DROWNING IN PC MANAGEMENT: COULD A LINUX SOLUTION SAVE US?

The article describes how Coquitlam Public Library in British Columbia moved its public access computers (PAC) from a Windows-based to a Linux-based operating system in 2003. In the mid-1990s the library started offering PAC to its patrons by using an Industry Canada Community Access Program grant and funds from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Over the years, the library managed to afford a few replacements but could not keep up with the general wear and tear and changes in technology. In 2003, the head of the library's systems department attended a conference in Toronto where she saw a demonstration of DiscoverStation, a Linux-based public access solution developed by Userful. One of DiscoverStation's most interesting features is that it allows up to 10 people to work independently from a single computer. The system is built specifically for public access use in libraries. The library decided to adopt DiscoverStation, and after the evaluation period, it made a 3-year commitment to DiscoverStation and purchased four computers to support 20 stations. In late December 2003, each branch of the library got one six-station box and one four-station box. A Userful representative was present to help in the set up and installation, and to do some initial staff training after the stations were ready.