Open Source Systems for Open Source Systems for Libraries: A New Approach to Libraries: A New Approach to Resource SharingResource Sharing

Eric H. Schnell Eric H. Schnell

Prior Health Sciences LibraryPrior Health Sciences Library

The Ohio State UniversityThe Ohio State University

schnell.9@osu.eduschnell.9@osu.edu

Copyleft – 2001 Copyleft – 2001

““Free” SoftwareFree” Software

Free as in freedom (and as a free kitten)Free as in freedom (and as a free kitten) Little to do with price. It is about freedom Little to do with price. It is about freedom A program is free software, if there is: A program is free software, if there is:

• freedom to run the program, for any purposefreedom to run the program, for any purpose• freedom to modify the program to suit needs freedom to modify the program to suit needs • freedom to distribute modified versions of the freedom to distribute modified versions of the

program, so that the community can benefit from program, so that the community can benefit from your improvements your improvements

Open SourceOpen Source

A philosophy of software development A philosophy of software development where:where:

• a community comes together to a community comes together to create computer programs create computer programs

• systems are developed out of mutual systems are developed out of mutual need and for economic advantage need and for economic advantage

• informal networks are formed to informal networks are formed to create and support these applicationscreate and support these applications

Why Open Source in Why Open Source in Libraries?Libraries? Commercial developers respond slowlyCommercial developers respond slowly Niche vendors gain monopolyNiche vendors gain monopoly Commercial product lifelines uncertainCommercial product lifelines uncertain Release date teasersRelease date teasers Program code is customizableProgram code is customizable Helps reduce annual software costsHelps reduce annual software costs No software maintenance “fees”No software maintenance “fees”

Why Open Source in Why Open Source in Libraries?Libraries? Reduce service implementation timetableReduce service implementation timetable

Reallocate funds to other needsReallocate funds to other needs

Break away from the library system Break away from the library system paradigmparadigm

Creation of new resource sharing Creation of new resource sharing networks and networks and consortiumsconsortiums

Library Library NetworksNetworks

National - OCLC, RLG National - OCLC, RLG Statewide - OhioLink Statewide - OhioLink Regional - NNLM, CICRegional - NNLM, CIC

Library NetworksLibrary Networks

Purchasing discountsPurchasing discounts• MonographsMonographs• SerialsSerials• Database accessDatabase access• E-JournalsE-Journals

Interlibrary loan Interlibrary loan Special collectionsSpecial collections

Library Library NetworksNetworks

Libraries choose to participate in a Libraries choose to participate in a given given network: network: based on their interestbased on their interest on their ability to contributeon their ability to contribute to gain administrative advantageto gain administrative advantage To gain economic advantageTo gain economic advantage

OSLN – Open Sources OSLN – Open Sources Library NetworksLibrary Networks

Open source networks reflect the traditional Open source networks reflect the traditional values and philosophy of library networks values and philosophy of library networks

OSS and OSLN networks build relationships OSS and OSLN networks build relationships because they share common goalsbecause they share common goals

Both support development of software Both support development of software products that support the unique needs of products that support the unique needs of a a specific user group specific user group

Both use a peer-review system of developmentBoth use a peer-review system of development

OSLN – Open Sources OSLN – Open Sources Library NetworksLibrary Networks MyLibrary (North Carolina State)MyLibrary (North Carolina State) Prospero (Ohio State)Prospero (Ohio State) Free Reserves (Southern Illinois University)Free Reserves (Southern Illinois University) BioMail (SUNY Stonybrook)BioMail (SUNY Stonybrook) Internet Station Manager (Grand Rapids, Internet Station Manager (Grand Rapids,

MI PL) MI PL)

OSLN vs. HomegrownOSLN vs. Homegrown

Individual libraries often lack all the Individual libraries often lack all the human elements to create human elements to create

scalable scalable and portable systems and portable systems ( coding, testing, ( coding, testing, troubleshooting, user troubleshooting, user ed ) ed )

A network of libraries has a greater chance A network of libraries has a greater chance of of assembling a development team with assembling a development team with a full a full complement of skillscomplement of skills

OSLN vs. HomegrownOSLN vs. Homegrown

When the programmer of a When the programmer of a homegrown system leaves employment homegrown system leaves employment the the system gradually falls apart and diessystem gradually falls apart and dies

OSLN community takes over the OSLN community takes over the management management responsibilities of the most responsibilities of the most viable systems viable systems and they continue to and they continue to evolve evolve

OSLN vs. HomegrownOSLN vs. Homegrown

Homegrown systems are often Homegrown systems are often created in isolation with minimal created in isolation with minimal external feedback and support external feedback and support

The foundation of OSLN is a system of peer The foundation of OSLN is a system of peer review that is missing from most review that is missing from most

homegrown homegrown projectsprojects

Getting InvolvedGetting Involved

Libraries are always developing Libraries are always developing applications (delivering dynamic Web applications (delivering dynamic Web

content, content, interactive reference services, or interactive reference services, or image archive image archive systems)systems)

Many of these applications are kept in-house Many of these applications are kept in-house even even though they may be useful to though they may be useful to other libraries other libraries

Libraries developing innovative solutions Libraries developing innovative solutions need to need to consider becoming active open consider becoming active open source source developersdevelopers

Getting InvolvedGetting Involved

By distributing OSS the library community is By distributing OSS the library community is able to benefit from a library's experience, able to benefit from a library's experience, resources, and expertise resources, and expertise

A library’s OSS project could benefit from the A library’s OSS project could benefit from the community’s experience, resources, and community’s experience, resources, and expertiseexpertise

New library networks and consortiums need New library networks and consortiums need to be to be developed to support such developed to support such initiatives initiatives

Developer SupportDeveloper Support

Install an existing programInstall an existing program• play with itplay with it• evaluate itevaluate it• provide feedback. Constructive and provide feedback. Constructive and

critical feedback is vital critical feedback is vital • Report errors and problems Report errors and problems • helps clarify misconceptions users and helps clarify misconceptions users and

potential users have about the potential users have about the applicationapplication

User SupportUser Support Documentation Documentation

• installation manualsinstallation manuals• user guidesuser guides

Instructional materials Instructional materials • tip sheets tip sheets • how-to guideshow-to guides

Conference presentations Conference presentations • local, regional, national meetingslocal, regional, national meetings

Write journal and newsletter articlesWrite journal and newsletter articles

Development SupportDevelopment Support

Programming Programming • system securitysystem security• memory usagememory usage• file permissions file permissions • error reports error reports • suggest and construct technical solutionssuggest and construct technical solutions• create new featurescreate new features• create plug-in modulescreate plug-in modules• create derivative programs create derivative programs

Barriers to ParticipationBarriers to Participation

Limited understandingLimited understanding Underestimating personal skill setUnderestimating personal skill set Projects may not proactively recruit Projects may not proactively recruit Time Time Administration support Administration support

Why OSS Projects Why OSS Projects DieDie

Burn outBurn out Inability to acquire a critical mass of users Inability to acquire a critical mass of users Loss of the leading developer Loss of the leading developer ForkingForking

Establishment of library open Establishment of library open source resource sharing networks source resource sharing networks will allow more libraries to provide will allow more libraries to provide high quality electronic patron high quality electronic patron services when they are needed…..services when they are needed…..

… ….. not when the technology .. not when the technology becomes commercially availablebecomes commercially available