Plug computing

Libraries are full of expensive desktop computers serving basic needs. It seems to me that we often ask thoroughbreds to do jobs that donkeys could do just as well, more cheaply. Libraries need to have computers available so that people can run in, find a call number or retrieve an article quickly, and go. Networked desktop computers aren't designed to fill that bill, so people have to wait for them to wake up, get connected to the network, start up the necessary software and so on and so on. If they wait long enough for all that, people then type in something quick, and away they go. Certainly, some people will spend long periods of time on computers, but what about those that just have a quick need? The wait becomes a barrier.

Marvell's Plug Computing is an intriguing alternative for at least some desktop machines. This particular computer looks like a "wall wart" or plug in for cell phones and such. Selling for roughly US$100, this device comprises a 1.2GHz CPU processor, 512Mbytes of FLASH, 512Mbytes of DRAM and a 2.0 USB port. It uses 5 watts, rather than the usual 25 - 100 watts of a full size computer, too. And, it can connect to networks via Ethernet. Finally, it uses a linux distribution so it's customizable, and there's no license fee to worry about.

So, what's the big deal? Well, for a couple hundred dollars, libraries could set up a station dedicated to catalogue searches and renewals, or have a few set up for email checking, or use one to manage a print network, or have one always connected to a virtual reference service, or .... Really, the possibilities are myriad.

Order up!

Sue Polanka posted an interesting item about "print on demand" on her blog No Shelf Required today. University of Pennsylvania Libraries announced that they are involved in a print-on-demand service for public domain books in association with Kirtas Technologies. Customers can place orders with Kirtas for copyright-free books on UPenn's shelves, and have a freshly printed copy mailed to them. In return, UPenn will get high quality e-versions of their own books, plus they get their book back, unhurt.

This sounds nearly ideal for a big academic library. A private company handles all the scanning, order processing, marketing, customer satisfaction, shipping and so on while the library only needs to find and deliver a public domain book. Yes, the company profits from the public effort, but the library also benefits thanks to a (nearly) free outsourcing arrangement that results in a fully searchable, DRM-free ebook collection.

Library Thought Bubble

At the 2009 Electronic Resources & Libraries Conference, Elizabeth Goodman spoke about ubiquitous computing, and the social roles it can play. One idea that she floated really grabbed me: set up a screen in the public area showing a live cloud of keywords being entered into the library catalogue. This would be a way to create a "thought bubble" of what people are looking for, and as a cloud, it could represent the relative popularity of given terms. It turns out that we can grab the keywords, but the output has yet to be investigated.