Title: Alternative Libraries
Last modified: August 21, 2016

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# Alternative Libraries

 *  Resolved [sittingoverthere](https://wordpress.org/support/users/sittingoverthere/)
 * (@sittingoverthere)
 * [12 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/alternative-libraries/)
 * Hi Robert,
    I was looking to build a community tool library where users can submit
   a tool they are prepared to lend to other users in the community that subscribe
   to the site and thought your plugin my be useful. Is this possible using your
   plugin? I have read as much as I can here but I thought it might be easier and
   more productive to contact you directly.
 * James
 * [http://wordpress.org/plugins/weblibrarian/](http://wordpress.org/plugins/weblibrarian/)

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

 *  Plugin Author [Robert Heller](https://wordpress.org/support/users/robertpheller/)
 * (@robertpheller)
 * [12 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/alternative-libraries/#post-4341665)
 * I think this should work. I presume by ‘tool’ you mean something physical and
   not something like a software application. You can even put barcode stickers 
   on the tools and use a barcode scanner during checkout.
 * There is not really very much difference between a tool and a book since a book
   can itself be thought of as a tool (eg a ‘tool’ for learning or a ‘tool’ to have
   fun with).
 *  Thread Starter [sittingoverthere](https://wordpress.org/support/users/sittingoverthere/)
 * (@sittingoverthere)
 * [12 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/alternative-libraries/#post-4341668)
 * Hi Robert,
    Yeah I mean actual tools like hammers etc. I thought it would work
   as what does it matter what the barcode is stuck on 🙂 My major concern is the
   library could be ‘built’ by users. The key to this project is having people be
   able to submit their own tools to the library for others to borrow. Is this part
   possible? Ideally it would require a login, so once registered people can lend
   and borrow tools using the site as a portal.
 * James
 *  Plugin Author [Robert Heller](https://wordpress.org/support/users/robertpheller/)
 * (@robertpheller)
 * [12 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/alternative-libraries/#post-4341670)
 * It should be possible. The plugin is not designed to allow random users (patrons)
   to insert things into the collection database. One needs extra privs (eg role
   is ‘Librarian’ or ‘Senior Aid’). I would suggest (at least to start) having a*
   small* number of people with a role of ‘Senior Aid’ who would actually add items
   to the collection. It will likely require some training to add items to the collection.
   And that you devise a schema for the ‘call number’ identifing where tools are
   stored (such as codes for rooms, shelves, boxes, or bins, etc.) so that once 
   a ‘hold’ has been placed on a tool, someone will be able to locate it, so it 
   can be found and checked out.
 *  Plugin Author [Robert Heller](https://wordpress.org/support/users/robertpheller/)
 * (@robertpheller)
 * [12 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/alternative-libraries/#post-4341671)
 * Note: at our local library, it is possible to ‘borrow’ childrens toys, although
   the library has not bothered to enter such items into the electronic (computer)
   catalog. So your idea is not totally outside of ‘normal’ usage.

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

The topic ‘Alternative Libraries’ is closed to new replies.

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 * 4 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [Robert Heller](https://wordpress.org/support/users/robertpheller/)
 * Last activity: [12 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/alternative-libraries/#post-4341671)
 * Status: resolved