[Themaintainers] Big question - but looking for practical solution

[Brian Thomas]

Hi Erin,

Seems like part of this might be sentimentality, the whole my old car isn't junk it just isn't working mindset. Depending on what kind of equipment is involved many archives would love to have some older equipment to try to Frankenstein a working solution to access older media. Some universities as well. I would love to get my hands on a working 8" floppy drive, for example. It could be worthwhile to explore behind the scenes a possibility of reaching a donation agreement with an institution. It could satisfy your IT desire to make sure the old hardware gets to someone who can use it and free up some space. Depending on who you reach out to, the place may also be willing to let you use the donated hardware should the need ever arise.

Just a thought.
Brian

Am 16.04.2021 um 17:47 schrieb Erin Richardson:
> Hello, maintainers!
>
> I normally work in the museum space where I work with maintenance and 
> preservation?of cultural objects and associated metadata and systems.
>
> This time I have a project that involves?equipment in use (or supposed 
> to be in use) and I'm looking for a maintenance plan framework for a 
> very small nonprofit organization without any kind of maintenance plan 
> for their?equipment. They do "ad-hoc" maintenance and are very loathe 
> to officially?retire anything because someone might be able to fix it 
> some day.
>
> However, their boneyard is impinging on their ability to fulfill their 
> public mission - a whole lot of square footage is consumed with broken 
> equipment, much of which has been in purgatory so long that it 
> wouldn't be redeployed even if repaired?because it has been superceded 
> by something better.
>
> So, I'd like to direct them to some philosophy?about maintenance?that 
> focuses on planning and resource allocation for 
> preventative?maintenance and repair, but also something that will help 
> them know when?it is ok to enter equipment into hospice and let it 
> die. These are science people, but I'd prefer something 
> not-too-technical. They're a fun and very smart bunch with a basement 
> full of what can only be described as recyclables at this point.? Help 
> please?
>
> Thank you!
> Erin