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We have been looking at the use of Open Source models in the culture sector and there have been some interesting/relevant outcomes from that. Firstly, people tend to mean two different models when they say 'Open Source': 1. Software that is built using a set of tools for which the source code is openly available (eg. the Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP toolset). This doesn't necessarily mean that the source code of the software itself is open. 2. Software that is fully Open Source in the sense that the source code is published under an open license such as GNU which permits people to edit the code, add features and generally mess about with it as long as they feed the results of their labour back into the community. In the first instance, choosing software that is constructed using 'open' tools is very often just as closely tied to a given supplier as any other software. As with all these things, implementing software so that it runs properly is an art, and it is very often only the original supplier who understands their implementation sufficiently to support it post-development. In the case of fully open-source software, there tends to be a strong dependence on the distributed developer community to create new features and maintain the development path. Since there often isn't a single focus for the development (or where there is, they don't have the capacity to offer dedicated technical support) this means that the applicability or otherwise of the software to your specific requirements is very often in the hands of the collective. On the same point, where you are looking at the implementation of Open Source software that is specific to a given industry (as with museums in our case) there very often aren't enough paid staff with sufficient time on their hands to form a viable/vibrant development community. Ultimately, Local Authorities tend to be balancing variables of stability, support, security, cost and functionality. While the immediate cost of Open Source can appear favourable when compared to license fees for proprietary systems, the total cost of ownership over the lifetime of the Open Source product is likely to be very similar. Nick Nick Poole Chief Executive MDA The Spectrum Building The Michael Young Centre Purbeck Road Cambridge CB2 2PD Tel 01223 415 760 www.mda.org.uk www.collectionslink.org.uk www.culturalpropertyadvice.gov.uk MDA (Europe) Ltd. Registered company number 13000565. -----Original Message----- From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mohammed Awkati Sent: 10 August 2007 14:56 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Open Source LMSs Open source is definitly not about small teams doing the work and then saying this is the standard. In fact it is quite the opposite. The work of a small team is offered to the community to improve and share the rersults with everyone else. This is the GNU licence agreement. Opensource does not necessarily mean free, what it means is that the code behind the software is available for you to see and improve/adapt to your needs but whatever you do must be made available to the rest of the community to benefit from. Do we really want to be locked-in by one vendor who decide the price and how things should be done even when you get inferior services?? Linux is inherently more stable and secure. The different distributions of Linux are made to meet differing needs and it thus offers choice and flexiblity. The fastest computer in the world (IBM's Blue Gene) is run on Linux! 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 views 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 Keith Patterson/CEXEC/STHMBC Sent: 10 August 2007 14:07 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Open Source LMSs John Usher wrote: "Now we're all moving to Microsoft or Linux - but which 'Linux distribution'? Dell recently said it would love to ship Linux PC's, but will someone please tell it which 'flavour' to standardise upon? It gave up on an earleir attempt for this reason - One version of Microsoft OS at a time is hard enough to support, but multiple Linux distributions!" Dell have recently announced they are selling PCs in the UK with Ubuntu Linux pre-installed - I actually managed to find one for sale on their website last night. They've been doing this for a few weeks in the US. This might be the break-through required for widespread Linux take-up by the general public. Keith Patterson Branch Network Manager Branch Network Team Chester Lane Library Four Acre Lane St Helens WA9 4DE tel: (01744) 677448 fax: (01744) 677082 This Email and any attachments contains confidential information and is intended solely for the individual to whom it is addressed. If this Email has been misdirected, please notify the author as soon as possible. If you are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, distribute, copy, print or rely on any of the information contained, and all copies must be deleted immediately.Whilst we take reasonable steps to try to identify any software viruses, any attachments to this e-mail may nevertheless contain viruses which our anti- virus software has failed to identify. You should therefore carry out your own anti-virus checks before opening any documents.Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council will not accept any liability for damage caused by computer viruses emanating from any attachment or other document supplied with this e-mail.