PTFS Europe and the reality of Open Source Nick Dimant – Managing Director

Agenda Review of the library automation marketplace What does going open source really mean? The role of PTFS Europe It is not just the software Implementation services Conclusion

Current state of the Library Management System market A few main vendors SirsiDynix and Ex Libris owned by private equity companies Confusion over product direction Discontinuation of systems

A few main vendors

SirsiDynix and Ex Libris owned by private equity companies

Confusion over product direction

Discontinuation of systems

Current state of the Library Management System market OSS very much in vogue in the library world because of recent developments Leading-edge tools for libraries Impressive functionality Freedom

OSS very much in vogue in the library world because of recent developments

Leading-edge tools for libraries

Impressive functionality

Freedom

Current Frustrations Slow pace of development (low ROI) Patch and mend Little new development Functionality lag Lack of Web 2.0 capability Ageing technologies Some have 30 year old technology Declining levels of customer service Increasing costs Powerlessness

Slow pace of development (low ROI)

Patch and mend

Little new development

Functionality lag

Lack of Web 2.0 capability

Ageing technologies

Some have 30 year old technology

Declining levels of customer service

Increasing costs

Powerlessness

Is open source the answer?

What is Open Source Software (OSS)? The software is free Source code included or freely obtainable. Redistribution of modifications allowed Quality, not profit drives open source developers Open source software may be ‘free’, but a developer or distributor may charge for services, including development, installation, training, and technical support

The software is free

Source code included or freely obtainable.

Redistribution of modifications allowed

Quality, not profit drives open source developers

Open source software may be ‘free’, but a developer or distributor may charge for services, including development, installation, training, and technical support

Benefits of open source software Gain support of vibrant and active world-wide support and development community Freed from lock-in of proprietary systems Benefit from other users' customisations and contributions Remove dependence on a single supplier

Gain support of vibrant and active world-wide support and development community

Freed from lock-in of proprietary systems

Benefit from other users' customisations and contributions

Remove dependence on a single supplier

Benefits of open source software Obtain better value for money from investment being made in the library service The availability of the source code means that a user can modify and enhance the software There are minimal contractual restrictions on how the software is used If you don’t like your supplier, find another one or do it yourself

Obtain better value for money from investment being made in the library service

The availability of the source code means that a user can modify and enhance the software

There are minimal contractual restrictions on how the software is used

If you don’t like your supplier, find another one or do it yourself

Kittens are Free

Open Source is Free?

There is a cost of ownership Staff time Support costs Infrastructure

Staff time

Support costs

Infrastructure

So, it’s not free, but .... Lower implementation cost Cheaper on-going costs Freedom to move between vendor Freedom to develop what you want to develop Freedom to collaborate and share Freedom to move quickly

Lower implementation cost

Cheaper on-going costs

Freedom to move between vendor

Freedom to develop what you want to develop

Freedom to collaborate and share

Freedom to move quickly

But no one uses open source? Application Originally Released Fact Apache Web Server 1995 serves 49.12% of all websites – June 2008 Linux Operating System 1991 Market share of new and used PCs running Linux is expected to grow from 3% in 2003 to 7% in 2008 Mozilla Firefox 2004 19.46% market share – September 2008 OpenOffice 1999 98 million downloads as of September 2007 – maybe 20% of business market MySQL 1995 25% market share, 50,000 downloads per day Java 1995 Today's six million Java developers are one of the largest communities of software developers

OK, but NOT in libraries “ 2007 also saw Open Source LMS win some significant HE institutions in North America but this trend is still far from mainstream” The LMS: an open or shut case’. By Ken Chad. CILIP Library+ Information Gazette, 24th August 2007

“ 2007 also saw Open Source LMS win some significant HE institutions in North America but this trend is still far from mainstream”

Market share OSS LMS is now the largest single source of new name installations in North America – outstripping the proprietary vendors Good presence in Indian market Major presence in France Minimal presence so far in UK

OSS LMS is now the largest single source of new name installations in North America – outstripping the proprietary vendors

Good presence in Indian market

Major presence in France

Minimal presence so far in UK

Where is OSS successful? Where there are capable local support bases: USA Canada India France Australia and NZ

Where there are capable local support bases:

USA

Canada

India

France

Australia and NZ

The leading provider of digital archiving solutions in North America Formed in 1995 - desktop imaging, integrated library systems and custom search systems First release of ArchivalWare digital archiving solution - 2000 ArchivalWare 4.2 released October 2008 June 2008 – Support of open source library management software

