Talk:Library: Difference between revisions

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A discussion page for library software and content delivery.
A discussion page for library software and content delivery.


For related meeting notes, see [[content meetings]].
For related meeting notes, see [[content meetings]]. For older notes, see the [[/Archive|archive]]. Below, the most recent discussions are first.




= recent discussion =
== Library tools ==

== Metadata needs ==
In some countries, you have strict metadata based on ministry needs; but want to bring in material from repos that aren't so formal. See [[/Metadata]].

== specific topics ==

=== libraries and repositories ===
1) working with partner repositories - good interfaces for curriki and
the internet archive, et al. that hide the complexities of their
system and make it easy to upload things "for OLPC" and to find/tag
related material

2) use of Wikimedia projects, Fedora and like repositories to organize
both physical and digital materials -- books, media, library records,
XO bundles, [other] web learning activities.

3) organizing community review and assessment : good and brilliant
packages and bundles; content stamping.
: Re: [[Content stamping]] - is active development on this still needed? If it's urgent, we can write up a spec/job-descript and post it to our soon-to-be-pretty [[Internships]] (unpaid... and intended for local groups to post opportunities and help-wanteds) page. I can also talk to the folks at OpenPlans next month to see if they are still interested. [[User:Mchua|Mchua]] 02:08, 25 January 2008 (EST)

=== supporting new projects ===
1) [Southern] Summer of Content - we have some interested sponsors
who want to make sure SoCon happens again this month / next, and a
potential co-announcement around this summer's iCommons. how to
propagate successes from the Aug/Septemer SoCon? &c.
: Now that I'm back in the continent and will be in a stable home with equally stable wireless, I can actually jump back in on this. I've been focusing on building a back-end Mediawiki site with semantic capabilities that will make submitting, reviewing, processing, and keeping track of applications and projects much more sane than last time; it can be ready to go the second week of Feb, possibly earlier if we need it then. Need to catch up with SJ, Wayne, and whoever else is interested - please ping me. [[User:Mchua|Mchua]] 02:16, 25 January 2008 (EST)

2) task boards for sharing needs and offers. social network by talent
and passion. bounty and job boards for partners who need to find help
on short notice (ex: UNICEF is always short of python programmers in
non-english speaking countries. this is a plum job. they have a hard
time getting the word out...)
: [[Internships]] might be turning into something like this - [[Help wanted]] and [[Job wanted]], perhaps? There might be less clunky ways of doing it than on a manually-updated-and-pruned mediawiki page, though - perhaps something in one of the new forums? Another idea: "helpwanted" mailing list for OLPC-related "job" postings. In general, way too many grassroots people have been asking me about this, so I'm very interested (for the sake of my own sanity) in finding a good next-generation solution. Definitely want to be updated; not sure how much time I can spend helping with this (esp. if I'm doing SoCon again). [[User:Mchua|Mchua]] 02:16, 25 January 2008 (EST)

=== outreach ===
1) university connections : a consortium of faculty advisors and
coordinators, with student curators and creators, in touch with /
maintaining connections with thousands of archives, museums,
publishing channels, classes, and individual authors
: Already nucleating university chapters, primarily in the Chicago area for now. Will see if we can get more helpful resources for starting chapters out there. In general, nucleating university (and grassroots) groups seems to work best when already-active OLPC volunteers go out and run an intensive boot-camp intro kickoff/projects session at the location for at least a full day... most of the groups I've run into so far need connections and the knowledge of where to find information more than anything else to help them really get going. Btw, a university chapter is just a specialized form of grassroots group, imo. [[User:Mchua|Mchua]] 02:24, 25 January 2008 (EST)

2) by chapter : local and national chapter development, policies, &c.
: Wait... policies? ([[[OLPC Chicago]] has "we are... we are not..." guidelines inspired by [[OLPC Europe]] - are you thinking of something like this, or more rule-like policies that all chapters must follow? [[User:Mchua|Mchua]] 02:24, 25 January 2008 (EST)

3) by creative community : subprojects within Flickr, Youtube,
Wikimedia Commons, Wikipedia, and the like
: What happened to [[Curators]]? [[User:Mchua|Mchua]] 02:24, 25 January 2008 (EST)

4) by major educational project : subgroups within UNICEF, WHO and the
like coordinating sharing of works in child-friendly and XO-friendly
formats.
: Can these be grouped with #3? Can they use the same infrastructures/tools in terms of ways (not necessarily technological) of interfacing their stuff with OLPC? (This is badly phrased, I know; can't think of a way to reword it more coherently atm.) [[User:Mchua|Mchua]] 02:24, 25 January 2008 (EST)

5) by tool/activity : blogging, music sharing, programming... forming
networks, organizing local and regional competitions, topical
newsletters to highlight good work. Examples from primary and
secondary networks elsewhere
: Example: [[Art]] - it seems like a lot of communities of this sort are just missing critical mass and a willing maintainer. [[User:Mchua|Mchua]] 02:24, 25 January 2008 (EST)

6) by language; What sorts of partnerships this opens up with local groups
: What has grassroots activity been like in the target countries? Is there a possibility that they might be willing to host volunteers from overseas (who would pay their own way, or find funding to do such - no financial burden imposed upon host institutions) who can speak the local language and have relevant experience? [[User:Mchua|Mchua]] 02:24, 25 January 2008 (EST)

= Older discussion =

== Library Tools ==
The [[http://www.greenstone.org/ Greenstone Digital Library]] system provides a lightweight digital library in terms of application and collection size if properly configured. Greenstone can deliver collections on very old 16 bit hardware with much lower specs than the the OLPC laptop.
The [[http://www.greenstone.org/ Greenstone Digital Library]] system provides a lightweight digital library in terms of application and collection size if properly configured. Greenstone can deliver collections on very old 16 bit hardware with much lower specs than the the OLPC laptop.
: A slightly different [more limited?]notion of library than the one we have in mind.
: A slightly different [more limited?]notion of library than the one we have in mind.


=== Stephen's Suggestions ===
=== Stephen's suggestions ===
Application configuration;
Application configuration;
* Only include the cgi library interface
* Only include the cgi library interface
Line 122: Line 57:
Many of the above will be loadable by browsing to them; some will require more technical know-how.
Many of the above will be loadable by browsing to them; some will require more technical know-how.


** once a database is set up to store and search through metadata. there can be simple
* once a database is set up to store and search through metadata. there can be
implementations before the full object store is in place.
simple implementations before the full object store is in place.
*** assuming a media streamer is working
** assuming a media streamer is working




Line 145: Line 80:
Subsidiary browsing pages: at least one for each of the sections listed above. One for each large collection [encyclopedia, dictionary if present, atlas, periodic table]. A variation of each portal for every core language [ideal portals have no text at all, or at branch tiers, text in every language].
Subsidiary browsing pages: at least one for each of the sections listed above. One for each large collection [encyclopedia, dictionary if present, atlas, periodic table]. A variation of each portal for every core language [ideal portals have no text at all, or at branch tiers, text in every language].


