Thank you for correcting me on this point, I will try to be more precise with my wording.
My main point was that I added a document on the CD with OpenOffice which changes the function of the CD. There are many documents that would be valuable to be made available to the public. In places where there is no interet connection. These could be made available to them through a CD such as those from the Gutenberg project.
This is an interesting question. But before I answer it I must point out that there are lots of people out there still using windows 98 who have never updated it in there lives. To be able to updated software you will need to be connected to the internet. For all the talk of updating computers within 10 minutes of a security flaw arriving is still nonsense to the vast majority of the people out there. This of course is a huge problem for everyone. The only ones that can do this properly are those that are connected to broadband. If they have broadband then they won't need CD's Until then CD's can be made for libraries on a yearly basis. This is the same as what corporations do now anyway. If they really want the latest then they can buy it but it has nothing to do with the libraries
The CD's are there to introduce people to Free and Open Source software. There would be no other way to get it because there is no marketing for Open Source software. People will not try linux unless they see it. They won't try it unless they know about it. The people that stand to get the greatest benefit from it are those that do not have internet access
I am and never had wanted to change any institution. This is to make OpenSource available to the public. All these institutions have a duty to get a good deal for the public. If I can give 70% of the population of Scotland access to OpenOffice without the need for any internet access for a price of about $800 US If government institutions cannot see that this is a good deal then I for one would vote them out. If the whole of scotland starts using Opensource software it will be very interesting to see how Enterprise, Government will quickly find a way to sort this out.
Having CD vendors as points of contacts can be one solution. Companies such as IBM, SUN, Novell, Redhat, Suse, Xandros are points of contact. Of course they can always just do it themselves instead of trying to contract it out.
The CD's I donated were just CD's and not books. Just like Music CD's they will be checked to see if they are there when they are returned.
Many people have not had a reason to learn how to burn ISO's because they have never had a reason to do it before.
I would think that showing your local librarian how to do this would give them an incentive. Especially if they know they can get CD's like the Guttenberg Project or TheOpenCD
It is a bad idea for members of the public to hand in home burnt CD's That is why the companies that presently sell CD's are the best contact. They can also give libraries CD's in the correct DVD cover and liability statement. These companies stand to make a lot of money because they can become trusted sources of high quality CD's Their expertise in this field is very valuable.
I think a very good way for Source forge to raise money is to create a "Best of Sourceforge" CD put it in a cover that is suitable to Librarians(please see my howto) and sell it to them via advertising in magazines for professional librarians
Please talk to your librarian first. The book is not yours and as I stated at the begining Librarians cannot trust any member of the public giving them software for very good reasons. Although your thoughts are in the right direction you must consider the reponsibilities librarians have for their patrons.
A computer that is not connected to the internal library network. With a document stating who is responsible combined with a letter from your local councillor, Senator, politition does help further discussion. Donating the CD's to the librarian first and not to the library will help. Especially a CD from the Gutenberg project or TheOpenCD. I would not nesessarily put on Linux distributions because it will scare the hell out of a non technical Librarian.
I have tried this. Unfortunately people usually keep them and don't pass it on. This is expensive and only reaches the people immediately surrounding yourself. By having a CD in a library you are more likely to reach different groups of people and you know that the CD will be copied many times. The best solution all round is to give libraries a computer that creates CD's from ISOs. This gives complete control to libraries over content and insures larger distibution.
As I said in the article and Libraries need trusted vendors to receive their CD's from and they will not accept CD's from the members of the public. The only people that would want to put Trojans or virus's on CD's and give them to public libraries are sad individuals who are craving attention have no self worth and no pride.
I apologise for my amateur typography, I am not good at writting reports and never have been. I would appreciate your help in making it better and clearer so that the idea's that it contains are more acceptable to youself and others.
You have a good idea here, I don't think it is appropriate for public libraries. It is very important that public Libraries have control of the information that they are seen to be given out. The unbiased nature of libraries and the fact that they must fullfill a specific need is fundamental to Libraries. Librarians would not allow anyone to copy CD's without knowledge of what they are.
My donation was an introduction to Free Software, Open source the GPL and copyleft. An appropriate CD for Libraries is that of the Guttenberg project, TheOpenCD, Freeduc. The libraries of the world are an old and huge collection of institutions, individuals, volunteer groups, hobbyists and much more. Your idea although may not be suitable for public libraries would be acceptable to other libraries, for example School libraries where funding is short. A donation may also be more acceptable if CD's are given to the librarian and not the library. The teacher and not the School. Changing institutions is difficult. Donating to important people with influence is a lot easier.
