Remaking the Library into an Internet Cafe

[VTCobaltblood]

This idea has originally arisen from the constant jabs science mains like to make about how goddamn small the research department is on a research station. The civilian wing, on the other hand, is hilariously large. To give a rough idea:

• The library is larger than R&D, Xenobotany, and the Misc Labs combined.
• The kitchen together with the bar take up space roughly equivalent to 3/4-4/5 of the main level research department. Just the bar and the kitchen - not the entire civilian department.
• Science had to part with its operating room, and atmos chamber, to make room for a chapel. The chapel is roughly equivalent in size to Xenobotany and Misc Labs combined.
• Science's chemistry lab - oh, sorry, the Materials lab - is not even comparable to the pharmacy - oh, sorry, the Chemistry - juggernaut Medical has. Instead, it's a pathetic cubicle which doesn't even have safety equipment.
• Science has no proper lobby. Literally every other department has a lobby - not Science. They also have no break room aside from the conference room.

As some would say, this is a meme that needs to end. Thus, I suggest taking a huge step in making the research department larger and more influential on the general station goings - remapping the library into an internet cafe.
Aside from the aforementioned reasons, I don't really see why an advanced research station in the year 2460 still uses a paper library. I do understand why we have it - it's for entertainment, as stays on the station can be prolonged. So, instead of having paper books like we're in the medieval ages, the internet cafe will have a holoshelf of holobooks. The books can be freely enjoyed in the internet cafe, but disappear as you quit the room, just like holodeck items. The internet cafe will also, obviously, have some unconfigured private-presetted consoles, which are going to be maintained and set up by...
The librarian job is getting remade into an computer technician (better name needed?). They're a fun guy/gal who oversees the internet cafe, and also has R&D access to print computer parts. They officially belong to the science department, but really they're a mix of science and service, and only require a bachelor's degree in IT or other field which deals with computer repairs - or being in training for one. They are not proper science staff, and the Research Director is still the system administrator of the station's computers. Someone with a PhD would have no reason to work as one. They also have no excuses to do actual R&D aside from printing parts for computers, be able to maintain cyborgs, or deal with the AI.
The laptop vendors are getting slightly nerfed to nudge you to interact with the computerperson. They will no longer have advanced parts, and the prices are going to be bumped up. 
The library internet cafe will roughly be this-sized: https://imgur.com/WP2qJa9. The space being cut off will be redistributed to science, which should receive a little remap. 
This is still in the idea-generating and me learning how to byond stage, so no PR is up yet. I would really appreciate feedback from service players and science players, but everyone else is welcome as well.

Edited January 3, 2019 by VTCobaltblood

[SeniorScore]

Research is the meme here bucko. THere's plenty of asteroid to extend research along the back. That being said the idea for an internet cafe should be fine tho

[Resilynn]

Tbh I like this idea too. Make it some kind of outreach area- a place for entertainment and relaxation but also a place for science to show off their projects to the general crew if they want. 

Edited January 3, 2019 by Resilynn

[VTCobaltblood]

This is not really designed as a place to show off science projects, but its placement, and the fact that it has a person with some science access attached to it, would be pretty convenient for that. This is mostly a chill lounge that the library currently is, except more high-tech.

[Resilynn]

28 minutes ago, VTCobaltblood said:

This is not really designed as a place to show off science projects, but its placement, and the fact that it has a person with some science access attached to it, would be pretty convenient for that. This is mostly a chill lounge that the library currently is, except more high-tech.

As long as it’s covered in directive 4 and counts as the science department that counts. 

[VTCobaltblood]

It's not the science department, and as such, not exempt from directive 4, as literally anyone can walk into this area. A research director would have to approve showing new technology here. However, things like circuit crash courses will be really convenient to conduct here, since this is already semi-science.

[Scheveningen]

Only if the computers have cubicle dividers... and accompanying tissue boxes for each cubicle. /s

I think this is a great idea. I very much like it.

[Conspiir]

The good of paper books is being able to remove them from the area. I can go sit at the kitchen with my book and discuss it with the chef, for a totally random example. I'd like paper books to still be obtainable, but perhaps cost a fee.

 

As far as the Tech Person, I definitely like the idea of that job. A computer nerd, if you will, with no other expectations than to be... a computer nerd. Not fully IT, not fully Roboticist. Just a Tech Expert.