=== Milestones ===
== Milestones ==
- get a number of draft sketches of possible main and secondary browsing pages
- get a number of draft sketches of possible main and secondary browsing pages
- define what the design and layout will be like
- define what the design and layout will be like
Line 172: Line 107:
- testing on a server
- testing on a server


=== Resources ===
=== Resources needed ===


* Mozilla expert to help perfect the interface via the browser
* Mozilla expert to help perfect the interface via the browser
Line 181: Line 116:




== Library design ==
== design criteria ==


A good library should be beautiful, should hint at overabundance and accessibility, and its use should be inspiring.
=== Thoughts ===
A good library should be beautiful, should hint at overabundance and accessibility, and its use should be inspiring. Specific design ideas:


Libraries use librarians to help people to navigate collections with complicated relationships between sub-collections. The Library would be easier to navigate if it offered the following interfaces:
1) The overall HTML framework should replicate some of the look of the
Journal, notably the topmost bar. Images + JS; implements whatever
search is available.


* a dynamically generated view of available materials, local and regional, that updates when collections are installed or removed, and presents different views when isolated and when connected to a friend or local network.
2) The main portal page - Megan suggested a circular / annular theme to
* a way to search through the system of available collections, and an api that allows a collection author to design its own search interface
match the desktop. A central circle containing
* a set of ways for collections to interact with users, either directly reacting to user input or storing and reading back state and data over time.
a library logo, with four sections for text, images, music/video, and
games/activities, each represented by small images. This is the top-level
browse view.


Some related interactions that it would be useful to provide to other activities as services include:
3) We'll have secondary pages for each section, offering a "browse" view
* web browsing; to navigate/display local html pages and media, such as help pages for each activity
organized by subject ("what") for that section. This can be a two-column
* a way to edit in a distributed way a set of notes, inculding pervasive talk pages associated with each bundle and component, which can be updated and shared en masse or page by page (cf. [[MikMik]])
view with sections, and icons for each major section -- Eben, this would
be similar to a 2-up display similar to what your tv-widget offers.


=== loading and running scripts ===
4) We need a "browse" view for people ("who") showing what each person has
in his/her personal collection. This will be needed if the servers are
done in time, but takes lower priority than the rest.


Some of the above, including customizable interfaces for searching and tracking previous interactions, can be implemented as scripts that come with a collection and interface. If there were a way to limit the power and extent of what such scripts could do (as Javascript attempts to, for instance), one could let the creator of an otherwise static bundle define precisely the dynamic interfaces it wants.
5) We should have a template for search results; similar to 3) above but
: Limitations on Javascript, in the absence of a state-service such as Google Gears and in the absence of a way to read public elements in the datastore, prevents some of this from being realized.
dynamically generated.


One option is to make a webservice available that will execute python scripts [as the web user?]
=== Discussion, Mar 30 ===
''1930 EST''


An alternative is to make every collection available as its own executable bundle, which embeds browser-like activities for rendering and explicitly requests script privileges so that it can access and process published files and materials.
Feel free to add to the agenda:
* Specific topics needed : bootstrapping materials, images for using each application
** Visual and playful introductions
** Module/topic priorities by country
** Curators and topical/language coordination


* Online v. school servers v. laptops -- finding & using material
** Exposing created works : documents, photos, videos, projects
** Finding project collections online


* Trial library testing
** laptop test materials (weekend)
** server materials, [[School Server Specification]], et al.


=== similar activities and interactions ===


There are other content-browsing activities which want to navigate quantities of data (effectively interfacing with a local database) and could potentially be served by a similar system :applications, such as a javascript spreadsheet
* Asides
* Gmail with an offline component (caching mail & responses)
** Content review and stamping
* editable google maps : a local database of geolocations and comments/media, (and an optional input of one's own location from a usb gps) combined, when connected to a tilecache, with map tiles.
*** microformats, Ratepoint, Connexions' del.icio.us model
** Game development, weekly discussions


Activities that build on and display available data would like to access
== Discussion, June 12(ish) ==
:- data publicly available as part of our build images,
:- data installed as part of public bundles, such as the current help files or talk pages associated with a bundle
:- data published by the user.
:- statistics published by the system, including the time and its overall use


Finally, common libraries for managing many of these interactions and activities run as javascript, java, or flash; and rely on the browser and html/css to render the resutls [automatically handling zooming, bookmarking, screen rotation, and the like].
* '''Present:''' Ryan, [[User:Lauren|Lauren], Kathy, [[User:mchua|Mel]], [[User:sj|SJ]]
* Worked on a lightweight index metadata spec called [[Ad Libris]] - think a little virtual "bookplate" that can be attached to (or pointing to) different files and content; these "bookplates" are the items that can be tagged/extended/indexed/have reviews attached, etc.
* Most of the discussion is detailed in the [[Ad Libris Spec]] (under construction).
* Immediate need for instructions on how to make a bundle (in the generic sense w/ content, not just software activities).


== This steals storage from the children. ==

The kids have about 1/3 of a gigabyte free to start with, maybe more like 1/5 after all the software is written. This is supposed to last them for years.
: They should have at least 300MB free. They will have backups elsewhere, and can delete things in their library that they don't like, so it's not quite clear to me what "last them for years" means here.

It's enough space, barely, if it doesn't get filled up with stuff (libraries for example) that isn't all that likely to be useful. Kids will be creating images, sound, and maybe even video. There really isn't room for a library.
: That's roughly the idea. The best local materials are the ones that can be used to learn how to do things, and used as templates, or as part of other creative works.

The school server isn't likely to have lots of space either. It'll be doing backup duty. It'll be serving up textbooks, probably chapter-by-chapter to save space on the XOs. Anything left over could be used as a web cache if there is a net connection.
: It will be serving up books and images and maps and materials in the school library, yes. And it will be part of a cache framework, along with the laptops themselves.

The "web cache" could of course hold a library, if the students wish to use a library.
: Sporadic network access means that some of the active caching will have to take the form of a library that is preloaded or regularly made available, with updates available over time as well. [[User:Sj|Sj]] [[User talk:Sj|<font color="fc9"><small>talk</small></font>]] 10:58, 30 March 2007 (EDT)

[[User:AlbertCahalan|AlbertCahalan]] 22:02, 18 March 2007 (EDT)

== More samples ==
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_in_Mathmagic_Land Donald in Mathmagic Land]
* [http://www.google.com/search?q=%22%E2%80%9CSurreal+Numbers%3A+How+Two+Ex-Students+Turned+on+to+Pure+Mathematics+and+Found+Total+Happiness%22&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a "Surreal Numbers: How Two Ex-Students Turned on to Pure Mathematics and Found Total Happiness"]

== [[library|library design]] ==

=== Monday, April 9 ===

<pre>
1. making a library activity that's readily customizable and skinnable
(with sugar and html views),
+ working with country partners to develop a local image in four
languages

2. coordination of look and search with the World Digital Library and
Internet Archive
+ html and other; design and usability guidelines

3. default views: by topic, by media, by language, by geography
+ existing projects and interfaces with view selections.

