Frequently Asked Questions

The questions and answers below address some common inquiries we receive about purchasing, installing and maintaining an eGranary Digital Library. If you have questions or need more information, email info@widernet.org or give us a call at 319-335-2200. Questions without answers are still forthcoming.

About the eGranary
About the Sales Process
About Shipping and Delivery

About the eGranary

Can we back up the eGranary?
Legally, you cannot copy the eGranary even to make a back up, because hundreds of copyrights are involved. Technically, you probably couldn't make a successful copy anyway, because WiderNet uses special hardware and software to do this.
I can purchase a hard drive more cheaply, so can I just download the eGranary onto it?
No, sorry. Legally, only the WiderNet Project has permission to make copies of the eGranary content. While the content of the eGranary Digital Library is essentially free, the prices above reflect the actual costs of purchasing, testing and troubleshooting, dealing with failed drives, preparing and handling hardware, as well as providing technical support and updates. We believe that all formats of the eGranary Digital Library represent a fantastic bargain, though the prices may change as we learn what it takes to make this effort self-sustaining. They may not be the least expensive drives, but we believe they still represent a good bargain. For a longer answer, please see here.
Is there a software or installation disc?
No. All software materials for operating the eGranary are contained in the appliance itself - there is no disc. We do include a paper copy of installation instructions which someone - preferably a trained computer technician - should use to set up the eGranary.
Can users download data to their computers for off-campus studying?
As long as it's covered by fair use, yes. The eGranary looks and acts just like the Internet, so people can download, copy and bookmark materials as if they were online.
Can the same data be accessed by multiple users simultaneously?
Yes! There is no practical limit on the number of people that can access the eGranaries content at one time.
Is there a limit on how many terminals a server can support?
Not that we know of yet. As per the previous question, there is no practical limit on the number of people that can access the server at one time. However, as the number of users increases, the server may slow slightly. This won't be noticeable though, and we cannot say at what quantity this would happen. In the case of internals, it will depend on the servers that subscribers installed the drive inside. In all cases, there would be other variables as well, such as what types of computers are accessing the eGranary or server, what else the server hosts, what type of activity the users are engaged in (e.g. watching a video vs. reading an ebook vs. browsing a Web site).
Are there other limits on the servers you provide? For example, while the primary purpose is eGranary, can we run other applications, add additional hard drives, etc.?
We provide servers made from high quality, but standard components so they can be serviced in the field with locally obtained replacement parts. There is nothing fancy or proprietary. This means that yes, you could add more to the servers, but sometimes this will complicate our ability to provide you with technical support, since we cannot troubleshoot hardware and software not supplied by WiderNet.
Do you have a position on giving user-owned PCs access to the server network?
We encourage everyone and every device to gain access. This does increase the possibility of viruses, though, so virus protection software is a must.
Do you have versions of the eGranary in other languages besides English?
No, we do not currently have plans to create an eGranary entirely in any other language. This is because we don't currently have the funding to start such a project. This does not mean that the eGranary is English-only. Some Web sites we have permission for do have alternate versions of their materials in other languages and these may be included on the eGranary. There are also language-learning materials on the eGranary for languages besides English. We are interested in creating the eGranary in other languages, particularly in Spanish. If you're interested in assisting us with this endeavor, please email librarian@widernet.org.
What exactly is on the eGranary Digital Library?
It's not possible for us to provide a full list of the 30 million or more documents available on the eGranary. However, for an idea of the content we have permission for, please see our What's Inside page. This list contains highlights of resources available in the eGranary. If you'd like to know if anything specific is on the eGranary, like a certain Web site, software or materials on a certain topic and cannot find what you're looking for, please email librarian@widernet.org with specific information. Please limit your requests to a list of five or so. You can also email clerk@widernet.org and request instructions for accessing our demo eGranary. This will not only allow you access to the content, but also to the interface that the eGranary uses to organize the content. It gives you a good idea of the overall look and feel of the eGranary. However, because you're accessing the demo via an Internet connection, the speed will only be as fast as your Internet. Having an actual eGranary on your local Intranet will be much faster.
Can I use the External or Personal Edition eGranary with a server?
While we don't recommend this, because the drive isn't designed for this, it is possible and sometimes necessary under certain circumstances. We can provide instructions for this, but only upon request. As a precaution, we warn you that this can decrease the lifespan of your drive and/or make it run more slowly.
Is there a warranty? If so, how long?
