Digital Book Library - Random Idea

[barret50]

So a few days ago I had a random idea for a potentially interesting home project..

A lot of people like libraries. The physical books, the smells, the age and variety etc.

 

My idea is having a digital library which consists entirely of usb drives. Each drive has ONE digital book on it, stored in an organised shelf or by some other means of display.

 

What if you were to go around to everyone you know, people they know, random people and sites like ebay.. obtain as many different usb drives as possible. Any size and any shape, the more variety the better. Perhaps prepurchase 300x 4gb drives and offer them in exchange to sweeten the deal (data transfers too).
Take this massive assortment of drives that vary in wear levels, missing caps, whatever. Put a single different book on each and there you go.

I'd like to hear what people have to say about this idea - be it stupid or revolutionary

Pls ask for more details.
 

[MrKickkiller]

Ooor you could just run a file server in that "library" which hosts all the books.

And have client pc's on site to retrieve /read the book.

 

+ Ability to read outside of the library via internet

[barret50]

Ooor you could just run a file server in that "library" which hosts all the books.

And have client pc's on site to retrieve /read the book.

 

+ Ability to read outside of the library via internet

That's no fun.. my idea is entirely based around the separation of each book as if they were physical ones.

[MrKickkiller]

That's no fun.. my idea is entirely based around the separation of each book as if they were physical ones.

 

And how would you go about preventing theft of the flash drives?

[barret50]

And how would you go about preventing theft of the flash drives?

These would be displayed in your home, personal library I suppose (probably should have clarified)

[Minzo]

If you have the time and think it will look nice you can place them in like dvd cases and print labels for them so it literally looks like a library.

[Kyuubixchidori]

This would be cool way to share books. That or if they made stupid cheap couple Meg flash drives.

[SiverJohn17]

Doesn't that kind of defeat the purpose of a digital library? I mean I personally can get copies of whatever books for roughly the same price as an e book. I use a digital library for its convenience (access from anywhere) and its space saving (not having a big ass shelf in my house). I have actually just paired down most of my books in the last month because I am trying to go as minimalistic as possible moving forward. 

That being said I am not here to rain on anyone's parade and if you want to make a book shelf filled with USB flash drives, you do you. Just know that I am not going to be joining you anytime soon.

[barret50]

Doesn't that kind of defeat the purpose of a digital library? I mean I personally can get copies of whatever books for roughly the same price as an e book. I use a digital library for its convenience (access from anywhere) and its space saving (not having a big ass shelf in my house). I have actually just paired down most of my books in the last month because I am trying to go as minimalistic as possible moving forward. 

That being said I am not here to rain on anyone's parade and if you want to make a book shelf filled with USB flash drives, you do you. Just know that I am not going to be joining you anytime soon.

It's not meant to be practical by any means. It is supposed to be a unique idea.. which are hard to come by these days.

Thanks though lol

[-CLASSIFIED-]

Why not use floppy disks ! That would kinda Interesting

[barret50]

Why not use floppy disks ! That would kinda Interesting

Interesting idea but I think it would be much harder to get so many floppys that have different designs and wear levels, plus they are very impractical to actually share and use (I see the irony there)  :wacko:

[-CLASSIFIED-]

Interesting idea but I think it would be much harder to get so many floppys that have different designs and wear levels, plus they are very impractical to actually share and use (I see the irony there)  :wacko:

true that , the impractical nature is sorta part of the charm hahah

Just a random idea I had xP

[Mightyinvader]

Well this technology would be pretty impractical, just get all the books and make them their own folder on your computer, kinda A waste of USB, also could get lost or misplaced.....

[barret50]

Well this technology would be pretty impractical, just get all the books and make them their own folder on your computer, kinda A waste of USB, also could get lost or misplaced.....

That's boring, anyone can go and do that in 2 minutes.

[Mightyinvader]

That's boring, anyone can go and do that in 2 minutes.

This is a cool idea, but honestly it would really only be for you.I would love to see photos of it however for the average person it just makes no sense. if you dont want your books on a computer than you want the physical thing. in order to read said books you need a computer, your just adding a step. Cool idea I just cant see anyone really taking it past the blueprint stage