Intro Questions
2. What are the benefits or possible uses of the ODBS?
Using & Implementing ODBS
3. What are the steps to using the ODBS?
4. What types of materials are available to print?
5. What formats does the ODBS portal support?
6. What is the quality of the binding?
7. How much does the ODBS cost?
8. What resources are needed to run and maintain this system?
9. Where is the ODBS portal? Can I use it? Is the Moodle site the portal?
10. How can I use the ODBS Moodle site?
About the people behind the service
11. Who owns the ODBS portal/promotional materials/etc.?
12. Who is involved in this project?
The ODBS is a system of various technologies that would give a community the ability to search for materials, then print, cut and bind them into books. The system consists of a web portal (with a database of materials), a computer with internet access, a printer, a cutter, and a binder. The system is customizable, and a community does not need to use all aspects of the ODBS.
What are the benefits or possible uses of the ODBS?
Benefits include:
- the ability to scan and publish local materials for the community
- a system that is flexible enough to be customized to the community
- cheap method of printing materials that patrons could take home
- eliminating shipping costs of printed materials
- accessing electronic materials; adjusting online material into print
- aggregating digital contents of interest to a community into one online portal/database
Also see, Brian Beaton's question: Why print books when you can read e-book online?
The ODBS could be used to support library or educational programming in the community and the values and skills of those programs. For examples of programming suggestions, please see this thread.
What are the steps to using the ODBS?
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Search for material/produce and scan material
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Print material
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Cut material to size (if necessary)
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Bind material
What types of materials are available to print?
An ODBS portal would contain anything that is not copyrighted. This would include for example, works in the public domain or new works released under a creative commons license. Communities could also publish their own local material if scanned into a digital format.
What formats does the ODBS portal support?
The ODBS system can use standard pdfs and a variety of other formats.
What is the quality of the binding?
The books bound with the ODBS system do not have the same quality of binding as commercial books. The binding is serviceable, and close up photos of binding is available here and here:
Costs will vary depending on the type of equipment bought. The minimum requirements for the full system would include:
- materials to print (free)
- computer with internet access
- printer
- cutter
- binding machine/technology
- raw materials (e.g. ink cartridges, paper, etc.)
What resources are needed to run and maintain this system?
- staff to manage/develop the online database portal (does not have to be onsite)
- staff to execute the bookbinding process, possibly train others
- promotional materials. Templates are available [insert link]
- IT personnel to aid troubleshooting
- an internet connection, preferably broadband
Where is the ODBS portal? Can I use it? Is the Moodle site the portal?
This Moodle site is not the ODBS portal. Currently, the ODBS system is being developed and has not been coded yet. Our FIS2125 students are working very hard at consulting community members and professionals to design a system that is user friendly!
How can I use the ODBS Moodle site?
The Moodle site is where you can connect to ODBS partners and learn about the project as a process. Please feel free to ask us questions in the Q&A forum, or to browse the site's resources.
Who owns the ODBS portal/promotional materials/etc.?
The community does! This site and its associated products have been created for and with aboriginal communities, the project's Northern partners and those who will be using the service in any way. In short, ODBS users = ODBS owners.
Who is involved in this project?
- the friendly students of FIS2125 (winter 2009 semester)
- KORI and K-Net
- Professor Nadia Caidi, and Adam Fiser