Open Source Systems for Libraries: A New Approach to Resource Sharing Eric H. Schnell Prior Health Sciences Library The Ohio State University [email_address] Copyleft – 2001

“ Free” Software Free as in freedom (and as a free kitten) Little to do with price. It is about freedom A program is free software, if there is: freedom to run the program, for any purpose freedom to modify the program to suit needs freedom to distribute modified versions of the program, so that the community can benefit from your improvements

Free as in freedom (and as a free kitten)

Little to do with price. It is about freedom

A program is free software, if there is:

freedom to run the program, for any purpose

freedom to modify the program to suit needs

freedom to distribute modified versions of the program, so that the community can benefit from your improvements

Open Source A philosophy of software development where: a community comes together to create computer programs systems are developed out of mutual need and for economic advantage informal networks are formed to create and support these applications

A philosophy of software development where:

a community comes together to create computer programs

systems are developed out of mutual need and for economic advantage

informal networks are formed to create and support these applications

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

Commercial developers respond slowly

Niche vendors gain monopoly

Commercial product lifelines uncertain

Release date teasers

Program code is customizable

Helps reduce annual software costs

No software maintenance “fees”

Why Open Source in Libraries? Reduce service implementation timetable Reallocate funds to other needs Break away from the library system paradigm Creation of new resource sharing networks and consortiums

Reduce service implementation timetable

Reallocate funds to other needs

Break away from the library system paradigm

Creation of new resource sharing networks and consortiums

Library Networks National - OCLC, RLG Statewide - OhioLink Regional - NNLM, CIC

National - OCLC, RLG

Statewide - OhioLink

Regional - NNLM, CIC

Library Networks Purchasing discounts Monographs Serials Database access E-Journals Interlibrary loan Special collections

Purchasing discounts

Monographs

Serials

Database access

E-Journals

Interlibrary loan

Special collections

Library Networks Libraries choose to participate in a given network: based on their interest on their ability to contribute to gain administrative advantage To gain economic advantage

Libraries choose to participate in a given network:

based on their interest

on their ability to contribute

to gain administrative advantage

To gain economic advantage

OSLN – Open Sources Library Networks Open source networks reflect the traditional values and philosophy of library networks OSS and OSLN networks build relationships because they share common goals Both support development of software products that support the unique needs of a specific user group Both use a peer-review system of development

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

OSS and OSLN networks build relationships because they share common goals

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

Both use a peer-review system of development

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

MyLibrary (North Carolina State)

Prospero (Ohio State)

Free Reserves (Southern Illinois University)

BioMail (SUNY Stonybrook)

Internet Station Manager (Grand Rapids, MI PL)

OSLN vs. Homegrown Individual libraries often lack all the human elements to create scalable and portable systems ( coding, testing, troubleshooting, user ed ) A network of libraries has a greater chance of assembling a development team with a full complement of skills

Individual libraries often lack all the human elements to create scalable and portable systems ( coding, testing, troubleshooting, user ed )

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

OSLN vs. Homegrown When the programmer of a homegrown system leaves employment the system gradually falls apart and dies OSLN community takes over the management responsibilities of the most viable systems and they continue to evolve

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

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

OSLN vs. Homegrown Homegrown systems are often created in isolation with minimal external feedback and support The foundation of OSLN is a system of peer review that is missing from most homegrown projects

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

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

Getting Involved Libraries are always developing applications (delivering dynamic Web content, interactive reference services, or image archive systems) Many of these applications are kept in-house even though they may be useful to other libraries Libraries developing innovative solutions need to consider becoming active open source developers

Libraries are always developing applications (delivering dynamic Web content, interactive reference services, or image archive systems)

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

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

Getting Involved By distributing OSS the library community is able to benefit from a library's experience, resources, and expertise A library’s OSS project could benefit from the community’s experience, resources, and expertise New library networks and consortiums need to be developed to support such initiatives

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

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

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

Developer Support Install an existing program play with it evaluate it provide feedback. Constructive and critical feedback is vital Report errors and problems helps clarify misconceptions users and potential users have about the application

Install an existing program

play with it

evaluate it

provide feedback. Constructive and critical feedback is vital

Report errors and problems

helps clarify misconceptions users and potential users have about the application

User Support Documentation installation manuals user guides Instructional materials tip sheets how-to guides Conference presentations local, regional, national meetings Write journal and newsletter articles

Documentation

installation manuals

user guides

Instructional materials

tip sheets

how-to guides

Conference presentations

local, regional, national meetings

Write journal and newsletter articles

Development Support Programming system security memory usage file permissions error reports suggest and construct technical solutions create new features create plug-in modules create derivative programs

Programming

system security

memory usage

file permissions

error reports

suggest and construct technical solutions

create new features

create plug-in modules

create derivative programs

Barriers to Participation Limited understanding Underestimating personal skill set Projects may not proactively recruit Time Administration support

Limited understanding

Underestimating personal skill set

Projects may not proactively recruit

Time

Administration support

Why OSS Projects Die Burn out Inability to acquire a critical mass of users Loss of the leading developer Forking

Burn out

Inability to acquire a critical mass of users

Loss of the leading developer

Forking

Establishment of library open source resource sharing networks will allow more libraries to provide high quality electronic patron services when they are needed….. … .. not when the technology becomes commercially available

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