There are many parts of the world that are in the stone age. If they choose to change they will need information to do so.
There are more places where there is no broadband connecton, no dialup, no computers. You may be well advised to stop watching your TV and your computer and go and see them for yourself.
As with Libraries, Schools, and Government. It is extremely dificult to change their ways. That is why I have donated the CD's to the general public, and not for the library or School computers. This allows the School, library , government a choice but is not forceing them to spend money. With a School it is better to give them a CD duplicator. Then they can have control over the software they give to their students for their home computers. TheOpenCD, Gutenberg project is of much greater value to them and easier to do.
I too learnt more with my commodore 64 than I did with any other computer. I think that the beauty of Free software is it not only allows people with an interest in computing to form a community but by their efforts it allows others to help create theirs.
Libraries are a great place to focus as a place for meeting others of similar interests.
I hope that Free software , Open source communities and library communities can find some common ground.
It is important to realise that Librarians have a big responsibility to their patrons so please try and understand their needs.
We all like the Canadians, This was very far sighted and I hope that the people of Vancouver will reclaim their idea with a CD kiosk. Please talk to your local librarian about it.
This is a nice idea, but I'm sorry to say unlikely. There is no money for equipment or technical expertise. The best thing to do is talk to your local librarian and see what they think. One CD like TheOpenCD, The Gutenberg project donated to the librarian and not the library may be much more help.
I understand the situation you were in after being in it myself. The CD that I donated was very close to the ISO that is available on the openoffice.org website. The only addition was some extra documents. The important thing was the presentation, A pressed CD, A DVD cover, Liability Statement. These all solve problems for the Librarians. Please read the Howto and I am sure that you will see similarities in your experience. Please take my experience and use it to communicate with your local library and talk to your local Open Source Vendor to see if they can create a trusted supply link for them.
If 70% of all the libraries in Scotland have said they want it then I think that proves there is a demand. The way that the libraries describe it is that it fills a need. It is applications that they want not operating systems. Give any person a choice of one application which is expensive and a second which is good value and is not only free but free to give to their friends. Free to try and discard if they like then what are they going to do.
An CD from the Gutenberg project TheOpenCD or Gnuwin II would be an Ideal solution. Please remember that it it complicated haveing CD's put on the Library shelves and the librarians may not accept it. A personal donation strictly for the Librarians personal use may have a more beneficial effect.
When I had the 4000 CD's created TheOpenCD had not been updated. I think that it would be an excellent CD for the next one. along with the Gutenberg project Gnuwin II and Freeduc 1.4.1
There are many places in scotland that have no or cannot afford broad band access. It is very expensive here. The CD that I donated was mainly to introduce Librarians to the concept of Free software. They have never heard of Copyleft software before. With a 60% acceptance of the CD's in all the public libraries in Scotland I think it signifies that they want to learn more. Please remember I never intended to have any software installed on the library computers but as a means of introduction to members of the public.
Thank you for your kind words and your accurate critisisms and worries.
I especially like to listen to the concerns of Librarians because that allows me to address those problems and see if there are solutions to those problems.
With all complex problems like this there is only one solution. This being a collection of lots of different and valid solutions.
Please do not dump CDs on libraries, older versions of Linux are of no value to them and all you do is create work. You will also lose their trust.
The best thing to do is to talk and listen to your local librarian and start to understand their reponibilities.
Problems concerning the price of catalogueing, maintenance of a CD is high. I have been corrected an the price is nearer $100 per CD or book. In a small library in remote area's I think this price will be a lot less though. It is here that the value of the information becomes much greater than the price of adding it to the catalogue.
A kiosk is an excellent idea, a machine that created CD's from images, not a CD duplicator, unconnected in any way to the local network or internet. With a very easy way for librarians to control the content. Recommendations of appropriate material from within the Library community on that content is also important. With the Total cost of ownership of such a machine including upkeep the price of catalogueing 10 or 15 books. While giving access to the thousands of books in the Gutenberg project makes this worth while. They will also have the choice to implement this or not.
I donated the CD's but it was always the choice if libraries wished to accept them. I am glad that some did not want them because it proves that my solution was not appropriate for them and they are looking for alternatives. A kiosk may be a much better solution.
Libraries are amazing and wonderful places. I hope they can direct their questions on this issue to the Free Software and Open Source communities so we can find common ground for mutual benefit.
Slashdot Mirror
Thank you for correcting me on this point, I will try to be more precise with my wording.