4. content guidelines: writing for children, for translation, other.
</pre>

=== Saturday, April 14 ===

<!-- Notes: TBW -->
[[Image:OLE.jpg|thumb|Visualization of components of the open library exchange.]]
Proposed schema for a [world open library exchange]: This needs defined interchange formats and collection-level style and feed guidelines. Most collections have limited collection or transparency of the fact that new additions or changes have been made (metametadata?).

<br clear=right>

[[Image:World-global-library.png|thumb|Graphical overview of proposed open library schema.]]
Classification into groups and collections, needing standard "breadcrumb" metadata format for all content providers to reference object locations in the [OLE]. This draws upon the ideas in [[Content_Stamping]] and the structure of the current library as well as desires to promote multilingual cooperation.

== Format and display issues ==
* screen resolution questions
* efforts to fix open font solutions

== Country materials and existing initiatives ==
Working through a few countries; looking for university and creative nexus collections. Feel free to add yours here: [[Library and learning initiatives]] ''(notes on Argentina, Alegre, Colombia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Uruguay, Nepal, Panama, Ethiopia, Mexico [[Library and learning initiatives|moved]])''.

== Multilingual chat opportunities ==
How does this impact development?

== Fonts ==
What fonts are needed for interested countries, by priority?

== Request for tar or rpm of the sample library ==

Could a snapshot of the "collection of sample content formatted for the XO [http://dev.laptop.org/pub/content/library online]" be wrapped up as a tar or rpm? I've found it non-trivial to scrape (javascript organization), and the version in the ext3.img xo disk images difficult to get at. I'd like it to add to the [[LiveCd]] (which doesn't have it) to make a demo-oriented live cd. Thanks. [[User:MitchellNCharity|MitchellNCharity]] 20:36, 1 June 2007 (EDT)
: Try [http://dev.laptop.org/pub/content/lib-4-6.tar.gz this tarfile]. [[User:Sj|Sj]] [[User talk:Sj|<font color="fc9"><small>talk</small></font>]] 23:30, 1 June 2007 (EDT)
:: My thanks. I also learned how to mount the non-devel xo disk image's filesystem, to copy it from there. Sorry for not figuring it out earlier. [[User:MitchellNCharity|MitchellNCharity]] 00:10, 2 June 2007 (EDT)

== Library notes ==
'''Models of content/levels/scale'''

(small to big)

*Fragments
*Leaves (whatever)
*Branches (.xols)
*Trees (web/wiki pages)
*Forests (indexes)
*Sky (views, overlays, lenses)

(another model)

*Individual pieces of content: photos, stories, articles, etc.
*Grouped collections: a newspaper issue, a photo gallery
*Sources: wikipedia, this atlas site, this artist's homepage, that comment (large-scale visualizations of a set of materials)
*Reference, community, classes, search engines

things to focus on for t2

*featured images
*wp snapshots
*rss feeds
*dictionaries
*tpical categories
*audio, video, books
*links

== For bundling and metadata ==
* [http://www.free-soft.ro/ books, games, reference, free software for them]
* [http://www.childrensbooksonline.org childrens' books] [http://www.archive.org/browse.php?field=/metadata/subject&collection=iacl&view=cloud]
* [http://homepages.nyu.edu/~jmg336/html/mathematics.html math texts and resources] ([http://nlvm.usu.edu/ NLVM], [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/19/AR2006121900483.html teacher])
* not really: [http://www.hoddinott.com/ hdn], [http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?rep=2&aid=345782&ssid=29&sid=ENV zeen]

== Catalog ==
A catalog should be
* searchable
* dynamic, with caching of recent downloads and the ability to check links and update
* aware of restrictions (size, format, licensing)

We can minimize the need for each of these in a first pass; by setting the bar for restrictions low, making updates sporadically and in bulk, and using the web and simple fts engines for search.

The web app version: let anyone register to submit collections; these have metadata, index pages, and links to originals for verification. let others come review, verify, and update collection data. any compilation via scripts or otherwise should be shared for recompilation after small changes are made. APIs to this will include a way to add many groups or reviews at once; a way to synch distributed offline submissions and comments; and a way for bots to efficiently add or change metadata.

The content browser: at first, the browser itself. Eventually, like the activty browser: a way to find, remove, and archive things in packages. APIs to this will include ways to upload content all at once; for instance a default collection or a default view into a school library.

== Content to include ==

"A Musical Look At Waste" - Instructions on building musical instruments with waste and common materials, for kids.
The author [http://pwp.netcabo.pt/jose-lucio/ José Lúcio] gave me permission to compile his webpage into a content bundle for the OLPC. It is licensed cc-by-sa, and translations are very welcome.
Portuguese:[[Image:Olhar-musical-pelos-residuos.xol]]
English:[[Image:Musical-look-at-waste.xol]]
[[User:HoboPrimate|HoboPrimate]] 00:19, 8 September 2007 (EDT)

== Sample Library could integrate better with internet ==
The biggest content repository is the internet, and perhaps it would be quite usefull to have the library also serve as an entry-way for kids to that content.

I suggest that each category, Music, Activities, etc., have a separate space for web links. This would give kids a way to explore what (currently with the sample library) OLPC thinks is good on the web, and in the future what schools, teachers, but also hopefully students, parents, friends and local and regional communities think is good as well.

For example, the music category could contain links to Jamendo, and other free music websites.
The image category could provide links to NASA's satellite imagery of countries and continents (see m. charitties user page for the link).
The activity category could have a link to Instructables website.

These are some quick guesses, and more thought should go to the choice of usefull, good educational resources to include.

Of course, this Sample Library should clearly mark itself a sample, and not be seen as a Portal. For this reason, it should be somewhat limited in its range. At the sime, if it pointed towards content which adhere to the projects philosophical approach to education, it would be usefull to do.
It should be made in a way that encourages communities to built on it, to add and improve it to fit their needs, and in no way impose our ideals/culture.

There might be problems of Nation-wide approved "Library links", but perhaps by reaching out to various cultures to come up with their own library sample, with content and weblinks representing what they are, would make better serve as example of how it could be used more dinamically.
I could picture there being a Portuguese library, showcasing our poets, scientists, culture, nature, and so on. These would be usefull for countries or even communities to learn more from each other, by "trading" their made-libraries.

