[Lias] FOSS Software for The Public via Kiosk and Library

[Ben Minton]

Hi All,

Hi Ken,

thanks for that email link re the Scotsman: Bob Kerr : very neat idea and 
from his stats, well received and viable.

Just to explain what;

Ben wrote:

>That is exactly what I mean, the high cost of licencing and onerous 
>conditions attached have forced or encouraged the software piracy issue.  
>In regard to the gimp and blender, are you going to have a facility whereby 
>the kids can download the software themselves or would you consider just 
>burning a heap of copies?

Nick wrote:

I've got 10 copies of TheOpenCD (google it) and plonked them into the
>Library.  I wanted to give'em away but librarians being who they are ran 
>them through their system and lend them out. Works ok. Want to rev it up 
>but whos got time?
>
>Nick Oliver
>MultiMedia
>Lake Tuggeranong College
>Canberra

You wrote:

Not sure who wrote what above, but read this article by a scotsman who
has succeeded in placing FOSS media in libraries to understand, among
other things, why librarians (at least ones in public libraries) are
the way they are.

http://www.newsforge.com/software/03/12/14/1545216.shtml

My LUG, DarlUG, put forward an idea last Novemeber at the committe meeting 
whereby we were/are going to build/install a server located at the 2 uni 
campuses in Darwin, available to the /pub for downloading FOSS. The concept 
was to install the best and most stable FOSS and allow the /pub to burn it 
to CD via the 'kiosk'.

Due to time constraints, this has been bit of a slow starter but I am going 
to pester the LUG and garner some support for it. Obviously, this is a 
limited distribution method but if successful, don't see why we/I could not 
ask the local library, where I live, Palmerston, to have FOSS Kiosk at their 
location as well.

The library is well trafficked, connected to the nt.gov.au WAN (don't know 
if that is necesarily a good thing) and in a central location. From there, 
once the community were making good use of the Kiosk, perhaps could then 
approach the library and implement the Scotsman's solution.

Comments?

Cheers, Ben

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