My main point was that I added a document on the CD with OpenOffice which changes the function of the CD. There are many documents that would be valuable to be made available to the public. In places where there is no interet connection. These could be made available to them through a CD such as those from the Gutenberg project.
I think it would be really nice of that magazine to donate TheOpenCD or a Project Gutenberg ISO to the librarians of the UK
This is an interesting question. But before I answer it I must point out that there are lots of people out there still using windows 98 who have never updated it in there lives. To be able to updated software you will need to be connected to the internet. For all the talk of updating computers within 10 minutes of a security flaw arriving is still nonsense to the vast majority of the people out there. This of course is a huge problem for everyone. The only ones that can do this properly are those that are connected to broadband. If they have broadband then they won't need CD's Until then CD's can be made for libraries on a yearly basis. This is the same as what corporations do now anyway. If they really want the latest then they can buy it but it has nothing to do with the libraries
The CD's are there to introduce people to Free and Open Source software. There would be no other way to get it because there is no marketing for Open Source software.
People will not try linux unless they see it. They won't try it unless they know about it. The people that stand to get the greatest benefit from it are those that do not have internet access
I am and never had wanted to change any institution. This is to make OpenSource available to the public. All these institutions have a duty to get a good deal for the public. If I can give 70% of the population of Scotland access to OpenOffice without the need for any internet access for a price of about $800 US If government institutions cannot see that this is a good deal then I for one would vote them out. If the whole of scotland starts using Opensource software it will be very interesting to see how Enterprise, Government will quickly find a way to sort this out.
Having CD vendors as points of contacts can be one solution. Companies such as IBM, SUN, Novell, Redhat, Suse, Xandros are points of contact. Of course they can always just do it themselves instead of trying to contract it out.
The CD's I donated were just CD's and not books. Just like Music CD's they will be checked to see if they are there when they are returned.
Many people have not had a reason to learn how to burn ISO's because they have never had a reason to do it before.
I would think that showing your local librarian how to do this would give them an incentive. Especially if they know they can get CD's like the Guttenberg Project or TheOpenCD
It is a bad idea for members of the public to hand in home burnt CD's That is why the companies that presently sell CD's are the best contact. They can also give libraries CD's in the correct DVD cover and liability statement. These companies stand to make a lot of money because they can become trusted sources of high quality CD's Their expertise in this field is very valuable.
I think a very good way for Source forge to raise money is to create a "Best of Sourceforge" CD put it in a cover that is suitable to Librarians(please see my howto) and sell it to them via advertising in magazines for professional librarians
Please talk to your librarian first. The book is not yours and as I stated at the begining Librarians cannot trust any member of the public giving them software for very good reasons. Although your thoughts are in the right direction you must consider the reponsibilities librarians have for their patrons.
A computer that is not connected to the internal library network. With a document stating who is responsible combined with a letter from your local councillor, Senator, politition does help further discussion. Donating the CD's to the librarian first and not to the library will help. Especially a CD from the Gutenberg project or TheOpenCD. I would not nesessarily put on Linux distributions because it will scare the hell out of a non technical Librarian.
I have tried this. Unfortunately people usually keep them and don't pass it on. This is expensive and only reaches the people immediately surrounding yourself. By having a CD in a library you are more likely to reach different groups of people and you know that the CD will be copied many times. The best solution all round is to give libraries a computer that creates CD's from ISOs. This gives complete control to libraries over content and insures larger distibution.
As I said in the article and Libraries need trusted vendors to receive their CD's from and they will not accept CD's from the members of the public. The only people that would want to put Trojans or virus's on CD's and give them to public libraries are sad individuals who are craving attention have no self worth and no pride.
I apologise for my amateur typography, I am not good at writting reports and never have been. I would appreciate your help in making it better and clearer so that the idea's that it contains are more acceptable to youself and others.
You have a good idea here, I don't think it is appropriate for public libraries. It is very important that public Libraries have control of the information that they are seen to be given out. The unbiased nature of libraries and the fact that they must fullfill a specific need is fundamental to Libraries. Librarians would not allow anyone to copy CD's without knowledge of what they are.
My donation was an introduction to Free Software, Open source the GPL and copyleft. An appropriate CD for Libraries is that of the Guttenberg project, TheOpenCD, Freeduc. The libraries of the world are an old and huge collection of institutions, individuals, volunteer groups, hobbyists and much more. Your idea although may not be suitable for public libraries would be acceptable to other libraries, for example School libraries where funding is short. A donation may also be more acceptable if CD's are given to the librarian and not the library. The teacher and not the School. Changing institutions is difficult. Donating to important people with influence is a lot easier.
