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Free Software at the Local Library?
DoraLives asks: "I live in a small town in East Central Florida, nearly in the shadow of the launch pads at Cape Canaveral. People generally expect that a place like this would be quite technologically advanced. Unfortunately, this isn't always true, and a case in point is the local library. They have a nice collection of CD's, and you might think you'd see Free Software CD's on the rack right next to Frank Zappa, Duke Ellington, and Bach. Think again, no such thing obtains here, or in any of the other libraries hereabouts." Aside from Linux and BSD install discs, what other pieces of software might make good items for the software section in your local public library?
"I went and talked to the director of the local library about having them provide a Knoppix disk or something similar to those unfortunates, who cannot afford a high speed internet connection to download and burn their own copies. Mr. Director seemed quite unaware as to the entire concept of Free Software and asked me to provide him with a 'list of this free software,' for his review. So, as part of my research into what's available out there, I thought I'd run this one past the users of Slashdot and see what they might recommend by way of operating systems, utilities, applications, and all the rest of the free stuff that's available for download and burning, that would make good items for the shelves of a lending library.
Methinks the inhabitants of my little burg would be tickled to find out that the entire computing world is NOT owned by a corporation in Washington state. I further think that this could be a fine way to get the word, and the actual software, out to the masses. Am I right? Can Slashdot help me with Mr. Director's need for information so he can make an informed decision."
Methinks the inhabitants of my little burg would be tickled to find out that the entire computing world is NOT owned by a corporation in Washington state. I further think that this could be a fine way to get the word, and the actual software, out to the masses. Am I right? Can Slashdot help me with Mr. Director's need for information so he can make an informed decision."
Why not just set up a PC with a burner, post instructions and allow people to burn to their own CDs?
It would save the hassle of checking out a CD (like the music ones) and the software provided would, by definition, be legal to copy.
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1. Mozilla.
2. Manuals.
3. Slashdot archives.
4. Linux/Unix howtos
5. Freshmeat archived snapshots.
6. Gnu utils.
7. All the distros...
I'm going to actually be checking into this soon at our local lib. My whole compter experience started off at a freenet helpdesk in the library back in like 95...Man.. I can give bacl.
-=fshalor
It probably doesn't answer the question, since my local library doesn't lend software. But every month or so I burn a handful of CD-Rs with Knoppix, Lindows^W Linspire, and OpenOffice and drop them in the public area of the lobby. I label them with a unique URL so I can see if anybody's paying attention. I get hits off maybe half of them, and occasionally an email to the tune of "hey, you got any more of this stuff?" Hopefully I'm collecting some good karma somewhere. :-)
Which library? Just out of curiosity. I live in Indialantic, also under the shadow of the cape. There are three libraries near me, Eau Gallie Library on Pineapple Road, the Melbourne Beach City Library where Nick's Steakhouse used to be on A1A, and some library I haven't gone to in Satellite Beach.
:)
I may be interested in helping out on your endeavor, since I am local and I support spreading awareness of free software.
"Black holes are where God divided by zero." - Steve Wright
this is a great idea...
:) for those who did not have a modem and access to a BBS.
back in the late 80s, the Vancouver Public Library used to have a station where you could access a CD ROM full of all the Public Domain utilities (rememeber those days?
You can setup a special PC which has a tool that only burns selected software. We used to take our own 5.25 floppies and copy PD software, so there is no reason people cannot acquire a $0.50 CD and take home goodies.
less maintenenance/cost this way to the library...
-farshad
...and remember in your brain boggle, wrong starts with a wubble-u.
If you want to really help your local public library dig open source, point Koha out to them. With what we pay for an automated library system (it's enough to make you ralph, trust me) Koha is an attractive alternative.
Many libraries still don't have high speed connections since many libraries are rural public libraries like mine. Scarily, we're still a 56k connection type of place. So the CD thing is quite cool. The second reason we would want this is because of those circulation statistics we'd get from checking out the CDs.
