open source library automation
DESCRIPTION
Open Source Library Automation. Nicole C. Engard, Open Source Evangelist, LibLime [email protected] http://liblime. com. Outline. LibLime What is Open Source? Koha 3 OPAC and Staff. The leader in open-source solutions for libraries. Athens County Public Libraries. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Open Source Library
Automation
Nicole C. Engard, Open Source Evangelist, LibLime
[email protected]://liblime.com
Outline
•LibLime
•What is Open Source?
•Koha 3 OPAC and Staff
The leader in open-source solutions for libraries
Athens County Public Libraries
First Library in the US to Adopt an Open Source ILS:
Koha
Intensely Frustrated
•Libraries slow to adopt open source
•‘No Support’ was the most common objection
•An OSS Company seemed the most practical approach
It all started with an idea: open access to ideas and
information not only builds better libraries, it builds
better software too.
Integrated Library Systems
Digital LibraryMeta-Search
It’s all Open Source!
•You steer development!
•Features can be implemented in days and weeks, not years and decades
•You can share your solutions with other libraries
Growth Patterns
•400% growth three years running
•Incorporated January 2005, 1 full-time employee, 1 customer
•June 2008, 20+ employees, over 300 customers
Our Customers supports hundreds of libraries around the globe. Our customers include: library consortia, academic and research institutions, public libraries, museum and special libraries, K-12 schools, enterprise corporations and government and non-profit organizations.
Our Customers supports hundreds of libraries around the globe. Our customers include: library consortia, academic and research institutions, public libraries, museum and special libraries, K-12 schools, enterprise corporations and government and non-profit organizations.
Consortia that have selected Koha include:
•MASSCAT (110 libraries, MA)•WALDO (19 academic, NY)•Central Kansas Library Consortium (35+ public libraries, KS)•North-East Kansas Library System (19 libraries, KS)•Indiana Shared Library System (35+ mixed, IA)•Crawford County Federated Library System (9 library public consortium, PA)
Strategic Partnerships
What is Open Source?
“Open Source software is computer software whose source code is available under a license that permits users to use, change, and improve the software, and to redistribute it in modified or unmodified form”--Wikipedia
The Cathedral
• Development occurs behind walls • Source code is usually not provided - kept locked up
The Bazaar
• Code developed over the Internet with several others in public view• Source code open to all users• “Given enough eyeballs, all bugs are shallow”
http://www.catb.org/~esr/writings/cathedral-bazaar/cathedral-bazaar/
Open Source in Busines
“55% of US Companies use OSS for Mission Critical applications” --
Forester Research
What is Open Source?
Why So Popular?
Why so Popular?
Reliability through Peer Review
Reliability through Peer ReviewNo Vendor Lock-in
Why so Popular?
Reliability through Peer ReviewNo Vendor Lock-inUser-centric Development
Why so Popular?
Reliability through Peer ReviewNo Vendor Lock-inUser-centric DevelopmentFreedom to Innovate
Why so Popular?
Reliability through Peer ReviewNo Vendor Lock-inUser-centric DevelopmentFreedom to InnovateZero License Fees
Why so Popular?
How much didwould you pay for a
Horizon 8.0 license?
The Value of Software Hinges on
Maintainability
Open Source in Libraries
Open Source hasn’t beenas widely adopted in libraries
as in the business world.
Why not?
Open Source in Libraries
Libraries and Open Source Both...
• Believe that information should be freely accessible to everyone
• Give away stuff
• Benefit from the generosity of others
• Are about communities
• Make the world a better place
-- Horton, G. http://tinyurl.com/3jvumn
Open Source in Libraries
•Is there support? Do I have to know how to program?
•Do I have to skimp on features?
•Isn’t Open Source risky?
•Can I do it myself?
Common questions libraries have:
Open Source in Libraries
•LibLime
•Equinox
•CARE Affiliates
Is there support?
Do I have to know how to program?
•Local students
•Freelance developers
Open Source in Libraries
•Open Source developers follow the rule of “Release early and release often”
•Users vote with their dollars and time
•Freedom to develop on your own
•Developers love their products
Do I have to skimp on features?
Open Source in Libraries
Casey Coleman, chief information officer for the GSA (U.S. General Services Administration), said in a speech ... that the GSA heavily relies on open source to drive down costs, increase flexibility of IT dollars, and reduce risk.
‘You get much more transparency and interoperability, and that reduces your risk,’ she said.
Isn’t Open Source Risky?
http://blogs.liblime.com/open-sesame/archives/61
Open Source in Libraries
Can I do it myself?
•Absolutely, with the right in-house skills
•Linux server management
•Web programming
•Perl / PHP / MySQL
•Systems knowledge
The Koha ProjectNPL goes live in 2003
with a bold claim:
“Within the next few years, our web site will offer some of the best online library services available anywhere in the world.”Stephen Hedges, Director
2003
Demo
Open Source Blogs
• Open Sesame http://blogs.liblime.com/open-sesame
• OSS & Libraries (Yahoo Pipe) http://tinyurl.com/5aohv9
• ZDNet Open Source http://blogs.zdnet.com/open-source
• The Open Road http://www.cnet.com/openroad/• New York Times - Open http://open.nytimes.com
