Taking the plunge open source software for libraries

Taking the PlungeOpen Source Software for Libraries

Talk at the Online Information Show, Dec 1st 2011by Gerhard Bissels and Matthew Edmondson

© 2001 Library Co-op LLP. Company registered in England and Wales no. OC366378

Tuesday, 6 December 11


Have you ever used Open Source Software?


Cost: implementation and ongoing support (no license, competition between support contracts)Support: no risk of software being discontinuedVersatility: code can be changed or added to


What is Open Source Software?

• Source code in the public domain

• License allows to• to study• change/improve• distribute

• Written in collaborative manner



The First OSS LMS


Koha @ Horowhenua public library, New Zealand - the library that first wrote Koha, and gave it to the world as a ‘gift’ (Koha is the Maori word for ‘gift’)


The First OSS LMS



The First OSS LMS


Koha in use at a US public libaries’ consortium


The First OSS LMS


Koha in an academic environment


The First OSS LMS


Koha in a specialist library


Why Open Source Software?

• Cost

• Support

• Versatility and Adaptability


Excursion: how GB came to explore OSS as part of a leaner way of running a library (financial difficulties at CAMLIS) -, but also in order to gain flexibility of future development


Cost• Licensing

• Implementation

• Hosting

• Maintenance

• Support

• Versatility and Adaptability


No licenseCompetition between vendors/support providersSoftware can be adapted to the changing needs (see later)


Support

• Choice of support provider(s)

• From 100% in-house to SAAS

• Support contract recommended


Library is not tied to any one provider, and can even split support and development tasks between several contractors (e.g. development of different functionality)


Versatility

• Your last system migration - ever!

• Have LMS developed as your needs change

• Cost of additional functionality is often shared with other libraries


Once an OSS system is in place, change of requirements can be accommodated through adaptation of software - much cheaper than a system migration, and much less stressful!


OSS Library System

• Horowhenua (NZ) 1999

• Various Web 2.0 facilities (tagging, RSS feeds)

• Customizable search

• Circulation incl. self-issue

• Full acquisitions system including budgets and pricing information (including supplier and currency conversion, EDI)

• Ability to cope with any number of branches, patrons, patron categories, item categories, items, currencies and other data

• Serials module

• Reading lists for members

• Can be integrated with other software, e.g. authentication


Koha in use in hundreds of libraries worldwide - mature system

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0

http://library.software.coop








































































































Beyond the LMS• ERM (Electronic Resource Management), incl. link

resolver

• Discovery

• E-publishing (Open Journals System, Repository)

• VLE

• Authentication

• On-line shop

• ...


OSS offers alternatives to many library software applications, or even dominates (e.g. there are no proprietary repository packages)!OSS allows integration of applications (e.g. one authentication across all packages; on-line shop links from Koha OPAC)


Beyond the LMS

• Lower cost of OSS allows libraries

• to afford additional software

• to afford software earlier


Lower initial investment - libraries an afford to implement packages such as ERM before they’ve got into a pickle


Library Co-op & Software Coop

• Library software

• Outsourcing of services (e.g. management of on-line resources)

• Consultancy



Demos at library.coop

• library.coop


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Taking the plunge open source software for libraries

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