OpenBiblio in Georgia

Irakli Garibashvili

Georgian Library Association

Pre-FOSS situation (before 2005) Almost no Georgian library had ILS Those having OPACs, had commercial systems with

problems with Georgian language/script Main obstacle for having ILS was

Price – libraries in Georgia still are very poorly supported

Local needs – scripts (most of Georgian libraries have materials at least in 3 scripts – Georgian, Cyrillic, Latin

Librarians mostly were not aware of MARC standards and online tools.

OpenBiblio – advantages

Easy to learn – almost all functions could be learnt in practice (even beginners do this in 1-2 days)

Easy to install – we make installations on: Websites of libraries – PHP/MySQL support

needed Free hosting servers – most of them provide

environment sufficient for OpenBiblio work Local computers (for libraries with just several

PCs an no Internet connectivity) – Windows or UNIX platforms

OpenBiblio – advantages (cont.) Easy interface translation procedure Openness – free to modify/design PHP code

OpenBiblio - disadvantages

Too simple – lack of functionality (e.g. no support for URLs in fields, no user interactivity, no MARC export, no field indicators, not full MARC21, no support for UNIMARC)

New versions add functionality!

Windows platform

We use additionally a simple PHP/MySQL server – “Uniserver”. All pack is pre-installed on a Flash stick and can be just copied to PC.

Many libraries prefer to start with this option (PC + intranet on LAN) and later move database to online server.

This overcomes connectivity problem, but OPAC is just accessible inside a library (or school)

Online installation

Apache/MySQL is a standard for majority of modern hosts – makes installation very straightforward (just need to follow instruction file)

For libraries which do not have websites yet – variety of free hosting solutions a possible.

Makes OPAC visible for users everywhere, but needs good connectivity. Offline circulation introduced recently!!

Training

During a training we : Make final setup together with library staff (names,

opening hours, language, landing rules, fees, types of materials, collections, etc.)

Teach all functions (administration permissions are given to local administrators)

Make entries together with staff and teaching some good practices

Provide ID/Passwords and permissions to staff members

Give contact/support data

Samples

Samples – OPAC switched to Georgian

Samples – search results

Samples – librarian’s interface

Addons – SRU search/download from LOC

Sample SRU search

Results – click “Use This”

Advanced “Reports” module

Georgian Library Association supports OpenBiblio

100 countrywide installations listed on Association site

OpenBiblio manual in Georgian

Openbiblio is used in our training center for introduction into e-cataloguing

Current situation (since a launch of FOSS program)

OpenBiblio is installed in more than 100 libraries (schools, colleges, academic, public,…)

KOHA is installed in 5 libraries Evergreen 2 installations (joint OPAC

of 20 libraries) More than 400 librarians received

training

Links

Georgian Library Association – www.gela.org.ge

OpenBiblio page - http://www.gela.org.ge/foss/openbiblio

User Manual (Georgian)