Distributed Library

[1]

A distributed library is a member-based library system that lacks a central storage or ownership model. Individuals share a wide variety of media resources (books, articles, maps, video, audio, zines) directly with each other. The library catalog exists in a database form that is usually made available to users via the Internet.

History

The first distributed library software was designed by Moxie, a Bay-area anarchist, software developer and hacker in early 2003 in order to create a city-wide book sharing system. Although the San-Francisco distributed library is now offline, the project has been picked up in a number of other cities, such as Barcelona and Toronto.

Examples

Distributed Library Project [2] is the original software designed for use by San Francisco activists, since publicly released and rewritten for use in other communities. Users upload information to and search a database of media by ISBN. Descriptions and reviews may also be included. As of yet, the DLP has not seen widespread use.

Unlibrary [3] is a distributed library whose users do not exist as a regional group per se, but are usually grouped according to demographic (individuals with similar interests, organizations, etc.) Using Unlibrary software, the users may also make their libraries private.

Bookcrossing [4] is a bookswap system launched in the spring of 2001 by Ron Hornbaker that encourages its users to “make the whole world a library” by leaving books in public places to be picked up by others or more directly via “book rings” of Bookcrossing users.

References

http://www.biblio.tk/ [5]

http://www.thoughtcrime.org/software/dlp/ [6]

http://medwards.github.com/free-library-on-rails/ [7]

http://dlp.theps.net [2]

http://www.iterasi.net/openviewer.aspx?sqrlitid=tlsfi9ba20aa48xxlvabaq [8]

http://www.unlibrary.com/ [9]

http://dlp.tranzform.ca/ [10]

http://www.bookcrossing.com/ [11]

Related Nodes

Project Gutenberg

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