The leading provider of digital archiving solutions in North America

Formed in 1995 - desktop imaging, integrated library systems and custom search systems

First release of ArchivalWare digital archiving solution - 2000

ArchivalWare 4.2 released October 2008

June 2008 – Support of open source library management software

PTFS Customers – Partial list Libraries – Public • Whittier Public Library • Independence Township Library Libraries - Government • National Library of Medicine • U.S. Geological Survey • Federal Communications Commission (FCC) • Naval Research Laboratory • Department of Justice • U.S. Marine Corps (16 locations World Wide) • U.S. Air Force • U.S. Army • U.S. Attorney’s Office • Department of State • Library of Congress • Administrative Office of U.S. Court • U.S. Customs Service • International Trade Commission Library • Army Heritage Education Center (AHEC) • Department of Labor Associations • International Monetary Fund (IMF) • American Chemical Society Libraries – Academic • Southern Oregon University • National Defense University • George Washington University Government Institutions – non-library • National Archives and Records Administration • Department of Interior (Labatt) • Department of Defense (Joint Chiefs) • National Security Agency • National Institutes of Health • Office Secretary of Defense (OSD) • National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) Museums • Smithsonian Institution • Museum of African American History SirsiDynix USA: Public and Academic Libraries, Government Institutions, Commercial International: (Canada, New Zealand, Chile, Greece) Commercial • National Geographic • Chicago Tribune

PTFS Europe A company formed to distribute and support the software products of PTFS, Inc Local presence Local expertise Local training Local support Focused on European context Backed up by major US presence

A company formed to distribute and support the software products of PTFS, Inc

Local presence

Local expertise

Local training

Local support

Focused on European context

Backed up by major US presence

PTFS Europe – ArchivalWare Customers in 2008/9 York St John University Department for Communities and Local Government/ Department of Transport Planning Inspectorate Council of Europe Irish Parliament (currently preferred supplier status) European Southern Observatory (Koha)

York St John University

Department for Communities and Local Government/ Department of Transport

Planning Inspectorate

Council of Europe

Irish Parliament (currently preferred supplier status)

European Southern Observatory (Koha)

PTFS now Implement, Host & Support Open Source ILS software

Open Source ILS software Evergreen or Koha SaaS or standalone Significant cost savings Fast development Major benefits

Evergreen or Koha

SaaS or standalone

Significant cost savings

Fast development

Major benefits

Overcoming barriers No one championing open source? Budget holders or corporate procurement do not see open source as a viable alternative? Financial constraints? Everyone happy with their proprietary library system and ILS supplier?

No one championing open source?

Budget holders or corporate procurement do not see open source as a viable alternative?

Financial constraints?

Everyone happy with their proprietary library system and ILS supplier?

Overcoming barriers: How PTFS Europe can help PTFS is a centre of excellence for open source LMS software PTFS staff have a wealth of experience in library automation PTFS is a commercial organisation with a proven track record PTFS Europe can do a project for no more than your current annual maintenance

PTFS is a centre of excellence for open source LMS software

PTFS staff have a wealth of experience in library automation

PTFS is a commercial organisation with a proven track record

PTFS Europe can do a project for no more than your current annual maintenance

Disadvantages of Open Source Software Unanticipated Efforts Lack of coordination Inadequate technical support Installation can be hard Weak documentation Customisation needed Reduced functionality in some areas?

Unanticipated Efforts

Lack of coordination

Inadequate technical support

Installation can be hard

Weak documentation

Customisation needed

Reduced functionality in some areas?

Addressing Disadvantages of Open Source Software with PTFS PTFS can help plan implementation & set expectations PTFS contribute to the worldwide code base PTFS already has international support organisation PTFS can carry out developments on your behalf PTFS can introduce functionality on your behalf PTFS can implement and support the system for you

PTFS can help plan implementation & set expectations

PTFS contribute to the worldwide code base

PTFS already has international support organisation

PTFS can carry out developments on your behalf

PTFS can introduce functionality on your behalf

PTFS can implement and support the system for you

It is not just the software A new kind of business environment A new kind of business model Collaboration between OSS suppliers Partnership between supplier and customer

A new kind of business environment

A new kind of business model

Collaboration between OSS suppliers

Partnership between supplier and customer

PTFS: a business for the 21 st century Virtual office IM, Skype and web conferencing Virtual switchboard Virtual infrastructure Outsourced accounts and finance Very low non-salary costs No commuting overhead Relies on having high quality staff Major price advantage over the 20 th century companies

