Ptfs Europe And Open Source April 2009

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kittens are Free

Open Source is Free?

There is a cost of ownership
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

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

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

Where is OSS successful?
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

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

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)

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

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?

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

Implementation and Support Services from PTFS Europe

Offerings
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

Ongoing support
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

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

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?

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

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?

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

PTFS Europe and open source software

Ptfs Europe And Open Source April 2009

by Mark Hughes on Apr 20, 2009

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Ptfs Europe And Open Source April 2009 — Presentation Transcript