I don't expect to be around by the time libraries issue digital books on
disc, or some format, for people to read on their computers. I am not
looking forward to digital libraries. I hate reading anything longer than
e-mail on a computer. I prefer a real book. I even print out material sent
via e-mail rather than read it on line. I love books and wound hate to
see them ever disappear. Jack
----- Original Message -----
From: "Daniel G. Epstein" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2006 11:24 AM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Digitizing libraries--was: Clarifying the MAM-A gold
comment
> On Tue, Dec 12, 2006 at 11:59:19PM -0500, Steven C. Barr(x) wrote:
>
>> If this implies what I suspect it may...it gets me thinking about a
>> further possibility! Since sound files for the most part start out in
>> digital form...and image files (as well as possibly text files, such
>> as books...!) can be converted to digital files by scanning... how
>> long will it be before libraries are converted to institutions with
>> huge multi-disc servers, and clients can access the contents either
>> using monitors at the "library" or by downloading (onto a digital
>> medium...possibly DVD-R...?) the desired item, in digital form, for
>> later use. There would be a lot of monetary details to be worked out
>> (or special short-lifespan media would have to be used...?)...but
>> think of how much space would be saved, as well as an end to worrying
>> about the lifespan of the artifacts themselves!
>
> Something that has been interesting me recently is the MythTV
> <http://www.mythtv.org/> open source DVR project and the possibility for
> setting up a centralized media server in a reference library with their
> audio and video collections stored on a disk array. Patrons could sit
> at viewing stations like you mention and view their media "on-demand."
> However, what is really interesting is the bootable Linux CDs that
> are designed to act as MythTV clients. With these, the library could
> provide discs for checkout which would allow clients to boot their
> laptops to a customized media client application without installing
> anything on their own machines. These discs could even be configured to
> deal with some of the licensing and access issues that would come up in
> such an environment.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Dan
>
> --
>
> A boast of "I have beens," | Daniel G. Epstein
> quoted from foolscap tomes, | Audio Engineer
> is a shadow brushed away |
> by an acorn from an oak tree | Rootlike Technologies, Inc.
> or a salmon in a pool. | http://www.rootlike.com/
>
> GnuPG public keys available from http://pgp.mit.edu/
>
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