RoboDino Library

[Madox]

Below is an E-mail I sent to the RoboDino board for comments/suggestions/improvements.  Since Stonie mentioned the RPi group does something similar I thought I'll repost here for everyone's opinion - namely, is there a need/desire for this?  I'm sure I can muster up the donations to get it started but will people want something like this and think it might help?

______

Hi Ladies & Gents,

Want to run an idea by you all...

Introducing the "RnD Library"!

To promote education and people trying out new things, I would like to propose that RnD operate a library of books, electronics boards, tools and other widgets.

Quite often, people would just like to try out say an Arduino or a Raspberry Pi before making the decision to purchase it.  The uncertainty whether an item is right for a project could make people hesitate on or put off completely on a project or experiment.  This initiative could probably benefit a younger audience as well who may not have the financial resources to purchase such items and having the ability to borrow the items will let them play around and try new things.

[I originally want to write something proper...but it degenerated into bullet points as I'm tired...I'll write it up cleanly later if needed...]

Bullet Point Ideas/Rules/Concepts :-

- I expect a number of the more 'hoarding' members (hello Ada & Kean!) will be generous enough to donate items to kick this off.

- Items donated will be the property of R&D.  Donors can have their name listed for brownie points.

- Items may have the option of being purchased by people - it could suck if you borrow an item, have it in your project and not being able to keep it.  Payment will be to the 'owner'

- Items may be kept as property of individuals - i.e. people might have test tools they don't really want to donate out right but not using it enough at home and happy to be loaned out.  They have the option to take these items back at any time if they desire.

- Borrowers should be prepared to pay the replacement cost if they damage or break the items.  Payment will be to the 'owner'.

- Loan duration should be flexible, but a guideline can be put into place e.g. 3 months.

- We can track this by a simple Google Spreadsheet and simply an honour system to minimise administration.

Item	Owned By	Donated By	Replacement Cost	For Sale?	Suggested Max Loan Period	Checked Out By (Full Name)	Expected Return Date	Waiting List
TL-WR703N Router #1	RoboDino	Madox	$20.00	Yes
TL-WR703N Router #2	RoboDino	Madox	$20.00	Yes
TL-WR703N Router #3	RoboDino	Madox	$20.00	Yes
Teensy 3.0 #1	RoboDino	Madox	$20.00	Yes		Gavin Smith	30/05/13
Teensy 3.0 #2	RoboDino	Madox	$20.00	Yes		Kean Maizels	20/05/13	Franc Carter
Raspberry Pi	Kean	-	$45.00	No

- I see various electronic development boards, maybe books for electronics/scrapbooking etc to be good items to seed the library with initially.

- We can also maintain a wish list of items people would like to see in the library.

I am happy to kick this off by donating 3 x TL-WR703N routers, 2 x Teensy 3.0s.  Each type of Arduino and perhaps a Raspberry Pi would probably be welcome additions to start with too.  That 'hacking' book people mentioned recently might also be good.

I'm also happy to purchase/assemble an IKEA shelf to put all this stuff if required ;)  I am also happy to administer a library fund if people would like to donate $$$ instead of items, and we can then purchase items off the wishlist people suggest.

//I may also be able to donate in a Silhouette Cameo for scrapbooking and stuff if I ever find it/get it back.

//I will probably donate my BeagleBone Black after playing with it for a week or two... :P

Any comments/suggestions/improvements?

[Chris vickers]

Hi Madox,

I like the idea.

I will also donate a Teensy 3.0 and an Arduino Mega 2560 clone to the cause (next Tuesday...).

Regards,

Chris

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[Madox]

I forgot to mention the idea of personal ownership was almost ruled out as too tricky and best to have everything donated and owned by the space.

[Kris]

I think its a good idea, however I think 3 months might be a little too long, perhaps one month, and you can recheck it instantly if there is still another on the shelf.
Also, just my opinion, but I think maybe it should be restricted to those who pay monthly (I know this rules me out) as it means the borrower is more likely to return.

Madox <madox.net@gmail.com> wrote:

I forgot to mention the idea of personal ownership was almost ruled out as too tricky and best to have everything donated and owned by the space.

--
Sent from my Android phone with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.

[Max Nippard]

On May 2, 2013 3:55 PM, "Kris" <kr...@sleepingplanet.com> wrote:
>
> I think its a good idea, however I think 3 months might be a little too long, perhaps one month, and you can recheck it instantly if there is still another on the shelf.
> Also, just my opinion, but I think maybe it should be restricted to those who pay monthly (I know this rules me out) as it means the borrower is more likely to return.
>

As the library would very useful for new people just getting into the maker world i think it should be open to all members casual or otherwise. We could take a deposit or something.

>
>
>
>
> Madox <mado...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> I forgot to mention the idea of personal ownership was almost ruled out as too tricky and best to have everything donated and owned by the space.
>
>
> --
> Sent from my Android phone with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.
>

[Andrew Stone]

We started ours specifically for beginners (we have lots) and most of the hardened nerds have already ordered way more parts/boards than they need...  yes! you know who you are! :)

Deposit? we just ask for ID... I think that's enough as most people are honest.  As for time... 6 weeks seems to work for us. 

:)

Stonie.

[Robert Roberto]

Id be willing to contribute a few books, but id be willing to loan a whole lot more, as I pirate the digital copies of them, and retaining ownership of them would make me a whole lot more comfortable. This might be a good excuse to do a group project using rfid, or possibly making a usb dead drop. I can donate my 64gb usb stick which could be used as an illigitmate digital library.

[Angus Deveson]

Love this idea, I have a few things that rarely get used that would probably benefit a lot of people.