marcellmars/Public library

## Public library
## CONTEXT ##

It’s a simple idea: public library is one of those almost invisible infrastructures that we start to notice only once they go extinct. A place where all people can get access to all knowledge that can be collected. In the past it relied on the limited resources of rich patrons or unstable budgets of (welfare) states. With internet, as in many other instances, the dream about universal access got much more imaginable. It seemed just an issue of interpreting when the trajectory curves of global personal computer distribution and internet access penetration would finally make universal access to knowledge a reality. However, the actual trajectory of development of public libraries in the age of internet are pointing in the opposite direction – that the phenomena we people are most proud of are being undercut and can easily go extinct.

Public libraries now cannot receive, and sometimes not even buy, the books of some of the largest publishers. The books that they already hold they must destroy after lending them 26 (?!?) times. And they are loosing the battle to the market dominated by new players such as Amazon, Google and Apple. Economic crisis and the recent austerity measures brought another threat to the libraries and that’s the total extinction through (public) financial support cuts.

More about CONTEXT: http://www.memoryoftheworld.org/public-library/

## PROPOSAL ##

As said before, my proposal is simple: let’s make catalog of all of the books we already downloaded and let’s share them.

The public library is:
 - free access to books for every member of society
 - library catalog
 - librarian

With books ready to be shared, meticulously cataloged, everyone is a librarian.

When everyone is librarian, library is everywhere. Dead simple.

More about PROPOSAL: http://www.memoryoftheworld.org/blog/2012/11/26/end-to-end-catalog/

## THE SCOPE OF PEOPLE AND PROJECTS ##

Together with people who were invited to Ljubljana + few more hackers I work on improving the software tools which will make the whole set up even more user friendly. But nothing would be possible if Sean Dockray didn’t start [Aaaaarg.org][1], Dušan Barok [Monoskop][2], Sebastian Luetgert and Jan Gerber [Pirate Cinema][3] & [pad.ma][4], Kenneth Goldsmith [Ubu.com][5], Henry Warwick [Alexandria project][6], [Piratbyrån][7] [The Pirate Bay][8] and more than anyone else if [Library Genesis][9] didn’t let us download their whole catalog of near million of books. These people are my heros and seems that working on this brings us together as a nice friendly crew. We all miss [Aaron Swartz][10] so much.

More about PEOPLE/PROJECT: http://www.memoryoftheworld.org/people/


  [1]: http://aaaaarg.org
  [2]: http://monoskop.org
  [3]: http://www.piratecinema.org/?page=faq
  [4]: http://pad.ma
  [5]: http://ubu.com
  [6]: http://www.kether.com/bio/
  [7]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piratbyr%C3%A5n
  [8]: http://thepiratebay.org
  [9]: http://libgen.org
  [10]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Swartz
	## CONTEXT ##

	It’s a simple idea: public library is one of those almost invisible infrastructures that we start to notice only once they go extinct. A place where all people can get access to all knowledge that can be collected. In the past it relied on the limited resources of rich patrons or unstable budgets of (welfare) states. With internet, as in many other instances, the dream about universal access got much more imaginable. It seemed just an issue of interpreting when the trajectory curves of global personal computer distribution and internet access penetration would finally make universal access to knowledge a reality. However, the actual trajectory of development of public libraries in the age of internet are pointing in the opposite direction – that the phenomena we people are most proud of are being undercut and can easily go extinct.

	Public libraries now cannot receive, and sometimes not even buy, the books of some of the largest publishers. The books that they already hold they must destroy after lending them 26 (?!?) times. And they are loosing the battle to the market dominated by new players such as Amazon, Google and Apple. Economic crisis and the recent austerity measures brought another threat to the libraries and that’s the total extinction through (public) financial support cuts.

	More about CONTEXT: http://www.memoryoftheworld.org/public-library/

	## PROPOSAL ##

	As said before, my proposal is simple: let’s make catalog of all of the books we already downloaded and let’s share them.

	The public library is:
	- free access to books for every member of society
	- library catalog
	- librarian

	With books ready to be shared, meticulously cataloged, everyone is a librarian.

	When everyone is librarian, library is everywhere. Dead simple.

	More about PROPOSAL: http://www.memoryoftheworld.org/blog/2012/11/26/end-to-end-catalog/

	## THE SCOPE OF PEOPLE AND PROJECTS ##

	Together with people who were invited to Ljubljana + few more hackers I work on improving the software tools which will make the whole set up even more user friendly. But nothing would be possible if Sean Dockray didn’t start [Aaaaarg.org][1], Dušan Barok [Monoskop][2], Sebastian Luetgert and Jan Gerber [Pirate Cinema][3] & [pad.ma][4], Kenneth Goldsmith [Ubu.com][5], Henry Warwick [Alexandria project][6], [Piratbyrån][7] [The Pirate Bay][8] and more than anyone else if [Library Genesis][9] didn’t let us download their whole catalog of near million of books. These people are my heros and seems that working on this brings us together as a nice friendly crew. We all miss [Aaron Swartz][10] so much.

	More about PEOPLE/PROJECT: http://www.memoryoftheworld.org/people/


	[1]: http://aaaaarg.org
	[2]: http://monoskop.org
	[3]: http://www.piratecinema.org/?page=faq
	[4]: http://pad.ma
	[5]: http://ubu.com
	[6]: http://www.kether.com/bio/
	[7]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piratbyr%C3%A5n
	[8]: http://thepiratebay.org
	[9]: http://libgen.org
	[10]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Swartz