Your third roadblock - most directors gradumatated from liberry school about a zillion years ago. Computers are new to them. They shouldn't be, but trust me, most directors are 50-70 year old white guys that haven't gotten sunlight in a billion years.
Along with linux and BSD...alot of people who can't afford programs like microsoft office or photoshop and need software don't know what to do...some pirate and some buy crapware...librarys should have cds for free or for a small fee that have Gimp, Open office,Mozilla,Firebird,Filezilla,Putty,emacs,vim, etc...
for windows...that would be a great help...this great free reasource should be offered in local librarys for those who are not comfortable with switching platforms and in the future it would easier to change platforms...i mean somone gouse to walmart as an example...they see a linux box...with screen shots of the programs they know and use...much easier than looking at something and saying to yourself...whats that?
Distributing OSS software (maybe software in general) via CD is lame. In my experience, by the time you get a CD, half of its contents are out of date.
...
Don't most libraries nowadays have internet access? Maybe broadband? (if not, they should ... but that is a different rant)
... strapped for cash? Make 'em provide their own blanks ... (cd burners are cheap nowadays)
... particularly information that is prone to becoming dated quickly. ... my claim is that the best way to do that is give it to em from the source; fresh, hot, up-to-date, and maybe they will learn something from that experience (like where to go to *get* FOSS!
... hence my suggestion for a link page ... a jumping off point, or directory of sorts. Perhaps local cached copies of n00b-appropriate distros, maybe even a few pre-burnt CDs to cut down on the wait time (Knoppix would be an excellent choice for this)
... ... and the ability to make a cd of what they want ...what value does shelving copies add to the transaction?
My first Linux distro was a store-bought, shrink-wrapped copy of RedHat. I was hip deep into it before I realized it was a couple of versions old
So how tough would it be for a library to set up a mirror of the ISOs for linux/bsd/etc. distros, and a directory of tarballs for packages?
Then all you need is a few cd burners, and you are all set
Strapped for the storage space? How about just an index, a starting point for the uninitiated, that will point them to the projects' sites where they can download the ISOs, RPMs, DEBs, etc. that they want. (Cache 'em with squid, maybe).
Now, the library doesn't have to worry about the CDs being returned, or being damaged (or getting 'stale').
My point is, (and I am truly not trying to pick on anyone here) that the mindset of someone asking this question is a bit askew; they are overlooking the Internet! Now I am a dead tree lover; obsessed, really. But I realize that dead trees are no longer the best way to distribute information in all cases
All you are really interested in is getting folks information here, right? just the bits
The library should focus on helping people find that information
One last point to beat the proverbial dead horse
If the library has broadband internet access, where a user can download debian, for example, and a little help finding it for the newcomers
My library has RedHat Install disks and install disks for some other linux... but they are REALLY old versions, and my library only has them because they have books like "RedHat Linux for Dummies" and "Corel Linux in 10 days" and stuff like that, and the books happen to have the install disks in the back. (Upon looking, a CD was missing from one of them, and I actually burned a new copy and placed it in the book... though I would never take out a book as noobish as that,dont worry :) )
I used to work as a sysadmin at a library. A co-worker wanted to donate several copies of FreeBSD he had. The problem the library had was that they had a boilerplate policy for all software CDs that said you promised to uninstall it when you returned the CD, not to copy it, etc etc. Free software didn't fit into the boilerplate library policy, so they weren't quite sure what to do. They wanted to get it out, but were worried about deailng with multiple circulation policies.
>>"Why not just set up a PC with a burner,
.sig around here somewhere
>>post instructions and allow people to burn
>>to their own CDs?"
>That would let people come in and make
>copies of the non-free stuff.
Set up a box restricted to burning from ISO
files only. Provide a simple click'n'burn
interface and a laminated card next to the
PC that would explain the different distros,
number of disks needed, hardware needed and pointers to paper references both in and
outside the library.
The library could provide CDRs at a small
profit to pay for upkeep on the system and
to buy more paper references. This would be
a great thing for a local Linux User Group to sponsor. It would create much greater public awareness of the local group, GNU/Linux and
the Open Source movement.
