Library

The library is a collection of mostly computer books that we have assembled over the years through our day to day donations. It is currently housed in 3 shelves in the Library, near the office hours computers. There is a list of Books We Want to look out for (or request). Currently we are saving books on computer languages and other general subjects, but not specific manuals for operating systems or hardware. Discussion of the library largely takes place on the bookworms email list. It is under the supervision of the Knowledge Bees (Education committee). At this point, there is no process or policy for checking out books, but they are available for staff and volunteers to read here, and for core volunteers to check out using the Borrow book.

Library Mission
"The Free Geek library serves as an informational and educational resource for the FG community, to further the educational and reuse parts of FG's mission."

This mission statement is a work in progress, a reflection of the bookworms group's understanding of the library's place in the Free Geek ecosystem and overall mission.

WIRED magazine
This is for perusal while at Free Geek, not checkout. WIRED is/was a popular magazine of tech culture and is notable for its eye-blisteringly loud design. Enjoy these time capsules.

1. Leave a book/take a book section
These are for FG community members to read and share for recreation and aren't really part of the "permanent collection." They won't be catalogued, and are meant to come and go as people leave books. It should not be allowed to overflow the one shelf allotted to it; if it gets overfull, extra books can go to the free table.

2. Miscellaneous textbooks
Interesting what textbooks we have, right? Maybe we have something you need? Out-of-date histroy book?

3. Nontechnical Nonfiction
Nonfiction books that don't require (much) computer/technical knowledge to read: histories, etc. for the general public. Often about computer culture topics.

4. Free table pile & library clipboard
This is the stack for replenishing the store of books on the free table; books that are too obsolete for our purposes or duplicates. The clipboard should have the latest update about the current state of the library.

Incoming books
We emphatically DO NOT WANT all books that come in. As mentioned above, we don't want specific manuals for operating systems or hardware. See Books To Cull for more guidelines. If you are really uncomfortable making this judgement, see if you can get a second opinion. Incoming books go on top of the O'Reilly shelf, not on the floor.

O'Reilly section
Pretty, isn't it? If there are specific newer O'Reilly books you're looking for, please let the bookworms know (and/or record it in Books We Want). We have a relationship with O'Reilly that may make it possible to obtain some newer books. This is the part currently being actively catalogued.

5. Wishlist
For those who are not using the wiki page for Books We Want, to solicit general ideas.

6. Box for CGL materials
Materials for consideration by the curators of the Classic Gaming Library.

7. Museum books, TO BE SHELVED, PROBLEMS CATALOGUING
Books that could help illustrate the equipment that is in the Free Geek Museum, on things like Commodore 64, TI, TRS-80. An enterprising person might even want to make signs for the equipment in the museum, explaining their importance and referencing the books.

TO BE SHELVED are catalogued and labeled books - they may be newly catalogued or they may be just returned & checked in.

PROBLEMS CATALOGUING books need some more attention to enter in the DB.

8. Electronics
Some of these old electronics books are pretty cool. Not sure what anyone would use them for, but we have a small section of them.

9. In process
Please don't touch these books! They have been catalogued but not labeled and shelved.

Other
The remaining shelves are very loosely categorized; they will be more organized once they are catalogued (we're shelving according to the Library of Congress call #).

Working in the Library
If you are interested in working in the library, THANKS!

Very First Thing, every time:

Get rid of everything that does not belong in the library. Cups lying around, random bits of hardware, trash, books about Fortran. Tidy the workstation space. Maybe even sweep?

Shelving Books: Books are shelved according to the Library of Congress call number, on the label on the spine. See image to the right for how to file by these numbers.

Other stuff, according to your interests:
 * Restock the free table from the free table pile. Cleaning up the free table when you do so can make a big difference.
 * Breaking down & recycling battered boxes
 * Basic initial cataloging - there is a "to be catalogued" section on the shelving by the terminal.
 * If you feel like you have a good sense of what books are still useful, go through the incoming books (use Books To Cull as a guideline).
 * Documentation of the library software, or work on Library FAQ
 * Make better lighting happen
 * Solicit donations of books we'd actually want (See Books We Want)
 * Talk to volunteers about what books they would like to see, record it in Books We Want

Library Software
We use OpenBiblio as our library software. OpenBiblio is an automated library system written in PHP containing OPAC, circulation, cataloging, and staff administration functionality. There are a number of other sites using this software. We will also be installing an extension to search outside libraries by ISBN number which will make cataloging the books MUCH easier.

The library server is in the DMZ, so it is available both internally and externally. There is also a diskless terminal in the library area with a barcode reader so that the books can be cataloged.


 * Tasks ahead
 * Arrange and catalog the books
 * Document and/or modify Library software as needed
 * Jes has a list of wishlist fixes
 * Basic initial cataloguing in progress
 * Decide on mission
 * Decide on criteria for checkout and retention of books
 * Develop FAQ for library users and maintainers