OLPC UK/Lending Library and Repair Centre/Old Proposals
Original Proposal for hardware submitted to OLPC Boston
The proposal:
We're applying for some used hardware:
- What you want, exactly how many of each
- 10 D stock (would accept less)
- 20 M stock (would accept less)
- 35 chargers (would accept less)
- how you intend to use them.
We intend to use them to:
- D stock: repair them and 1) set up a Lending Library of laptops for
OLPC-UK members / community; 2) generate enough interest and proven contributions to justify a Contributors Program application by OLPC-UK members / community.
- M stock: use to back up the D stock for a UK repair centre / Lending Library
- Chargers: Power the Lending Library stock and supplement the repair centre.
Initial feedback on original proposal
18:37 < mtd> CanoeBerry: I'd ask for feedback on my email, but as I've only
sent it recently it's unfair. Will you consider giving such
feedback if you have time, later?
18:37 < CanoeBerry> bz_g: yes I have Lionel's proposal for a sizable amount of
used hardware, thanks! OLPC France is doing really great
work.
18:37 < CanoeBerry> mtd: definitely today
18:37 < mtd> CanoeBerry: thanks
18:39 < CanoeBerry> mtd: can you explain a bit more about your UK plans, and
how you will grow your group? Only if you have a sec. 30
used/broken laptops is a large amount (France similar) but
I will definitely consider it if you make your case!
18:39 < CanoeBerry> Alabama is asking for even more :)
18:40 < mtd> CanoeBerry: OLPC UK is targeting a pilot of 30 laptops in a
school in London in September. This is aggressive but we have
funding and initial buy-in from the headmistress...
18:40 < mtd> CanoeBerry: This proposal is *not* for hardware for that pilot...
18:41 < Caryl> We would all love to start pilots somewhere with D&M stock.
There aren't enough to go around. Not the best use.
18:41 < mtd> CanoeBerry: ...but in order to build community for that project I
thought a lending library would be something people could get
into on a volunteer basis, and hopefully that would lead to more
involvement both in OLPC-UK and in the pilot programs.
18:41 < mtd> Caryl: This proposal is *not* for hardware for that pilot...
18:41 < mtd> Caryl: I want to make that clear.
18:42 < CanoeBerry> mtd: are you coordinating with dsd?
18:42 < mtd> CanoeBerry: I chatted with him yestrday, but before I saw the
used hardware email.
18:42 < mtd> CanoeBerry: I'd be happy to work through him if that'd be esasier.
18:42 < mtd> CanoeBerry: he is involved in the OLPC-UK organizational
discussion on olp-uk@lists.latop.org
18:43 < mtd> CanoeBerry: also I'd like to stress I am new to this, so
appreciate guidance on numbers of amachines, etc.
18:43 < CanoeBerry> Ask dsd to take a look, and cc me.
18:43 < mtd> CanoeBerry: thanks, will do.
18:43 < CanoeBerry> I will support proposals like yours when they have
multiple backers.
18:44 < CanoeBerry> Caryl: There is a lot of M Stock to go around. But a
pile-of-broken-parts does not a Pilot make ;)
18:45 < mtd> CanoeBerry: no, definitely - please let me stress this is *not*
for the poilot.
18:45 < mtd> CanoeBerry: ...but in order to build community for that project I
thought a lending library would be something people could get
into on a volunteer basis, and hopefully that would lead to more
involvement both in OLPC-UK and in the pilot programs.
18:45 < CanoeBerry> Repair Centers are the focus here, and general support of
others, first and foremost :)
18:45 < mtd> CanoeBerry: it's about building the community
18:45 < mtd> CanoeBerry: sure, understood.
18:47 < CanoeBerry> mtd: i think you already know this, but just a reminder
all chargers here are US chargers (and being used, may not
all work!)
18:48 < mtd> CanoeBerry: yes, thanks. We can get adapters easily, and my US
G1G1 one works here fine :).
18:49 < CanoeBerry> mtd: OK. While we cannot sell US chargers in Europe, I
think surplus parts on a very limited basic like this are
OK.
Laptop Library addendum to the proposal
As mentioned above, we see the Laptop Library and Repair Centre programs as complementary and want to do them both. The Laptop Library program has its own set of requirements / questions different from Adam's original email, so this section is to address those:
Requirements
.
what is your active library URL?
This page is it. The URL is http://wiki.laptop.org/go/OLPC_UK/Lending_Library_and_Repair_Centre .
policy mechanics of loans/returns
Similar to other library proposals:
- we expect requests to be made in person at an OLPC UK meeting / event or via the olpc-uk@lists.laptop.org mailing lists
- requests will be recorded on olpc-uk mailing list regardless of how they were originally received. When this volume becomes to high for a mailing list, a shared document will be set up (google docs, git repo) to allow librarians to record loans/receipts
- standard requests will be for three months each, but duration may vary a bit on a case-by-case basis.
- we expect requests to be for two laptops at a time to maximise benefit/productivity
how will you give back to the OLPC/Sugar community
Our OLPC UK mailing list includes prominent members of the OLPC and SugarLabs community with a track record of delivering software and community benefits. We will build on that background by:
- encouraging and mentoring laptop recipients to give them the best opportunity to become long-term members of the community
- keeping very close touch with the wider community at devel@l.o, {ieap,sugar-devel}@sl.o, fedora-olpc, and all the OLPC groups we have personal relationships with (e.g., OLPC Austria comes to mind)
Long-term plans
We plan to keep going on this as long as the laptops hold up (and of course longer). Many members of OLPC UK have been around since G1G1 2007 and remain active today.
Trend analysis
We will report library statistics via a glance-able [Chart] display and the raw data in CSV hosted on an easily-accessible git-repo.
Suggestions and further questions
demonstrate detail-oriented librarian skills
Martin is a programmer, so there's some detail-oriented skills in his background. I hope the above details will provide additional comfort.
articulating how laptops will continually recirculate & new projects seeded & fertilized
At [2009] Martin met with many people who were very excited about the XO, Sugar, and their potential. Martin carries his XO to work every day and continually gets questions about it - it's easy to generate buzz and gather interested people. What's lacking is often a way to become familiar with the capabilities of the platform (XO and Sugar) in real-time and a community around it. We're addressing the community with the acceleration of OLPC UK and the hardware + software platform with this application.
outreach & buzz-creating acumen
OLPC UK members have created buzz on the web, mainstream media (UK TV's "Gadget Show"), and just by walking around with XOs all the time.
Other libraries and mentoring
We'd certainly benefit from learning from other libraries like OLPC Australia and XO Austin. We would definitely be available to mentor others.
Growing the group
The OLPC UK group is getting going and already has had some very promising outreach to schools and funding sources. Getting people involved in using the hardware and developing software is certainly not going to be a problem - getting the laptops back from loan might be (HHOS). We will address continuity and scalability issues by ensuring that the OLPC UK mailing list is always in the loop in discussions and ensuring that at least three people have access to the XO inventory in order to loan it out.