Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] PSUBS library?

[Ray Keefer <Ray.Keefer@Sun.COM>]

Hi,

The topic of a PSUBS Library has been discussed before. It was even discussed in the proposed Charter (http://www.psubs.org/charter.html) back in 1998. 

The big problem is that I don't have enough time to keep up on web site as it is. Managing a library with all its shipping, prodding, begging, tracking is going to be a major headache. So who do we all trust to be librarian? Any voluteers?

The biggest fear is these books tend to be a bit hard to find. Not quite rare but hard to find, unavailable or out of print. What then? Do we charge a deposit? How do we replace a unreplacable book?

I am game to hash this topic around for a while to see what we can colectively work out.

Regards,
Ray


Ian Roxborough wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> 
> I believe I've heard this idea kicked around before, but I wasn't
> able to find anything in the mailing list archives.
> 
> But, what about a PSUBS library?  Where you can checkout a book
> by mail and when you're finished you mail it onto the next person.
> The last time I looked there seemed to a number of open source
> software projects/applications for managing book collections and loans.
> 
> I would be willing to donate a copy of the new "Handbook of Acrylics"
> book (with the 2 CDs), possibly some other books to get things
> started.
> 
> This would, of course, be ran on the honors systems, but with
> maybe some basic guidelines to help avoid books getting lost,
> such as return the book before moving house (the main time I
> seem to loose books....).  People borrowing books need to pay
> postage.
> 
> What do we needed?
>   - a place to host a library website (or book list, or whatever).
>   - some people to play librarians, maintain the book(s) list, etc.
>     maybe with serval volunteers it could be a rotating duty.
>   - rugged and reusable shipping/mailing containers so books can
>     be mailed many times without too much wear and tear.
>   - ???
> 
> Is this of interest any psubbers?
> 
> I don't really have time to set this up or run it, but I do believe
> all psubbers need access to these books.  Even if it's just while
> they save up for there own copy.
> 
> On a side note, I don't believe a psubs 'mail order' library
> is any replacement for owning these books.  If you are designing
> a 1 ATM submersible yourself, budget for $1000 to $1500 for
> buying books.
> 
> Regards,
>   Ian.