: update: see [[#use cases|use cases]] below. --[[User:Sj|Sj]]&nbsp;[[User talk:Sj|<font color="fc9" style="font-size:70%">leave me a message</font>]] 16:53, 24 January 2008 (EST)

A discussion page for library software and content delivery. See also [[content meetings]].


= recent discussion =

== school use cases ==
* current school needs (Bryan Berry)

* visualization and interface. (Eben)

* specific uses : Moodle (Martin Langhoff, Moodle)
Fedora-Repository and Exhibit.

== Metadata needs ==
In some countries, you have strict metadata based on ministry needs; but want to bring in material from repos that aren't so formal. See [[/Metadata]].

== future topics ==
internet use cases.
integration with Wikimedia, Curriki, the Internet Archive, &c. (Josh Marks)
Regional mirrors.

wrapup, q&a.
Outreach to other groups for feedback
Case studies from trials (Arjun & Manu)



creator networks
School projects to create and share : connecting them with other schools
Community and Library groups for sharing ideas and knowledge
Educational consortium : inspiring an anthology of culture
what does this look like in different regions, communities, fields?
OLPC chapters : universities, cities, countries
topic: contributors program & reviewing projects
global canvas
p2p networks and local filesharing : searching and publishing
subtext: how do you 'publish' something in a lasting local way?
selection : featured lists, exhibits, shows, competitions.
judging and standards
subtext: how does olpc choose its best works for distribution?
newsletters, reports, and aggregates : editors and distribution channels
1445-1600 : curation and coordination
current and future groups, and some case studies (biology, music, video)
Library of Congress, World Digital Library
high school & educator networks
1600-1700 : review, next steps
scheduling for the Feb. meeting



== specific topics ==

=== libraries and repositories ===
1) working with partner repositories - good interfaces for curriki and
the internet archive, et al. that hide the complexities of their
system and make it easy to upload things "for OLPC" and to find/tag
related material

2) use of Wikimedia projects, Fedora and like repositories to organize
both physical and digital materials -- books, media, library records,
XO bundles, [other] web learning activities.

3) organizing community review and assessment : good and brilliant
packages and bundles; content stamping.


=== supporting new projects ===
1) [Southern] Summer of Content - we have some interested sponsors
who want to make sure SoCon happens again this month / next, and a
potential co-announcement around this summer's iCommons. how to
propagate successes from the Aug/Septemer SoCon? &c.

2) task boards for sharing needs and offers. social network by talent
and passion. bounty and job boards for partners who need to find help
on short notice (ex: UNICEF is always short of python programmers in
non-english speaking countries. this is a plum job. they have a hard
time getting the word out...)

=== outreach ===
1) university connections : a consortium of faculty advisors and
coordinators, with student curators and creators, in touch with /
maintaining connections with thousands of archives, museums,
publishing channels, classes, and individual authors

2) by chapter : local and national chapter development, policies, &c.

3) by creative community : subprojects within Flickr, Youtube,
Wikimedia Commons, Wikipedia, and the like

4) by major educational project : subgroups within UNICEF, WHO and the
like coordinating sharing of works in child-friendly and XO-friendly
formats.

5) by tool/activity : blogging, music sharing, programming... forming
networks, organizing local and regional competitions, topical
newsletters to highlight good work. Examples from primary and
secondary networks elsewhere

6) by language; What sorts of partnerships this opens up with local groups


= Older discussion =

== Library Tools ==
The [[http://www.greenstone.org/ Greenstone Digital Library]] system provides a lightweight digital library in terms of application and collection size if properly configured. Greenstone can deliver collections on very old 16 bit hardware with much lower specs than the the OLPC laptop.
: A slightly different [more limited?]notion of library than the one we have in mind.

=== Stephen's Suggestions ===
Application configuration;
* Only include the cgi library interface
* lightweight http server (their may already be one on the device that could be reused)

Don't include the GLI interface for library creation, ditto for the supporting code, and perl wrappers/plugins etc.
Much of the application in the full download is not required for searching/viewing collections.

Collection configuration;
* Collections can be optimised and compressed in a variety of ways that would easily allow fitting a great deal of content into a small portion of the space available on the OLPC, or even on a small USB flashdrives for distribution.
* The most efficient ways of including content is to store/compress it as either plain text or html (if linking or lightweight images are needed). This facility already exists in Greenstone.

- ''Stephen De Gabrielle''


== Some specific thoughts ==

=== Definitions ===

;Library Activity: -- A way to interface to content on the XOs and school servers. Eventually this may become its own activity; currently this will be a browser interface.

;XO library: -- the library of materials on an XO.

;School library: -- the library of materials on a school server.

;Regional library: -- the library of materials on a regional or country server.

=== Interface ===

The default interface for the library activity can be similar to the journal interface. (Eventually the journal may provide much of this interface.)
Browsing the XO library:
- main page (by subject)

Browsing the school library:
- main page -- a page for "what" (by subject)
- "who" (by student) **
- "when" (by time) **

There will be a multilingual server collection, linked to from the above:
- literature, picture books and audiobooks
- world atlas of maps (with its own mini-portal)
- images from around the world
- video (movies, tv programs) and sounds
- games (a puzzle game, simcity, tetris, an etoys project collection)
Also: dictionary, 'develop' activity (deep links), photos and videos take with capture activity, audio recorded likewise.

Many of the above will be loadable by browsing to them; some will require more technical know-how.

** once a database is set up to store and search through metadata. there can be simple
implementations before the full object store is in place.
*** assuming a media streamer is working


A main browsing-page:

------------------------
(journal-style search bar)
[ A ] [ B ]
[ C ] [ D ]
------------------------
A : Texts (reading, math, science; project ideas; for teachers, students; ...)
B : Images (photos, snapshots, ...)
C : Video (clips, films, ...)
D : Activities (games, etoys, ...)


Subsidiary browsing pages: at least one for each of the sections listed above. One for each large collection [encyclopedia, dictionary if present, atlas, periodic table]. A variation of each portal for every core language [ideal portals have no text at all, or at branch tiers, text in every language].

=== Milestones ===
- get a number of draft sketches of possible main and secondary browsing pages
- define what the design and layout will be like
- define when we will have final converted media from our own machines and from Real
- determine what media player to use
- finalize agreements re: use of media works
- draft spec for metadata store
- have small localization team in place for En, Es, Pt, Ar
- find remaining resources needed
- revisit full timeline & needs
- test XO-customization activities
- test character-sets [again]; first run of localization work [on-wiki]

- testing ebook readers x2 (yellow and internet archive readers)
- testing datastore on server
- testing video streaming, server to XO
- test form creation, new games (simcity, puzzle game, &c)

- testing wiki & admin interface (moodle, &c)
- test localized sugar, journal.
- revisit full timeline & needs

...