We don’t have a warranty per say. The hard drive itself has a minimum life expectancy of five years. If you get it and the drive goes bad early, we’ll work with you on technical support and if that doesn’t work, recommend that you return it (eGranary drive only, not an entire server, if that’s what you choose to order) and we’ll either repair or replace it and send it back. Your only charge would be the cost to send it to us. However, if the eGranary library has grown to a larger hard drive size and it’s been more than one year since you purchase it, the most we can do is try to repair it and recommend purchasing a new one if we’re unsuccessful. If it’s been more than five years, but we’re still using the same hard drive size, we’ll still recommend purchasing a new one. That is if the drive really goes bad, though. Most of our subscribers prefer to use it until it the drive fails and is irreparable. There is only a small number who choose to buy a new one every five years or so anyway.
Can you provide updates to the eGranary?
For updates to the eGranary software, subscribers are welcome to check our eGranary Software Versions page. There are instructions at the top for finding out the current version of eGranary software PIE and then there are instructions for each ZIP update available from the Upgrade Notes link of the same number. If you have any questions about this, please contact support@widernet.org.
Once installed, how is the eGranary accessed? If a resource isn't on the eGranary, will it automatically pull it from the Internet instead?
There are various options for accessing both the eGranary and the Internet. Our recommended option is installing the eGranary browser so you have one browser for the eGranary and one browser (Firefox, Internet Explorer or whatever you prefer) for the Internet. Another option is to install a plug-in for your browser that allows you to switch between the eGranary and the Internet. There are several for the Firefox browser that work well. Previous versions of the software also contained a "play-through" feature where documents would be retrieved from the Internet if they weren't available on the eGranary. However, support for this feature has been dropped, because it just slowed the eGranary down without the user understanding why.
What operating system or OS does the eGranary run on?
Currently, all of our eGranaries require a Windows OS. In the future, we hope to offer a Linux-compatible version also, but we don’t have an estimated date for this yet.
Is the eGranary compatible with Macs?
Currently, any computer can browse the eGranary, but Macs cannot be servers for the eGranary. As WiderNet's partner institutions in Africa have often told us it's too hard to find parts for Macs, we aren't currently working to develop a Mac-based eGranary server.
What does the eGranary hard drive look like?
An image of the current eGranary external hard drive is available at here.
Can you provide a list of all the contents in the eGranary?
The short answer is no; it's not really possible for us to provide a full list of the 30 million documents in the eGranary -- especially since we've only catalogued about 10 million. The longer answer to this is that you can check our statistics for catalogued only items at here as well as contact us at info@widernet.org for access instructions to our demo version. The demo version is a drive that's hosted on our servers. You download an eGranary browser that's already configured to access the drive on our servers. The speed will not be as fast as if you had one at your own site, because you're using the Internet to access it, but you can get a feel for the catalog, search and content of the eGranary.
Is it easy to install an eGranary?
We believe it is, but see for yourself. Instructions for installing each type of eGranary are available online: External, Internal, and Server. The instructions for the external eGranary assume that the installer may not be familiar with hardware installation so they're very thorough and specific. The instructions for the internal and server(s) are less thorough, though. They assume that the installer is a trained computer technician familiar with these types of installations so only the details specific to the eGranary are spelled out. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us at support@widernet.org or 1-319-335-2600.
What about updates?
In the past we have tried to devise ways to update eGranaries already deployed via mailed discs or short-term Internet connections, but none of these have proven feasible either economically or technologically (e.g. it takes a lot to make an eGranary including specialized equipment, etc. and so far we haven't been successful in making it possible to replicate in the field without the extra equipment and training). To that end, we currently recommend that subscribers expect to replace their eGranary every three to five years. This is a normal lifespan for an internal or external hard drive on the market today anyway. For those purchasing servers, they would need only to replace the internal hard drive, not the rest of the server.
What type of networking and infrastructure are required with the purchase of a server?
Our servers are very versatile. They're able to accomodate just about any setup variables subscribers require. This includes wired and wireless LAN, a large network or a small network, a network completely within one room or campus or a network spread out over multiple rooms or locations. Just like any other server a subscriber would purchase, our servers ability to host all these users is dependent only on the ingenuity of the technicians setting up networks. The eGranary acts as just another resource on the host server. For more information try out articles at About.com, eHow, MakeUseOf.com, HowStuffWorks, or Microsoft. (Please note: we are not affiliated with any of these organizations and cannot vouch for their authority, accuracy, or anything else.)