[CommanderXor]

Just like to point out that security doesn't have a break room either, we have a office next to the toilets with a smoke machine and some donuts, hardly counts as a break room since it's clearly a office with all the paper bins and the like. And don't you dare claim the gym is a break room.

 

But yeah, this looks alright but I would prefer that we have hardcover books still around. Perhaps a few shelves somewhere within for the old-bookworm types?

[VTCobaltblood]

7 hours ago, Conspiir said:

I'd like paper books to still be obtainable, but perhaps cost a fee.

Nah, better idea. How about we introduce a book program to the modular computers, where any book can become available if you, say, type in its ID? The computer nerd has access to these IDs, so they would have to assist you to bring texts out. Basically, turning tablets into e-books.

5 hours ago, CommanderXor said:

But yeah, this looks alright but I would prefer that we have hardcover books still around.

There is still a library at Medical afaik, and books will still spawn in the cargo warehouse. 

[GreenBoi]

11 hours ago, Scheveningen said:

Only if the computers have cubicle dividers... and accompanying tissue boxes for each cubicle. /s

I think this is a great idea. I very much like it.

With an acommpanying WetSkrell magazine as well.

[Resilynn]

5 hours ago, GreenBoi said:

With an acommpanying WetSkrell magazine as well.

Only issue 40

[zyymurgy]

My only complaint is that if this is going to be a cafe with hangout seating, then it obsoletes the GIGANTIC (and never used) bar lounge. I'd like to see the bar reworked into a cafe that has more synergy with the kitchen, than see the library turned into an internet cafe. If there's a little bit of synergy where meals/drinks can be ordered and sent to the cafe a little easier rather than having to run up and down the hall, that could be fun, though.

[VTCobaltblood]

1 minute ago, zyymurgy said:

My only complaint is that if this is going to be a cafe with hangout seating, then it obsoletes the GIGANTIC (and never used) bar lounge. I'd like to see the bar reworked into a cafe that has more synergy with the kitchen, than see the library turned into an internet cafe. If there's a little bit of synergy where meals/drinks can be ordered and sent to the cafe a little easier rather than having to run up and down the hall, that could be fun, though.

It's not supposed to serve drinks/food, actually. It may just have a vendor sticked in there. Also, the tables are way less private and cozy than the ones at the bar - it's literally just tables with one chair and computers, as I see it. It's just a computer access place, really. Maybe I need to rename the area to make that more obvious? Internet lounge? 

[zyymurgy]

Remove all vendors, food should only come from the chef, ree.

But if it doesn't serve food I'm 100% for it. (Though I do want more inter-civ wing synergy with the kitchen.)

[Mogelix]

Combining the Bar and the Library with a thin wall seperating the drunkards and the two thousand IQ intellectuals would be great and justify the open 'diner' area in the bar.

Also, making books dissapear like holodeck items is silly. Instead, make the free books (In the initial bookshelves) act like holodeck items. Then the shit that actually gets printed is real.

[VTCobaltblood]

Just now, Mogelix said:

lso, making books dissapear like holodeck items is silly. Instead, make the free books (In the initial bookshelves) act like holodeck items. Then the shit that actually gets printed is real.

There will no book printer. The entire point of this suggestion is to remove most paper books, because they make very little sense in the year 2460. 

[Mogelix]

24 minutes ago, VTCobaltblood said:

There will no book printer. The entire point of this suggestion is to remove most paper books, because they make very little sense in the year 2460. 

I respectfully disagree, but arguing for and against paper books is a discussion for a different kind of forum.

How about you allow people to make books into either little projectors or printed books? With their own ups and downs.

Seriously removing paper books is a really radical change, that conflicts with the reasons many people visit the library, for a homely and safe little hideaway. It would also hurt antags as a internet cafe has even less concealed places and hiding spots then the already incredibly restrictive library.

 

Also, no. Let people chose if they want their job title to be computer technician or librarian. Let people chose if they want to be 'HACKERMAN' or 'woman who has to contact tech support to figure out how to turn on their computer (exaggeration)'

Edited January 10, 2019 by Mogelix

[SatinsPristOTD]

Divide the space in half. Half internet cafe, half hipster paper book emporium. It's big enough for it. I use the Library as a "net cafe" as my Captain quite a bit, thanks to the laptop vendor (and the fact that the bridge is underused and lonely)

We're arguing the logistics of paper books and Command still uses fax machines.

Come on people.