- testing on a server

=== Resources ===

* Mozilla expert to help perfect the interface via the browser
* Moodle, Mediaplayer, &c. devs to help set up server apps
* designer[s] to help create any images necessary in line with existing interface specs
* developer to help write a database to support storing simple metadata about library materials and simple searching for those materials; and scripts to restructure and reformat text and metadata from existing sources.
* group focusing on localization implementation -- activating a language preference, setting up workflows that will work over the longer term.


== Library design ==

=== Thoughts ===
A good library should be beautiful, its use inspiring. Specific design ideas:


=== library look and feel ===
1) The overall HTML framework should replicate some of the look of the
1) The overall HTML framework should replicate some of the look of the
Journal, perhaps with a main view and layout similar to the upcoming journal redesign: clusters of icons as top-level navigation, with no other body content (focus on navigation, or on a topic, not both). Little other structure. No wasted space on any leaf page; a single link back to the overall library navigation. This is really how I'd like to see journal navigatino to work as well. --[[User:Sj|Sj]]&nbsp;[[User talk:Sj|<font color="fc9" style="font-size:70%">leave me a message</font>]]
Journal, notably the topmost bar. Images + JS; implements whatever
search is available.


2) The main portal page - Megan suggested a circular / annular theme to
2) A main portal page - Megan suggested a circular / annular theme to
match the desktop. A central circle containing
match the desktop, way back when. This was a fine idea. A central circle containing a library logo, with four sections for text, images, music/video, and
games/activities, each represented by small images... as the top-level
a library logo, with four sections for text, images, music/video, and
games/activities, each represented by small images. This is the top-level
browse view.
browse view.


3) Secondary pages for each section, offering a "browse" view organized by subject ("what") for that section. This can be a two-column view with sections, and icons for each major section -- similar to a 2-up display similar to what Eben's tv-widget offers.
3) We'll have secondary pages for each section, offering a "browse" view
organized by subject ("what") for that section. This can be a two-column
view with sections, and icons for each major section -- Eben, this would
be similar to a 2-up display similar to what your tv-widget offers.

4) We need a "browse" view for people ("who") showing what each person has
in his/her personal collection. This will be needed if the servers are
done in time, but takes lower priority than the rest.

5) We should have a template for search results; similar to 3) above but
dynamically generated.

=== Discussion, Mar 30 ===
''1930 EST''

Feel free to add to the agenda:
* Specific topics needed : bootstrapping materials, images for using each application
** Visual and playful introductions
** Module/topic priorities by country
** Curators and topical/language coordination

* Online v. school servers v. laptops -- finding & using material
** Exposing created works : documents, photos, videos, projects
** Finding project collections online

* Trial library testing
** laptop test materials (weekend)
** server materials, [[School Server Specification]], et al.


* Asides
** Content review and stamping
*** microformats, Ratepoint, Connexions' del.icio.us model
** Game development, weekly discussions

== Discussion, June 12(ish) ==

* '''Present:''' Ryan, [[User:Lauren|Lauren], Kathy, [[User:mchua|Mel]], [[User:sj|SJ]]
* Worked on a lightweight index metadata spec called [[Ad Libris]] - think a little virtual "bookplate" that can be attached to (or pointing to) different files and content; these "bookplates" are the items that can be tagged/extended/indexed/have reviews attached, etc.
* Most of the discussion is detailed in the [[Ad Libris Spec]] (under construction).
* Immediate need for instructions on how to make a bundle (in the generic sense w/ content, not just software activities).

== This steals storage from the children. ==

The kids have about 1/3 of a gigabyte free to start with, maybe more like 1/5 after all the software is written. This is supposed to last them for years.
: They should have at least 300MB free. They will have backups elsewhere, and can delete things in their library that they don't like, so it's not quite clear to me what "last them for years" means here.

It's enough space, barely, if it doesn't get filled up with stuff (libraries for example) that isn't all that likely to be useful. Kids will be creating images, sound, and maybe even video. There really isn't room for a library.
: That's roughly the idea. The best local materials are the ones that can be used to learn how to do things, and used as templates, or as part of other creative works.

The school server isn't likely to have lots of space either. It'll be doing backup duty. It'll be serving up textbooks, probably chapter-by-chapter to save space on the XOs. Anything left over could be used as a web cache if there is a net connection.
: It will be serving up books and images and maps and materials in the school library, yes. And it will be part of a cache framework, along with the laptops themselves.

The "web cache" could of course hold a library, if the students wish to use a library.
: Sporadic network access means that some of the active caching will have to take the form of a library that is preloaded or regularly made available, with updates available over time as well. [[User:Sj|Sj]] [[User talk:Sj|<font color="fc9"><small>talk</small></font>]] 10:58, 30 March 2007 (EDT)

[[User:AlbertCahalan|AlbertCahalan]] 22:02, 18 March 2007 (EDT)

== More samples ==
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_in_Mathmagic_Land Donald in Mathmagic Land]
* [http://www.google.com/search?q=%22%E2%80%9CSurreal+Numbers%3A+How+Two+Ex-Students+Turned+on+to+Pure+Mathematics+and+Found+Total+Happiness%22&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a "Surreal Numbers: How Two Ex-Students Turned on to Pure Mathematics and Found Total Happiness"]

== [[library|library design]] ==

=== Monday, April 9 ===

<pre>
1. making a library activity that's readily customizable and skinnable
(with sugar and html views),
+ working with country partners to develop a local image in four
languages

2. coordination of look and search with the World Digital Library and
Internet Archive
+ html and other; design and usability guidelines

3. default views: by topic, by media, by language, by geography
+ existing projects and interfaces with view selections.

4. content guidelines: writing for children, for translation, other.
</pre>

=== Saturday, April 14 ===

<!-- Notes: TBW -->
[[Image:OLE.jpg|thumb|Visualization of components of the open library exchange.]]
Proposed schema for a [world open library exchange]: This needs defined interchange formats and collection-level style and feed guidelines. Most collections have limited collection or transparency of the fact that new additions or changes have been made (metametadata?).

<br clear=right>

[[Image:World-global-library.png|thumb|Graphical overview of proposed open library schema.]]
Classification into groups and collections, needing standard "breadcrumb" metadata format for all content providers to reference object locations in the [OLE]. This draws upon the ideas in [[Content_Stamping]] and the structure of the current library as well as desires to promote multilingual cooperation.

== Format and display issues ==
* screen resolution questions
* efforts to fix open font solutions

== Country materials and existing initiatives ==
Working through a few countries; looking for university and creative nexus collections. Feel free to add yours here: [[Library and learning initiatives]] ''(notes on Argentina, Alegre, Colombia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Uruguay, Nepal, Panama, Ethiopia, Mexico [[Library and learning initiatives|moved]])''.