There are many parts of the world that are in the stone age. If they choose to change they will need information to do so.
There are more places where there is no broadband connecton, no dialup, no computers. You may be well advised to stop watching your TV and your computer and go and see them for yourself.
As with Libraries, Schools, and Government. It is extremely dificult to change their ways. That is why I have donated the CD's to the general public, and not for the library or School computers. This allows the School, library , government a choice but is not forceing them to spend money.
With a School it is better to give them a CD duplicator. Then they can have control over the software they give to their students for their home computers. TheOpenCD, Gutenberg project is of much greater value to them and easier to do.
I too learnt more with my commodore 64 than I did with any other computer. I think that the beauty of Free software is it not only allows people with an interest in computing to form a community but by their efforts it allows others to help create theirs.
Libraries are a great place to focus as a place for meeting others of similar interests.
I hope that Free software , Open source communities and library communities can find some common ground.
It is important to realise that Librarians have a big responsibility to their patrons so please try and understand their needs.
Cheers
Bob
We all like the Canadians, This was very far sighted and I hope that the people of Vancouver will reclaim their idea with a CD kiosk. Please talk to your local librarian about it.
This is a nice idea, but I'm sorry to say unlikely. There is no money for equipment or technical expertise. The best thing to do is talk to your local librarian and see what they think. One CD like TheOpenCD, The Gutenberg project donated to the librarian and not the library may be much more help.
I understand the situation you were in after being in it myself. The CD that I donated was very close to the ISO that is available on the openoffice.org website. The only addition was some extra documents. The important thing was the presentation, A pressed CD, A DVD cover, Liability Statement. These all solve problems for the Librarians. Please read the Howto and I am sure that you will see similarities in your experience. Please take my experience and use it to communicate with your local library and talk to your local Open Source Vendor to see if they can create a trusted supply link for them.
Cheers
Bob
If 70% of all the libraries in Scotland have said they want it then I think that proves there is a demand. The way that the libraries describe it is that it fills a need. It is applications that they want not operating systems. Give any person a choice of one application which is expensive and a second which is good value and is not only free but free to give to their friends. Free to try and discard if they like then what are they going to do.
An CD from the Gutenberg project TheOpenCD or Gnuwin II would be an Ideal solution. Please remember that it it complicated haveing CD's put on the Library shelves and the librarians may not accept it. A personal donation strictly for the Librarians personal use may have a more beneficial effect.
Cheers
Bob
When I had the 4000 CD's created TheOpenCD had not been updated. I think that it would be an excellent CD for the next one. along with the Gutenberg project Gnuwin II and Freeduc 1.4.1
I agree totally
There are many places in scotland that have no or cannot afford broad band access. It is very expensive here. The CD that I donated was mainly to introduce Librarians to the concept of Free software. They have never heard of Copyleft software before. With a 60% acceptance of the CD's in all the public libraries in Scotland I think it signifies that they want to learn more. Please remember I never intended to have any software installed on the library computers but as a means of introduction to members of the public.
Thank you for your kind words and your accurate critisisms and worries.
I especially like to listen to the concerns of Librarians because that allows me to address those problems and see if there are solutions to those problems.
With all complex problems like this there is only one solution. This being a collection of lots of different and valid solutions.
Please do not dump CDs on libraries, older versions of Linux are of no value to them and all you do is create work. You will also lose their trust.
The best thing to do is to talk and listen to your local librarian and start to understand their reponibilities.
Problems concerning the price of catalogueing, maintenance of a CD is high. I have been corrected an the price is nearer $100 per CD or book. In a small library in remote area's I think this price will be a lot less though. It is here that the value of the information becomes much greater than the price of adding it to the catalogue.
A kiosk is an excellent idea, a machine that created CD's from images, not a CD duplicator, unconnected in any way to the local network or internet. With a very easy way for librarians to control the content. Recommendations of appropriate material from within the Library community on that content is also important. With the Total cost of ownership of such a machine including upkeep the price of catalogueing 10 or 15 books. While giving access to the thousands of books in the Gutenberg project makes this worth while. They will also have the choice to implement this or not.
I donated the CD's but it was always the choice if libraries wished to accept them. I am glad that some did not want them because it proves that my solution was not appropriate for them and they are looking for alternatives. A kiosk may be a much better solution.
Libraries are amazing and wonderful places. I hope they can direct their questions on this issue to the Free Software and Open Source communities so we can find common ground for mutual benefit.
Cheers
Bob