I worked at Chief Auto Parts headquarters when they were bought by Autozone, and took a bunch of books they were tossing. I’m moving now, and don’t have room for them. Do y’all want them? Some are still in their plastic wrap. The Computer Command Control is a booklet and 2 VHS tapes. And I also have a Chilton Jeep Wrangler book somewhere still in its wrap (I’ll have to figure out which box I put it in).
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If they don’t want them, I will take them.
We don’t really have a spot for any books in the green auto area, but feel free to bring them up and put them on the general donation shelf for anyone who is interested to take.
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I suppose in the digital age it may not serve as much purpose, but does MakerSpace have a general library area?
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Sort of, we used to. It was in the Pilfer -er Pillar Room. I don’t know where the bookcases and books went since Creative Arts moved in there.
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Related link about book shelf/library proposal
As you can see from the linked thread, I was originally going to propose just such a library be created (the former has been disposed of), but have since backed off that proposal. Here are my reasons
- A fair number of members are passionate about not having books cluttering the space
- Prior experience indicates that people use the ‘library’ as a means of dispossing of junk they no longer want, rather then a place for valuable books for fellow makers.
- Such a library would need a sub-committee to regulate donations and keep the library maneable.
- I think the sub-committee should exist before the creation of the library to demonstrate we have people who are willing to manage this ‘tool’
So, here is my proposal. Is anyone willing to volunteer to join such a sub-committee and manage a space library? I will volunteer, but will not proceed if I am the only one.
I happen to love books. I don’t mean that I read them; I enjoy being surrounded by them. I love to hide in quiet, little rooms walled with books. I have hundreds of books in my home, lining my living room walls.
Letting other people access a library is a lot of trouble. Keeping track of books is trouble. People inevitably neglect to return what they borrow, and books (especially technical books) become dated in a few years. Being a librarian is just about a full-time job.
I was thinking the space’s library would be a reference collection with no official ‘borrowing’. I was also thinking that we would have stickers printed stating so and placed in the books cover.
As to books becoming dated, it really depends upon the technical field they are covering. Many technical fields have essentially become static where material developed even a hundred years ago is still perfectly valid. The most relevent examples I have are machining books, several of which I have uploaded google docs copies to the spaces wiki page I also have a books in other fields that are still quite relevent, despite being very old. Indeed many of the older books on the subjects are more useful to maker’s then newer material which focus on industrial processes, while the older books described processes that are much more possible to our members.
Before he retired, a gentlemen ran a company for years whose sole function was to provide reprints of older technical material. I ordered at least one or two books every time he sent me a catalog, and I was only rarely disappointed in the material. Lindsay Books Many of these reprints are still being sold, often at incredible inflated prices.
But as you say, if created, the sub-committee responsible would have real work on their hands.
That’s my house you’re describing. Not by design though. My roommate reads technical and gaming books that keep stacking up. Four bedroom house with only two bedrooms available.
He retired?! Aw, no! Lindsay Technical Books was the best! I regret much that I didn’t spend a lot more money on his products! He offered things that no one else did, and his service was top-notch. No one else (in the '80s) could get me a book in my hands only three days after I mailed off my order via regular mail. DMS ought to have an entire wall of everything he sold; his stuff is exactly the makery kind of things we try doing.
I hope that Dover is still around…
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He is sorely missed! I cannot emphasize how much benefit DMS would have gotten from his publications. LTB was a Maker movement in the '80s, bigger and better than all the spaces I’ve yet seen, including ours.
As for managing a library, people walk off with books. It’s sad but true. Otherwise, I might lend some of my books to the Space (not that anyone would necessarily use them).
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I know this is a month late - but a technical / reference library with books would be great. As for using the books - why not have a “check out a book” with the same RFID you use to buy a snack or open a door, and if the book isn’t returned assess a fine?
I have some Honda (ugh) factory service manuals that are within inches of the recycly bin that may find a good use in a tech library.
If this does come to fruition I have a large library of European service manuals I’d be willing to loan - not the worthless Haynes or Chilton brands but the real thing. Audi, BMW, VW, Mbenz, Porsche, Saab, and more
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Automotive service manuals are probably one type of book that it makes sense to create a reference library for since the books don’t “go out of date” as they a model/year specific in most cases. I know I have several from cars I’ve previously owned and would donate to the Space. I’m there are many of us out there like that.
I’d like to see a subscription to the service manuals. I know Toyota has this, not sure about other mfgs.