A Dadooda Private Access Library, known on this website as a PAL, enables members of Dadooda to set up or join a multi-media online library to which membership is restricted to an invited group of people or community. Every PAL must have a nominated Librarian, whose role is to organise and maintain the PAL using a range of specially designed tools.

A PAL works just like the main Dadooda library and can only be accessed from The Dadooda website. PAL members can upload and publish text-based items, digital photos and images, video and audio clips in just the same way as they can in the main Dadooda library. The big difference is that instead of being published on Dadooda for all users to access, only members of the PAL will be able to access them.

A PAL thus enables a group of people or a community to create their own online library of multi-media items customised to their particular requirements. There is no limit to the number of members a PAL can have – it can be any number from one upwards!

There is also no limit to the number of PALs a member can set up or belong to. And, of course, members can continue to use and contribute items to the main Dadooda library – you simply log in and out of the main library or a PAL as you wish.

Think of a PAL as a private room with its own collection of specialised items adjoining a public library. Anyone can enter the public area, but only members with a special key can enter the private room.

Any member of Dadooda can set up a PAL. In so doing, that member automatically becomes the first Librarian of the PAL, although the Librarian can then be changed at any time.

The Librarian is equipped with two sets of tools called Organiser Functions and Controller Functions which enable him or her to customise the PAL to its particular purpose and to exercise some control over the quality, quantity and relevance of items published in the PAL.

Organiser Functions include the ability to create a dedicated library classification system with up to 60 subjects; to invite new members to join the PAL; to send a broadcast email to all members and to maintain the PAL’s profile.

Controller Functions enable the Librarian to preview items submitted by members and to accept or decline them; to suspend or archive published items and to reinstate archived items. Controller Functions can be disabled if the Librarian does not wish to exercise these controls.

The Librarian is also responsible for making any payments due to Dadooda in respect of the PAL. PAL charges are based on a modest annual subscription, which is the same for all PALs, and a “pay as you use” charge for library items. You get 25 library items included with your first subscription payment. This means PAL members can publish a total of 25 items before the Librarian needs to buy additional items.

Put another way, a PAL is a completely self-contained multi-media library! It’s like setting up your own community website, but at a tiny fraction of the cost! The possible uses are endless. Use it for fun purposes, or use it for more serious applications. And if you want to attract members to join your PAL, you can even choose to display information about it to all users of Dadooda!

Families, friends, students, work colleagues, teams, clubs, associations, small businesses, agencies, teachers or just about any special interest group can share their work or talent or knowledge or experiences with each other in their own private website environment.