Title. Mainly asking for the library side, but PC cafe is also interesting to ask about.
Mainly since Windows 11 is 64-bit only, and it seems Windows 12 is going to subscription based on top of that, neither of which public libraries can afford tossing out computers and paying more in subscription fees than they make with overdue books.
My local library is only open for 2 days a week, due to a lack of funds for hiring more staff in the area. They use older Dell all in ones, and that just makes me think if they don't have the money for being open 5 days a week, they don't have the money to buy 4 new computers for the space.
Not even getting into the bigger libraries part of that system or the ones nearby. Some have 8 computers in groups, with 4 stations of groups.
So I was just wondering, if anyone has started or is aware of a Library/Public Computer focused linux-based OS? Perhaps one that allows immutable systems, and the library card system backed most use to enable end user access. Perhaps that's a config file tucked away somewhere.
And I guess the PC cafe OS is interesting, simply due to the fact that Linux gaming has been making huge strides, and PC cafes are still popular in Japan, Korea, and China.
EDIT: I am not in control or assistance to the library, just looking if there's a potential solution to libraries like mine. If I could give links to a library computer manager, or if I could give upstream bug reports to people making such software.
Libraries are not companies, they don’t need to make a profit. They are supported by taxes. The computers they have are old because they work perfectly fine.
They probably don’t pay for licensing, and the cost to maintain non-windows OS would be more due to having to hire people with that skill set.
This…didn't answer any of the questions and missed the point of the post.
Libraries do pay for licensing of all MS software, as well as many other databases.
And any IT person working in a library usually is managing a Unix server so Linux is not something they are unfamiliar with, they even use linux servers.
That's basic skillset of managing an OS. If IT person cannot setup guest accounts on Linux better not to hire him at all.
Until they're no longer secure, because Windows stops supporting them with security updates.
Based on what? They aren't magically exempt because they're a library. Licensing costs are a huge part of a library's expenses.