Virtual office

IM, Skype and web conferencing

Virtual switchboard

Virtual infrastructure

Outsourced accounts and finance

Very low non-salary costs

No commuting overhead

Relies on having high quality staff

Major price advantage over the 20 th century companies

Collaboration between OSS suppliers PTFS Europe is working with: Equinox (Evergreen) PTFS Inc (Koha) Koha community Index Data Relais Ken Chad Consulting /PTFS Europe – OpenLibraries

PTFS Europe is working with:

Equinox (Evergreen)

PTFS Inc (Koha)

Koha community

Index Data

Relais

Ken Chad Consulting /PTFS Europe – OpenLibraries

Partnership with customers The staff at PTFS Europe have outstanding experience in implementing and supporting library management systems The most successful OSS projects are often based on a partnership approach between supplier and customer Share the work Share the development Reduce the risk Reduce the cost Reduce the workload Retain autonomy

The staff at PTFS Europe have outstanding experience in implementing and supporting library management systems

The most successful OSS projects are often based on a partnership approach between supplier and customer

Share the work

Share the development

Reduce the risk

Reduce the cost

Reduce the workload

Retain autonomy

Implementation and Support Services from PTFS Europe

Offerings Implementation Ongoing support Hosting (SaaS) Consultancy Partnership

Implementation

Ongoing support

Hosting (SaaS)

Consultancy

Partnership

Implementation package Project Management Installation and configuration of LMS Data conversion and loading into LMS Implementation workshop Training

Project Management

Installation and configuration of LMS

Data conversion and loading into LMS

Implementation workshop

Training

Ongoing support Web based: Open calls Update calls Review calls Close calls Phone for critical calls

Web based:

Open calls

Update calls

Review calls

Close calls

Phone for critical calls

Hosting We manage the server for you You still manage and control your LMS We upgrade the LMS High class data centre Secure Resilient 365 days a year, 24/7 Annual fee

We manage the server for you

You still manage and control your LMS

We upgrade the LMS

High class data centre

Secure

Resilient

365 days a year, 24/7

Annual fee

Optional consultancy and services Review of library service Strategy Functionality Technology Installation & Configuration Data extraction Data conversion and loading Training Project Management Custom reports Custom programming Advanced configuration

Review of library service

Strategy

Functionality

Technology

Installation & Configuration

Data extraction

Data conversion and loading

Training

Project Management

Custom reports

Custom programming

Advanced configuration

Partnership? For a site or consortium with technical skills to contribute to the project we can build a partnership Share the work Share the development Reduce the risk Reduce the cost Reduce the workload Retain autonomy Can we help with the Virtual Academic Project?

For a site or consortium with technical skills to contribute to the project we can build a partnership

Share the work

Share the development

Reduce the risk

Reduce the cost

Reduce the workload

Retain autonomy

Can we help with the Virtual Academic Project?

A survey November-December 2008 Carried out by Ian Haydock, Keele University The use of Open Source software by UK Higher Education libraries

A survey November-December 2008

Carried out by Ian Haydock, Keele University

We are unaware of what software is available (9) We need software which is not currently available via Open Source (4) We don't have time or staffing to set up these applications (19) We don't have time or staffing to maintain these applications (23) Paid-for systems offer better support in a crisis (8) Our institution restricts use of Open Source software (4) Why doesn't your Library make more use of Open Source software?

We are unaware of what software is available (9)

We need software which is not currently available via Open Source (4)

We don't have time or staffing to set up these applications (19)

We don't have time or staffing to maintain these applications (23)

Paid-for systems offer better support in a crisis (8)

Our institution restricts use of Open Source software (4)

We are unaware of what software is available (9) We need software which is not currently available via Open Source (4) We don't have time or staffing to set up these applications (19) We don't have time or staffing to maintain these applications (23) Paid-for systems offer better support in a crisis (8) Our institution restricts use of Open Source software (4) Why doesn't your Library make more use of Open Source software?

We are unaware of what software is available (9)

We need software which is not currently available via Open Source (4)

We don't have time or staffing to set up these applications (19)

We don't have time or staffing to maintain these applications (23)

Paid-for systems offer better support in a crisis (8)

Our institution restricts use of Open Source software (4)

Conclusion The advantages of working with PTFS Europe Gain the advantages of open source software Benefit from high quality implementation and support services Reduced cost Increased autonomy Low risk Next generation technologies The best of both worlds

Gain the advantages of open source software

Benefit from high quality implementation and support services

Reduced cost

Increased autonomy

Low risk

Next generation technologies

The best of both worlds

PTFS Europe and open source software