About the Sales Process

Can I get an estimate before confirming an order?
Yes, we actually recommend this! We can also provide multiple estimates for various options.
What is the purpose of the License Agreement?
There are two primary purposes of the License Agreement. The first is to confirm that you're aware that all of the content on the eGranary maintains its same copyright as if it were accessed online. The second is to provide you an opportunity to provide contact information about your site. This means there are fields for Administrator, Librarian and Technician contacts, and details about how many people you expect to serve with the eGranary. This helps us with providing you with technical support, updates, etc.
Do I have to complete a License Agreement?
Yes! Everyone is required to complete a License Agreement for each eGranary before it can be shipped. We strongly recommended you fill out all fields of the Agreement as it maximizes our ability to server you, but if you don't have all the information beforehand, you're welcome to submit a partial agreement that confirms you recognize the copyright issues. You can then complete a new agreement or send us updated information via email at anytime in the future. It's available online at http://www.widernet.org/digitallibrary/eGranarySubscriber/SubscriptionForm.asp.
The License Agreement requires semi-annual reports. What do you expect these to contain and how detailed should they be?
The eGranary automatically maintains logs of use. By semi-annual reports, this means we need you to send us the logs periodically. We then create a report and merge the data with that of other installations to get an idea of the eGranaries use. This helps us to plan improvements.
Do you have smaller versions of the eGranary available?
The eGranary is available in multiple configurations to meet the needs of your organization and keep costs to a minimum, but no, we can't provide copies of previous versions.
Can you assist us in getting a grant for an eGranary and/or computer training?
WiderNet has created a Fundraising Guide for people interested in information on applying for grants and/or research projects. The resources are not specific to the eGranary, WiderNet, or technology, but would still be valuable.
How fast can you get the eGranary to me?
We make every effort to get eGranary orders out quickly and to meet deadlines. However, it can take anywhere from one week to one month (or more for really large or complicated orders) to process your order and payment and make and ship your eGranary. If you want to minimize the time spent processing your order: know what you want ahead of time, inform us of any deadlines at the very beginning, have your payment method ready, be prepared with shipping information, and start your order sooner rather than later -- if you wait until the week before you want your eGranary, we're unlikely to meet your deadline, especially for international orders where shipping speeds are limited and the package has to go through customs. You're also welcome to request a rush order for an additional $100+. For more information, please see here.

About Shipping and Delivery

How long does it take to create and ship an eGranary?
This depends on the type of eGranary you purchase. Usually, we have a supply of Externals and Internals that are ready to be shipped immediately, though this is not always true. However, servers, both new and refurbished versions, these are usually made upon receipt of payment. This means it can take one to two weeks or longer before the order is ready to ship. If you have a deadline, please let us know as soon as possible and we'll let you know if we can meet it. Keep in mind that while we make every effort to meet deadlines, some things are beyond our control. We order the materials for new servers as the orders come in, so if that delivery is delayed, the server is delayed. Also, we cannot control shipping delays after the package is picked up from our location.
What shipping carrier do you use?
Our recommended shipper is FedEx, because they provide us a discount that we pass on to you. However, you're welcome to request an estimate for UPS or USPS. We cannot provide DHL at this time.
How fast does it take the eGranary to ship?
Our default shipping method is always the least expensive: FedEx International Economy or FedEx Ground. However, you're welcome to request a faster shipping speed. We'll provide you with a cost estimate first.
Can I get tracking information for the shipment?
As long as you ship via a method that provides tracking numbers, such as FedEx and UPS, we will send it to you or have the shipper send it to you.
Can you ship it to a US address?
Occassionaly subscribers request to have their eGranary shipping to a US address if they have a contact who is planning to travel to their location and can hand-carry it or they're part of a government organization that can deliver it for much less than standard shippers. We're happy to assist with this, but you'll need to make any arrangements and provide us with specific information. Also, we're not responsible for any problems or delays after the drive has been delivered to the intermediary.
What size box does the eGranary ship in?
We have three standard box sizes at our disposal. For Internals and Externals, they ship in boxes measuring 12x12x8 inches. For servers, they ship in boxes that are 24x20x12 inches, though sometimes there are exceptions for the New Servers. For orders of multiple eGranaries, the box size will vary depending on how many and which type(s) of eGranaries are ordered. We make every effort to use the smallest box size and the least number of boxes. The largest box we may go with is 20x20x20 inches, which can fit up to 10 Internal or 8 External eGranaries. All boxes are double-wall for added protection.
Are there any export or import duties or fees? Will WiderNet pay these?
Occasionally, yes, there will be import duties or fees the recipient is charged by the shipping company or their country's customs agency. The recipient, not WiderNet, is responsible for these and for any delivery delays associated with such fees. We cannot provide an estimate on how much this may be, as the shipping carriers don't provide this to us. For more information on shipping services, see here.