Book-a-Nook

Book a Nook is an online tool to activate community spaces, with a particular focus on libraries. It’s approach is differentiated from similar tools in the following ways:

• Networks spaces: Supports searching across libraries / systems
• Data for advocacy and evaluation: Aggregates reservation data to inform space usage, advocacy, and experimentation, while respecting patrons’ privacy.
• Connection: Provides an open API so that libraries can better integrate their resources with online organizational platforms (e.g. Meetup, Eventbrite)

The project aims to expand libraries' digital presence and to deepen their integration within an online ecosystem.

Github repo: http://github.com/berkmancenter/bookanook

Potential summer projects:

An initial round of development was recently completed providing core functionality. We’re currently looking for a developer to both refine core user experience as well as support creative use of the tool.

Projects might includes:

• Expanding the admin dashboard to include useful visualizations
• Expanding patron search modes (e.g. geographic search for rooms)
• Developing plugins / widgets for integration with other platforms (e.g. Drupal, Meetup, Google Calendar)
• Improving mobile UI / UX

Technologies involved:

• Ruby on Rails
• Slim template engine
• PostgreSQL

Requirements:

• A solid understanding of the Ruby on Rails framework
• Experience with HTML / CSS / Javascript

Mentor: Jessica Yurkofsky (jessica@metalab.harvard.edu)