And no drone from Redmond (or anywhere else)
could complain about software piracy.
There's a
Does anyone know if it would be legal to make a CD full of Windows patches and service packs? Such a CD would be incredibly useful for me, and perhaps other people. Someone could write a nice pamphlet on how to protect your computer, and provide a simple installation program for installing necessary patches from the CD.
It'd be like one of those health pamphlets, such as "how to protect yourself against skin cancer", but geared towards protecting Windows computers.
Replacements for commonly-exploited parts of Windows could also be included, such as Firefox, and as a bonus, MiKTex and a tutorial can be included to free college students from the grasps of Microsoft Equation Editor ;)
I work in a small library as a clerk/computer tech, and I'm currently trying to some copies of The OpenCD into our collection. I still have to run it by our director, but hopefully we'll have a good collection of Open Source software available by the end of summer. A lot of our patrons are students who come in to type up reports. If I had to guess, most of them probably have computers at home, but might not have any good word processing software. OpenOffice would probably work just as well for them as MS Office, and we would be saving them a lot of money. If their are any other librarians out there who have been successful lending Open Source software, I'd love to hear about it. Drop me an e-mail at: advancina@manhattan.lib.il.us Thanks :)
If a program that is not free is available, a user can check it out, have it home, burn a duplicate CD and have the CD back at the library the same day.
Books on the other hand, would be practically impossible to duplicate in the time the library allows you to have it in your possession.
Basically, it is not cost-effective to copy a book, which is why books that would otherwise cost you some $$$ can be available at a library.
Calling atheism and agnosticism a religion is like calling bald a hair color.
Um, I like the notion, but to be completely honest: I'd copy.
Yes I would.
And so would everybody I know. I'm pretty sure.
I'm actually very conservative about this, I think I have about 4 copied CD's in a total collection of 300+ CD's and 400+ records, but still...
I know I would do it because where I lived a year ago, I could buy pirated software for $4 as opposed to twice or trice the market price in the US, and guess what, I bought the pirates.
It's a shame, really, I won't waste your time with excuses, but the bottom line is: Software firm fears are grounded.
I'm not waving a flag for proprietary, afaic everything should be free, but as long as it isn't I don't expect programmers or musicians to turn into revolutionaries just because I'm too lame to pay for other people's work.
I think, therefore I am...I think.
Although this comment is scored funny, it's not really.
Most libraries would be very hesitant to put a 'contested copyright' item on the shelf for copying (after checkout - at home) knowing that they MIGHT get legally harassed for doing it.
This is most true for operating system software CDs.
It is not true for normal music/audio/spoken word CDs as public libraries take the position that ordinary CDs that are checked out will only be listened to and not copied.
I get most of my music from the two local libraries (one main library for the city and the library system in the wealthy suburbs). I used to just grab about ten CDs at a time off the shelf and rip them to MP3s, listen to them selectively, and burn the best music to 15 cent CD-R blanks. After about a thousand albums, I got a little bored with stuff like "1000 Bulgarian Accordians Play the Beatles", but I still found lots of interesting stuff that I would have never heard from any other avenue of music exposure.
I copied a lot of music that I'm not interested in now but may be in the future because I believe that it's only a matter of time before the RIAA targets libraries for having CDs available for checkout. You could come into the library one day and find all the music CDs, just, gone. All it takes is one paid-off judge. And we sure have plenty of those around here. So I copied everything that I could with the idea that I might possibly enjoy a different type of music (like jazz or classical) in ten years time when all the music may possibly have been removed from the library shelves.
[How's that for a verb tense? Subjunctive Future Perfect? Too much college, not enough beer]
Many big city libraries bought lots of CD ROM titles for major expenditure during the first wave of CD software in the early to mid 1990's. Very little of it got actually checked out or used. The libraries probably won't be buying much more software for circulation again.
I do occasionly see CDs in books on the shelves, for example, in the travel section of the local surburban library there is a set of six CDs that have the detailed topographic maps of the entire United States (except Alaska and Hawaii). And what few computer books that get bought will have their CDs included.
