I'm just completing an article for CILIP Library+Information Gazette on Open
Source--and more particularly Open Source LMSs. In the US especially, a
number of major libraries, (inc. large publics, research and academic
libraries as well as smaller libraries) has gone this open source route but
I haven’t detected anything here in the UK (yet?). Have I missed something?
If you are looking at (or even interested in) Open Source solutions for your
LMSs I'd be really interested to know.
In the US there is *very* vocal dissatisfaction with the LMS vendors. The
consolidation, changes of ownership, private equity stuff, paradoxically
seems to be much more strongly resented there. There is a strong feeling in
some quarters that the market model has failed libraries and a new paradigm
is needed. A growing community is springing up dedicated to the support and
further development of Open Source LMSs. Commercial companies are emerging
(cf Redhat and Linux) to support and develop Open Source LMSs
I don't detect the anything like the same depth of feeling here in the UK.
Is this true or are we in true Brit fashion just less demonstrative
('mustn't grumble')? Or maybe the LMS vendors simply do a better job here in
the UK? Or could it be that the sector is so wedded to the traditional
procurement model (RFP/Tender), which organisations like OSS watch in the UK
think are not appropriate for Open Source
Of course some LMS vendors (VTLS and Talis --others? ) do offer Open Source
solutions that they make freely available but they have not yet gone the
route of offering the complete LMS in this way.
Any view on the role of Open Source in the UK LMS marektplace?
Ken
Ken Chad Consulting Ltd. www.kenchadconsulting.com
Tel 07788 727 845
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