== Multilingual chat opportunities ==
How does this impact development?

== Fonts ==
What fonts are needed for interested countries, by priority?

== Request for tar or rpm of the sample library ==

Could a snapshot of the "collection of sample content formatted for the XO [http://dev.laptop.org/pub/content/library online]" be wrapped up as a tar or rpm? I've found it non-trivial to scrape (javascript organization), and the version in the ext3.img xo disk images difficult to get at. I'd like it to add to the [[LiveCd]] (which doesn't have it) to make a demo-oriented live cd. Thanks. [[User:MitchellNCharity|MitchellNCharity]] 20:36, 1 June 2007 (EDT)
: Try [http://dev.laptop.org/pub/content/lib-4-6.tar.gz this tarfile]. [[User:Sj|Sj]] [[User talk:Sj|<font color="fc9"><small>talk</small></font>]] 23:30, 1 June 2007 (EDT)
:: My thanks. I also learned how to mount the non-devel xo disk image's filesystem, to copy it from there. Sorry for not figuring it out earlier. [[User:MitchellNCharity|MitchellNCharity]] 00:10, 2 June 2007 (EDT)

== Library notes ==
'''Models of content/levels/scale'''

(small to big)

*Fragments
*Leaves (whatever)
*Branches (.xols)
*Trees (web/wiki pages)
*Forests (indexes)
*Sky (views, overlays, lenses)

(another model)

*Individual pieces of content: photos, stories, articles, etc.
*Grouped collections: a newspaper issue, a photo gallery
*Sources: wikipedia, this atlas site, this artist's homepage, that comment (large-scale visualizations of a set of materials)
*Reference, community, classes, search engines

things to focus on for t2

*featured images
*wp snapshots
*rss feeds
*dictionaries
*tpical categories
*audio, video, books
*links

== For bundling and metadata ==
* [http://www.free-soft.ro/ books, games, reference, free software for them]
* [http://www.childrensbooksonline.org childrens' books] [http://www.archive.org/browse.php?field=/metadata/subject&collection=iacl&view=cloud]
* [http://homepages.nyu.edu/~jmg336/html/mathematics.html math texts and resources] ([http://nlvm.usu.edu/ NLVM], [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/19/AR2006121900483.html teacher])
* not really: [http://www.hoddinott.com/ hdn], [http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?rep=2&aid=345782&ssid=29&sid=ENV zeen]

== Catalog ==
A catalog should be
* searchable
* dynamic, with caching of recent downloads and the ability to check links and update
* aware of restrictions (size, format, licensing)

We can minimize the need for each of these in a first pass; by setting the bar for restrictions low, making updates sporadically and in bulk, and using the web and simple fts engines for search.

The web app version: let anyone register to submit collections; these have metadata, index pages, and links to originals for verification. let others come review, verify, and update collection data. any compilation via scripts or otherwise should be shared for recompilation after small changes are made. APIs to this will include a way to add many groups or reviews at once; a way to synch distributed offline submissions and comments; and a way for bots to efficiently add or change metadata.

The content browser: at first, the browser itself. Eventually, like the activty browser: a way to find, remove, and archive things in packages. APIs to this will include ways to upload content all at once; for instance a default collection or a default view into a school library.


4) A "browse" view for people ("who") showing what each person has in his/her personal collection. This will be needed if the servers are done in time, but takes lower priority than the rest.
== Content to include ==


5) A template for search results; similar to 3) above but dynamically generated.
"A Musical Look At Waste" - Instructions on building musical instruments with waste and common materials, for kids.
The author [http://pwp.netcabo.pt/jose-lucio/ José Lúcio] gave me permission to compile his webpage into a content bundle for the OLPC. It is licensed cc-by-sa, and translations are very welcome.
Portuguese:[[Image:Olhar-musical-pelos-residuos.xol]]
English:[[Image:Musical-look-at-waste.xol]]
[[User:HoboPrimate|HoboPrimate]] 00:19, 8 September 2007 (EDT)


== Sample Library could integrate better with internet ==
== Library integration with the Internet ==
The biggest content repository is the internet, and perhaps it would be quite usefull to have the library also serve as an entry-way for kids to that content.
The biggest content repository is the internet, and perhaps it would be quite usefull to have the library also serve as an entry-way for kids to that content.


Line 794: Line 182:
These are some quick guesses, and more thought should go to the choice of usefull, good educational resources to include.
These are some quick guesses, and more thought should go to the choice of usefull, good educational resources to include.


Of course, this Sample Library should clearly mark itself a sample, and not be seen as a Portal. For this reason, it should be somewhat limited in its range. At the sime, if it pointed towards content which adhere to the projects philosophical approach to education, it would be usefull to do.
Of course, this Sample Library should clearly mark itself a sample, and not be seen as a Portal. For this reason, it should be somewhat limited in its range. At the same time, if it pointed towards content which adhere to the projects philosophical approach to education, it would be useful to do.
: As an example, we could have a wiki page for each category dedicated to gathering useful links; and could link to that; a level of indirection that keeps the core library simple, continues to work as expected when there is an internet connection, and allows the list to be updated over time.
It should be made in a way that encourages communities to built on it, to add and improve it to fit their needs, and in no way impose our ideals/culture.
It should be made in a way that encourages communities to built on it, to add and improve it to fit their needs, and in no way impose our ideals/culture.


There might be problems of Nation-wide approved "Library links", but perhaps by reaching out to various cultures to come up with their own library sample, with content and weblinks representing what they are, would make better serve as example of how it could be used more dinamically.
There might be problems of Nation-wide approved "Library links", but perhaps by reaching out to various cultures to come up with their own library sample, with content and weblinks representing what they are, would make better serve as example of how it could be used more dinamically.
: The nation-wide links could be applied by changing where the canonical redirect goes for each bundle.
I could picture there being a Portuguese library, showcasing our poets, scientists, culture, nature, and so on. These would be usefull for countries or even communities to learn more from each other, by "trading" their made-libraries.
I could picture there being a Portuguese library, showcasing our poets, scientists, culture, nature, and so on. These would be useful for countries or even communities to learn more from each other, by "trading" their made-libraries.
: Trading 'made' libraries is definitely in the cards. Countries are committed to making this kind of sharing a reality.