[VTCobaltblood]

4 hours ago, Mogelix said:

Also, no. Let people chose if they want their job title to be computer technician or librarian. Let people chose if they want to be 'HACKERMAN' or 'woman who has to contact tech support to figure out how to turn on their computer (exaggeration)'

A job title which wouldn't have a job if this is implemented? You seem to be missing the point. I'm also quite firmly against giving people more choices just for the sake of giving more choices instead of common sense.

3 hours ago, SatinsPristOTD said:

We're arguing the logistics of paper books and Command still uses fax machines.

Which is also pretty ridiculous in the year 2460, and I believe this needs to change. But one step at a time, anyways. Books go first, as this is easier to implement.

[Mogelix]

7 hours ago, VTCobaltblood said:

A job title which wouldn't have a job if this is implemented? You seem to be missing the point. I'm also quite firmly against giving people more choices just for the sake of giving more choices instead of common sense.

Which is also pretty ridiculous in the year 2460, and I believe this needs to change. But one step at a time, anyways. Books go first, as this is easier to implement.

Maybe it'd be nice if we stuck with familiar technology? Everything on the station is actually kind of familiar (with the exception of some of the shit in engineering and science). And it's pretty obvious that NanoTrasen likes to make familiar and homely human designs (See the bar, the chefs and you know /the library/)

[VTCobaltblood]

10 hours ago, Mogelix said:

Maybe it'd be nice if we stuck with familiar technology? Everything on the station is actually kind of familiar (with the exception of some of the shit in engineering and science). And it's pretty obvious that NanoTrasen likes to make familiar and homely human designs (See the bar, the chefs and you know /the library/)

No. These designs would be archaic and very unfamiliar to people in the year 2460. It's the equivalent of saying that Google should be using telegraphs and fountain pens because of their "familiar and homely human design" in our modern day. Besides, internet cafes are pretty cozy if you ask me.

[Carver]

I see no reason it couldn't retain the library aesthetic and paper books. By making everything dependent on projecters/tablets/etc., you swiftly run into the issue of 'What the fuck do I do when this thing runs out of power?'. Reliability should come first and foremost, and by introducing more regular usage of handheld devices, you require that the station as a whole has a lot more rechargers sitting around.

If any changes were to be made in this project, I'd argue that it have this internet cafe/library retain the current size of the library so as to show that this is meant to improve the role of librarian/IT guy, and not just as an over-complicated excuse to expand the size of the Research Department.

[VTCobaltblood]

On 12/01/2019 at 05:18, Carver said:

I see no reason it couldn't retain the library aesthetic and paper books. By making everything dependent on projecters/tablets/etc., you swiftly run into the issue of 'What the fuck do I do when this thing runs out of power?'. Reliability should come first and foremost, and by introducing more regular usage of handheld devices, you require that the station as a whole has a lot more rechargers sitting around.

The aesthetics are retained by holobooks, because really I could just refrain from implementing them and make it all depend on tablets serving as ebooks instead.
Projectors are hooked up to station's power, not their own batteries. "omg but what if we run out of power" could also be an excuse to keep candles instead of lightbulbs, but hey, looks like nobody is advocating to do that.
The internet lounge will probably have more rechargers than just one. Department lobbies and surface might also get rechargers I guess.

[Arrow768]

Alright, moving this to the suggestions subforum since that doesn't seem to fit into either one of the requirements outlined in the forum description of the projects forum.

Generally I do not see an issue with the size of the science department and no need to increase the size of the science department.
The same goes for the "lobby". Other departments (medical / security) have a lobby, because a very large part of their work involves interactions with the general crew.
Where as in science the interactions with the general crew are severely limited. (Mostly due to Directive 4)
If there is no public traffic, there is no need for a lobby.
(The same applies to engineering who does not have a lobby accessible to the public either. They do have a break/conference room combination tough)
In addition, one of the ooc purposes of the library is (especially with its easy access to a large section of maint tunnels) is to give the crew a area where they can get together while being relatively unsupervised.
The proposed size reduction would place the entire library in view of the main hallway and remove that opportunity.

The current station is already huge and I believe at the current time it would be better to see how certain things can be condensed to a more compact and efficient approach than to further increase the size.

Outright removing the external book database is out of the question and the database would have to be incorporated into whatever rework that is planned.
However, that would pretty much require a rewrite of the library code as it is not up to current coding standards.

I do not believe you have explained why books should disappear when they are removed from the library.
Without further explanation, I do not see any reason why it needs to be this way, especially since there are quite a few reasons why you would want to take the books with you (studying, reference materials, ...)