe librarians, bulletin boards.Unsuprisingly, public libraries have totally embraced the social and technical revolution that is the Internet. This has benefited a lot of people who wouldn't have online access if they had to pay for it or set it up themselves. But as much as public libraries have done, it's not nearly enough! We've all seen the long lines of people waiting to use the web boxes.
This is an opportunity for Linux evangelists, provided they're willing to do some actual work. Get a bunch of obsolete P90s from some dumpter. Install Linux and basic web browing software. Donate them to the public library -- along with human time it will take to install and maintain these boxes. That last part is important -- you're not doing anybody a favor by giving them technolgy that will just gather dust.
That's a plan for raising awareness of Linux -- and squeezing at that damn digital divide, too.