: update: see [[#use cases|use cases]] below. --[[User:Sj|Sj]]&nbsp;[[User talk:Sj|<font color="fc9" style="font-size:70%">leave me a message</font>]] 16:53, 24 January 2008 (EST)
: These are all good ideas. See some of the existing [[Library use cases|use cases]]. --[[User:Sj|Sj]]&nbsp;[[User talk:Sj|<font color="fc9" style="font-size:70%">leave me a message</font>]] 16:53, 24 January 2008 (EST)


= Use Cases For Library =


== positive use cases ==
== Library use cases ==

=== positive use cases ===
''use cases we want to support''
''use cases we want to support''


=== Teachers ===
==== Teachers ====
* I am a teacher and I cannot find the resource that I want. I can post a request for content some where and it gets to someone who can get that content.
* I am a teacher and I cannot find the resource that I want. I can post a request for content some where and it gets to someone who can get that content.
* I am a teacher and I want to give my kids access to a set of documents that are too big for them to download entirely
* I am a teacher and I want to give my kids access to a set of documents that are too big for them to download entirely
* I am an Indian teacher and I want to find an approved map of India
* I am an Indian teacher and I want to find an approved map of India


=== Students ===
==== Students ====
* I am a student and I want to learn about Indian independence in 1942
* I am a student and I want to learn about Indian independence in 1942
* Wants to find a photo from Uruguay not taken w/ an XO
* Wants to find a photo from Uruguay not taken w/ an XO
Line 819: Line 211:
* I turn on my computer and can access the materials for my course without "logging on" anywhere
* I turn on my computer and can access the materials for my course without "logging on" anywhere


=== Reviewers ===
==== Reviewers ====
* I am an official at Nepal's Ministry of education and I want to certify that a given set of activities meet Nepal's second grade curriculum for math
* I am an official at Nepal's Ministry of education and I want to certify that a given set of activities meet Nepal's second grade curriculum for math
* I want to add metadata to new submissions
* I want to add metadata to new submissions
Line 827: Line 219:
* I have found content that questions our national regime and I don't want students to be able to access it
* I have found content that questions our national regime and I don't want students to be able to access it


=== Archivists and librarians ===
==== Archivists and librarians ====
* I am an academic and I want to upload a set of classical poems and I am very particular about the metadata and presentation of those poems
* I am an academic and I want to upload a set of classical poems and I am very particular about the metadata and presentation of those poems
* I am a librarian and want to digitize and share print materials
* I am a librarian and want to digitize and share print materials


=== Authors and creators ===
==== Authors and creators ====
* I am an author or artist and I want to share my materials with {my country, the world}
* I am an author or artist and I want to share my materials with {my country, the world}
*: ...''but I don't want people to change them''
*: ...''but I don't want people to change them''
Line 838: Line 230:


== negative use cases ==
== negative use cases ==
use cases we ''do not'' want to support
use cases not desired


* I am student and want to find pornography
* I am student and want to find pornography
* I turn on my computer and can
* I turn on my computer and can shut down the computers of others around me.

== I can't find the sources ==

The link to the source seems to be broken, do you move them elsewhere?

Latest revision as of 15:50, 29 August 2008

A discussion page for library software and content delivery.

For related meeting notes, see content meetings. For older notes, see the archive. Below, the most recent discussions are first.


Library tools

The [Greenstone Digital Library] system provides a lightweight digital library in terms of application and collection size if properly configured. Greenstone can deliver collections on very old 16 bit hardware with much lower specs than the the OLPC laptop.

A slightly different [more limited?]notion of library than the one we have in mind.

Stephen's suggestions

Application configuration;

  • Only include the cgi library interface
  • lightweight http server (their may already be one on the device that could be reused)

Don't include the GLI interface for library creation, ditto for the supporting code, and perl wrappers/plugins etc. Much of the application in the full download is not required for searching/viewing collections.

Collection configuration;

  • Collections can be optimised and compressed in a variety of ways that would easily allow fitting a great deal of content into a small portion of the space available on the OLPC, or even on a small USB flashdrives for distribution.
  • The most efficient ways of including content is to store/compress it as either plain text or html (if linking or lightweight images are needed). This facility already exists in Greenstone.

- Stephen De Gabrielle


Some definitions

Terms

Library Activity
-- A way to interface to content on the XOs and school servers. Eventually this may become its own activity; currently this will be a browser interface.
XO library
-- the library of materials on an XO.
School library
-- the library of materials on a school server.
Regional library
-- the library of materials on a regional or country server.

Interface

The default interface for the library activity can be similar to the journal interface. (Eventually the journal may provide much of this interface.) Browsing the XO library: 

- main page (by subject)

Browsing the school library: 

- main page -- a page for "what" (by subject)
- "who"  (by student) **
- "when" (by time) **

There will be a multilingual server collection, linked to from the above: 

- literature, picture books and audiobooks
- world atlas of maps (with its own mini-portal)
- images from around the world
- video (movies, tv programs) and sounds 
- games (a puzzle game, simcity, tetris, an etoys project collection)

Also: dictionary, 'develop' activity (deep links), photos and videos take with capture activity, audio recorded likewise.

Many of the above will be loadable by browsing to them; some will require more technical know-how. 

* once a database is set up to store and search through metadata.  there can be 
  simple implementations before the full object store is in place.
** assuming a media streamer is working


A main browsing-page: 

------------------------
(journal-style search bar)

   [   A   ]     [   B   ] 

   [   C   ]     [   D   ] 
    
------------------------
A : Texts (reading, math, science; project ideas; for teachers, students; ...)
B : Images  (photos, snapshots, ...)
C : Video (clips, films, ...)
D : Activities (games, etoys, ...)


Subsidiary browsing pages: at least one for each of the sections listed above. One for each large collection [encyclopedia, dictionary if present, atlas, periodic table]. A variation of each portal for every core language [ideal portals have no text at all, or at branch tiers, text in every language].

Milestones

- get a number of draft sketches of possible main and secondary browsing pages 
- define what the design and layout will be like
- define when we will have final converted media from our own machines and from Real
- determine what media player to use
- finalize agreements re: use of media works
- draft spec for metadata store 
- have small localization team in place for En, Es, Pt, Ar
- find remaining resources needed

- revisit full timeline & needs
- test XO-customization activities
- test character-sets [again]; first run of localization work [on-wiki]

- testing ebook readers x2 (yellow and internet archive readers)
- testing datastore on server 
- testing video streaming, server to XO 
- test form creation, new games (simcity, puzzle game, &c)

- testing wiki & admin interface (moodle, &c)
- test localized sugar, journal.
- revisit full timeline & needs

...

- testing on a server

Resources needed

  • Mozilla expert to help perfect the interface via the browser
  • Moodle, Mediaplayer, &c. devs to help set up server apps
  • designer[s] to help create any images necessary in line with existing interface specs
  • developer to help write a database to support storing simple metadata about library materials and simple searching for those materials; and scripts to restructure and reformat text and metadata from existing sources.
  • group focusing on localization implementation -- activating a language preference, setting up workflows that will work over the longer term.


design criteria

A good library should be beautiful, should hint at overabundance and accessibility, and its use should be inspiring.

