Slides from the "Collaboration is Key" presentation at the 10 April 2009 FOSS VT conference.

1. It’s Open Source: Collaboration is Key.

2. the technology is
almost irrelevant
People will almost
always want to hang
on to what they
already know
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bestrated1/2621358221/

3. instead…
• Do you have a mutual problem?
• Do you have a mutual need?
• Are you willing to be an innovator?
• Are you willing to take part in a “pilot
project”?

4. saving money is a good
place to start.
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuartpilbrow/2942333106/

5. what benefits can participants expect?
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepishly/2656467632/

6. transparency is important:
what are people’s fears?
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sweetone/2915843163/

7. build your network
• build a varied group
• put in leadership the
group trusts
• don’t let one person
be the face -- or the
tech support -- of
the project
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/phrenologist/3172558/

8. koha
• Free
• Customizeable
• Rich, established
development
• Patron focused
• Product of the
future -- not the
past
• Lots of buzz

9. vokal
• Welcoming
• Purposefully includes
libraries of many
different sizes
• Threw participants
right in -- overcome
fear of technology
• Word of mouth
• Share freely
• Long development
time frame
• Lots of different
opportunities for
participation

10. most importantly: the
timing was perfectFlickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ckaiserca/434019427/

11. stumbling blocks
• Budget
• Time frame
• Distribution of
workload
• Participants’ need
for face to face
meetings
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ozyman/150954085/

12. green mountain
library consortium
For more information on the GMLC,
visit our blog at:
http://gmlc.wordpress.com
Or speak with the Board of Directors:
Stephanie Chase, Stowe Free Library
Judah Hamer, Ilsley Public Library
Lucinda Walker, Norwich Public Library