The argument that publishers would be totally against having libraries circulate their products for free is balanced by the reality that libraries actually buy a large percentage of the stuff that gets published. A first novel by an unknown but talented writer might sell a few thousand copies on the basis of book tours and positive reviews. But if the good reviews in prestigous literary magazines leads 50,000 libraries each to purchase one copy, then the publishers overlook the supposed loss of revenue from having twenty people read the book from the library. It's a symbotic relationship that has been acknowledged by intelligent book publishers since Ben Franklin opened the first public library in America (before it became the USA).
Software publishers, however, are mostly climbing the up-side of the Bell Curve and see any possible loss of a full retail sale as a theft. It would be difficult if not impossible to come to mutually beneficial arrangement for creative distribution of software and compensation with these guys.
Basically, it's a class issue. What kind of people have it and what kind don't.
I nominate the cover discs for the monthly magazine "Linux Format". I get 2 or 3 CDs per issue, and there's a DVD subscription option for those who want it. In the past they've included just about every major distro's ISOs, including bootable images. There's also lot's of bleedin' edge stuff that's too big for most of us to download, like the new OpenOffice or KDE3.2. Sometimes they've even got some really expensive proprietary packages that run as crippleware but they're usually complete enough to get some good use out of them.
So that's my vote for my lending library. But I'd still keep my subscription anyways.
Slashdotters are supposed to be evangelists for FSS. I would rather not force the library to:
1. Sell CDs, or
2. Dedicate a PC to copying CDs, or
3. Expect visitors to install Linux.
A better method is to follow AOL's business model. Provide CDs with a great label and a box that explains why you want one. Create CDs of FSS that runs on MSWindows. Let the CDs contain:
0. Easy installer that autoruns. Check the boxes and each installer runs without much human intervention.
1. Mozilla (browser, email)
2. OpenOffice.org (word processor, spreadsheet)
3. GIMP (graphics)
4. Games (fun. Make cerain to include 10 versions of solitaire-type card games.)
5. Extras (anything the copier feels would be usable by the public. No repeats of functionality. Must be added to a hidden page of the install wizard if they are ever going to be used.)
Do not try to convince the public to change their OS. Just make available alternative software that works as well or better than what MS provides. Once the public is using apps that do not require MSWindows, then we advertise that they can switch OSes. But that will not happen in the library. That will happen when they order their new Dell and insist that it comes preloaded with Mozilla, OOo, and the GIMP. Then Dell will see that they can lower the price if they use Linux.
Remember the assumption that a very large portion of the public does not install software. Those that do are usually smart enough to insist on a particular OS. The rest only install spyware when a website/virus hits them, and Dell might prefer to sell them a PC that cannot be hit. (Then again, Dell profits by selling PCs to people who do not realize their PC is slow because they are running 47 spyware programs.)
Getting people to take these CDs home and put them in their PC will be a challenge. Do not put price (even $0.25), work (insert blank CD here), or other effort (downloading) to be obstacles. These people have 8 versions of AOL on their hard drives; use the method that works.
Let me buy a set of 50 CDs with display box for a very reasonable price, and I will convince the local library to keep it by the checkout. They can call me when they run low.
No, I will not do it myself. No time. I am not writing and testing the installer. Here is a way for someone to make money on FSS. I expect to read on Slashdot that someone has these CDs for sale very soon. Just make certain the box is very pretty, and the software very easy to install and use. Contact me if you want help writing the marketing. Do not put "GNU", "Linux", "FSS", "OSS" or any other techie words on the box or the CD. Use phrases like "No more internet pop-ups!", "Faster than Microsoft!" and "Free photo editing".
If you want to make a real company out of this, provide (phone) support. Fill the support center with out-of-work Slashdotters, charge $20 per call, and pay half to the techie.
I spend my life entertaining my brain.
Lots of books about FOSS, come with CDs included. So, libraries have been allowing the public to check out freeware CDs all along.