Comments on: Open source in libraries: Marching on http://lackoftalent.org/michael/blog/2007/06/21/open-source-in-libraries-marching-on/ The occasional rambling of a digital library artisan Fri, 21 Nov 2008 02:15:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: mjgiarlo http://lackoftalent.org/michael/blog/2007/06/21/open-source-in-libraries-marching-on/#comment-29514 mjgiarlo Tue, 03 Jul 2007 18:18:05 +0000 http://lackoftalent.org/michael/blog/2007/06/21/open-source-in-libraries-marching-on/#comment-29514 At least with OSS products, technically inclined library folks can actually view and modify code and there is some hope of being able to share with others and commit back to the projects. So I don't think we need to develop our own products to be able to take advantage of OSS, though there are benefits of doing so such as owning and guiding your own destiny. Another advantage of vendor-supported OSS is that there is a looser coupling between the vendor and the code-base. This enables libraries to pick and choose among vendors and creates competition. It's not like III is going to help a library support a Sirsi-Dynix product or vice versa; but we already see companies like LibLime and Equinox supporting some of the same products. This will likely grow in time. Cost-cutting isn't part of the OSS equation, though it would seem like that's an obvious benefit. Costs are usually comparable if you account for employee time maintaining the codebase, providing support, documenting, testing, and so on. At least with OSS products, technically inclined library folks can actually view and modify code and there is some hope of being able to share with others and commit back to the projects.

So I don't think we need to develop our own products to be able to take advantage of OSS, though there are benefits of doing so such as owning and guiding your own destiny.

Another advantage of vendor-supported OSS is that there is a looser coupling between the vendor and the code-base. This enables libraries to pick and choose among vendors and creates competition. It's not like III is going to help a library support a Sirsi-Dynix product or vice versa; but we already see companies like LibLime and Equinox supporting some of the same products. This will likely grow in time.

Cost-cutting isn't part of the OSS equation, though it would seem like that's an obvious benefit. Costs are usually comparable if you account for employee time maintaining the codebase, providing support, documenting, testing, and so on.

]]> By: Shaun Ellis http://lackoftalent.org/michael/blog/2007/06/21/open-source-in-libraries-marching-on/#comment-29480 Shaun Ellis Tue, 03 Jul 2007 16:14:50 +0000 http://lackoftalent.org/michael/blog/2007/06/21/open-source-in-libraries-marching-on/#comment-29480 It's a step in the right direction for sure. However, if libraries are not collectively developing their own OSS, I don't see how a move towards "OSS" built by third party companies is going to solve the frustrating situation with current ILS vendors. Maybe they're getting the software for free and cutting some costs, but they're still dependent on a third party for updates, fixes, and customization. What we really need is the libraries themselves to be contributing to the codebase. It's a step in the right direction for sure. However, if libraries are not collectively developing their own OSS, I don't see how a move towards "OSS" built by third party companies is going to solve the frustrating situation with current ILS vendors. Maybe they're getting the software for free and cutting some costs, but they're still dependent on a third party for updates, fixes, and customization. What we really need is the libraries themselves to be contributing to the codebase.

]]> By: Carl Grant http://lackoftalent.org/michael/blog/2007/06/21/open-source-in-libraries-marching-on/#comment-26681 Carl Grant Fri, 22 Jun 2007 10:34:58 +0000 http://lackoftalent.org/michael/blog/2007/06/21/open-source-in-libraries-marching-on/#comment-26681 Thanks Mike. We're excited to be a part of this community! Thanks Mike. We're excited to be a part of this community!

]]> By: antonioG4 http://lackoftalent.org/michael/blog/2007/06/21/open-source-in-libraries-marching-on/#comment-26481 antonioG4 Thu, 21 Jun 2007 17:52:22 +0000 http://lackoftalent.org/michael/blog/2007/06/21/open-source-in-libraries-marching-on/#comment-26481 OSS goes marching one by one hurrah, hurrah... Good to see, the more successful people/companies join the OSS movement the better the software becomes. Libraries are just slow to innovate, I wonder how many billionaires there are out there who built their companies on the back of a LAMP configuration. Now, if I was only smart enough to come up with a my own software, then I would be one of them. OSS goes marching one by one hurrah, hurrah…

Good to see, the more successful people/companies join the OSS movement the better the software becomes. Libraries are just slow to innovate, I wonder how many billionaires there are out there who built their companies on the back of a LAMP configuration. Now, if I was only smart enough to come up with a my own software, then I would be one of them.

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