Personally I am very much in favour of open source software solutions. I
only use Linux at home. The open source movement is gaining support
rapidly in the UK I believe. However, in a local authority setting in
particular, the provision of IT services is often done centrally through
established routes that are vendor locked down. This makes it very
difficult for libraries to consider open source solutions. At a time
when resources are scarce and budgets are tight I would have thought
open source solutions would look very attractive indeed.
The other aspect is that no one will take the plunge and move into open
source until they see someone else who has gone down that route and see
how they got on. A chicken and egg situation!
Also, very few people have heard of Linux and opensource software. But I
am sure they will be hearing a lot more in the future.
Do you know of any libraries related open source solutions that
libraries in the UK can use? I know Redhat and the likes of SUSE Linux
provide enterprise solutions, but not aware of any library specific
solutions for managing borrowers, issues, etc.
Hope this helps
Mo Awkati
Performance and Management Information Team Manager
Directorate of Adult, Community, and Housing Services
Dudley MBC
Ednam House
St James's Road
Dudley
DY1 3JJ
Tel: 01384 815824
(these points of view do not reflect the Council's views or policies)
-----Original Message-----
From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ken Chad
Sent: 08 August 2007 16:43
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Open Source LMSs
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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