Libraries use librarians to help people to navigate collections with complicated relationships between sub-collections. The Library would be easier to navigate if it offered the following interfaces:

  • a dynamically generated view of available materials, local and regional, that updates when collections are installed or removed, and presents different views when isolated and when connected to a friend or local network.
  • a way to search through the system of available collections, and an api that allows a collection author to design its own search interface
  • a set of ways for collections to interact with users, either directly reacting to user input or storing and reading back state and data over time.

Some related interactions that it would be useful to provide to other activities as services include:

  • web browsing; to navigate/display local html pages and media, such as help pages for each activity
  • a way to edit in a distributed way a set of notes, inculding pervasive talk pages associated with each bundle and component, which can be updated and shared en masse or page by page (cf. MikMik)

loading and running scripts

Some of the above, including customizable interfaces for searching and tracking previous interactions, can be implemented as scripts that come with a collection and interface. If there were a way to limit the power and extent of what such scripts could do (as Javascript attempts to, for instance), one could let the creator of an otherwise static bundle define precisely the dynamic interfaces it wants.

Limitations on Javascript, in the absence of a state-service such as Google Gears and in the absence of a way to read public elements in the datastore, prevents some of this from being realized.

One option is to make a webservice available that will execute python scripts [as the web user?]

An alternative is to make every collection available as its own executable bundle, which embeds browser-like activities for rendering and explicitly requests script privileges so that it can access and process published files and materials.


similar activities and interactions

There are other content-browsing activities which want to navigate quantities of data (effectively interfacing with a local database) and could potentially be served by a similar system :applications, such as a javascript spreadsheet

  • Gmail with an offline component (caching mail & responses)
  • editable google maps : a local database of geolocations and comments/media, (and an optional input of one's own location from a usb gps) combined, when connected to a tilecache, with map tiles.

Activities that build on and display available data would like to access

- data publicly available as part of our build images,
- data installed as part of public bundles, such as the current help files or talk pages associated with a bundle
- data published by the user.
- statistics published by the system, including the time and its overall use

Finally, common libraries for managing many of these interactions and activities run as javascript, java, or flash; and rely on the browser and html/css to render the resutls [automatically handling zooming, bookmarking, screen rotation, and the like].


library look and feel

1) The overall HTML framework should replicate some of the look of the Journal, perhaps with a main view and layout similar to the upcoming journal redesign: clusters of icons as top-level navigation, with no other body content (focus on navigation, or on a topic, not both). Little other structure. No wasted space on any leaf page; a single link back to the overall library navigation. This is really how I'd like to see journal navigatino to work as well. --Sj leave me a message

2) A main portal page - Megan suggested a circular / annular theme to match the desktop, way back when. This was a fine idea. A central circle containing a library logo, with four sections for text, images, music/video, and games/activities, each represented by small images... as the top-level browse view.

3) Secondary pages for each section, offering a "browse" view organized by subject ("what") for that section. This can be a two-column view with sections, and icons for each major section -- similar to a 2-up display similar to what Eben's tv-widget offers.

4) A "browse" view for people ("who") showing what each person has in his/her personal collection. This will be needed if the servers are done in time, but takes lower priority than the rest.

5) A template for search results; similar to 3) above but dynamically generated.

Library integration with the Internet

The biggest content repository is the internet, and perhaps it would be quite usefull to have the library also serve as an entry-way for kids to that content.

I suggest that each category, Music, Activities, etc., have a separate space for web links. This would give kids a way to explore what (currently with the sample library) OLPC thinks is good on the web, and in the future what schools, teachers, but also hopefully students, parents, friends and local and regional communities think is good as well.

For example, the music category could contain links to Jamendo, and other free music websites. The image category could provide links to NASA's satellite imagery of countries and continents (see m. charitties user page for the link). The activity category could have a link to Instructables website.

These are some quick guesses, and more thought should go to the choice of usefull, good educational resources to include.

Of course, this Sample Library should clearly mark itself a sample, and not be seen as a Portal. For this reason, it should be somewhat limited in its range. At the same time, if it pointed towards content which adhere to the projects philosophical approach to education, it would be useful to do.

As an example, we could have a wiki page for each category dedicated to gathering useful links; and could link to that; a level of indirection that keeps the core library simple, continues to work as expected when there is an internet connection, and allows the list to be updated over time.

It should be made in a way that encourages communities to built on it, to add and improve it to fit their needs, and in no way impose our ideals/culture.

There might be problems of Nation-wide approved "Library links", but perhaps by reaching out to various cultures to come up with their own library sample, with content and weblinks representing what they are, would make better serve as example of how it could be used more dinamically.

The nation-wide links could be applied by changing where the canonical redirect goes for each bundle.

I could picture there being a Portuguese library, showcasing our poets, scientists, culture, nature, and so on. These would be useful for countries or even communities to learn more from each other, by "trading" their made-libraries.

Trading 'made' libraries is definitely in the cards. Countries are committed to making this kind of sharing a reality.
These are all good ideas. See some of the existing use cases. --Sj leave me a message 16:53, 24 January 2008 (EST)


Library use cases

positive use cases

use cases we want to support

Teachers

  • I am a teacher and I cannot find the resource that I want. I can post a request for content some where and it gets to someone who can get that content.
  • I am a teacher and I want to give my kids access to a set of documents that are too big for them to download entirely
  • I am an Indian teacher and I want to find an approved map of India

Students

  • I am a student and I want to learn about Indian independence in 1942
  • Wants to find a photo from Uruguay not taken w/ an XO
  • I need help w/ math and I want to find more materials to study
  • I want to find a penpal activity
  • I turn on my computer and can access the materials for my course without "logging on" anywhere

Reviewers

  • I am an official at Nepal's Ministry of education and I want to certify that a given set of activities meet Nepal's second grade curriculum for math
  • I want to add metadata to new submissions
  • I want to find and improve new uploads
  • I want to apply a new format to all the materials for my area/country
  • I want to reuse content about pandas in northern china that was created by Chinese student
  • I have found content that questions our national regime and I don't want students to be able to access it

Archivists and librarians

  • I am an academic and I want to upload a set of classical poems and I am very particular about the metadata and presentation of those poems
  • I am a librarian and want to digitize and share print materials

Authors and creators

  • I am an author or artist and I want to share my materials with {my country, the world}
    ...but I don't want people to change them
    ...but I don't want people to sell them
  • I am an author and I want to contribute to a freely available anthology (bankers m.)

negative use cases

use cases not desired

  • I am student and want to find pornography
  • I turn on my computer and can shut down the computers of others around me.

I can't find the sources

The link to the source seems to be broken, do you move them elsewhere?

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