On: Librarian builds self-checkout machine. Costs $150...

[_juof]

It took him 15-20 days of work for one unit. won't it take him much less time for each unit if he would build them in quantity ?

[khill → _juof]

I would think the kiosk needs to be integrated into the library's primary catalog software database. If other libraries use different catalog software, he would need to do integration work for those other types of catalog systems.

The economies of scale would still apply but it's probably more involved than just churning out kiosks.

[_juof → khill]

That's a good point. Maybe you know how many different catalog systems re used commonly in libraries?

[bensummers → _juof]

There are many (20+ main ones), and they're all horrid dinosaurs.

[patio11 → bensummers]

Do not insult the dinosaurs by comparing them to library management software.

[eru → patio11]

OPAC seems to be quite common in Germany. It works reasonably well (from a library user's point of view).

[patio11 → _juof]

It takes us X% less time to create the 2nd and subsequent units relative to the first, and we charge Y% less money for them. They are certainly not 60/20 but if you're thinking in that general direction you understand custom software development pretty well.