Beer, Speech, and Kittens:

Jennifer ParsonsLibrary Support Representative

MOBIUS Consortium Office

An Introduction to Open Source Solutions and What They (Might) Mean to Libraries

What does “open source” mean?open source: (adj.) 1.

• used to describe applications (i.e., software)

•available for free, where

•source code can be accessed, copied, edited, or distributed at the user’s discretion.

What does “open source” mean?Open

•Can be viewed and/or accessed by public•User-created changes allowed by license•Download, save, copy without restrictions

Source•i.e., source code– the human-readable summation of an application•Used by software developers to create or edit software

“Free” as in…Beer

for your personal enjoyment

Speechbenefits the entire

community of users

Kittensfree to take, but

costly to maintain

Q. So what makes it free?A. The license.

Instead of focusing on copyright, creators of open source materials take a “copyleft” approach meant to encourage user interaction.

Some licenses used for OSS:• GNU General Public License (GNU GPL)• Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD) License• Mozilla Public License (MPL)

Moral of story: Read the fine print!

What open source is not•Open access•Example: Directory of Open Access Journals (www.doaj.org)

•Free proprietary (“freeware”)•Example: MARCEdit

•The Open Source Movement•Examples: Open Source Initiative (www.oai.org)

Where do open source solutions (OSS) come from?

Hint: It’s not where you think.

Where do OSS come from?Most open source solutions are developed by entire communities devoted to creating, testing, and improving the product over and over again.

Examples:•Apache Software Foundation•Eclipse Foundation•Mozilla Foundation•SourceForge.net•SIMILE Project at MIT

Open Source Solutions in Our Lives

Can include:•Operating systems•i.e., for servers, desktops, mobile phones

•End-user applications•e.g., Web browsers, word processors, image editors

OSS Used by MCO StaffOperating systems•Linux

SSH and SCP•PuTTY•WinSCP

Text editors•Metapad•Notepad++

Web browsers•Mozilla Firefox

Web content•Drupal

Open Source Library SoftwareMade by library professionals for libraries

•Integrated Library Systems (ILS)

•“Next-generation” catalog tools

•End-user applications for library functions

Open Source ILSClient interface software to manage library databases and library transactions (e.g., circulation, cataloging, acquisitions)

•Evergreen (Georgia Public Library Service)

•Koha (Horawhenua Library Trust, New Zealand)

•OpenBiblio (University of Barcelona & Library Association of Catalonia)

•PhpMyLibrary (University of the Philippenes Diliman)

Open Source “Next-generation” catalogsOpen source ILS programs also tend to have “next-generation” interface packages. However, some exist independently and can be integrated with other programs.

•Blacklight (University of Virginia and Stanford University)

•Extensible Catalog (University of Rochester)

•Scriblio (Plymouth State University)

•VUFind (Villanova University)

Open Source End-User Tools for LibrariesDesigned for individual tasks and to work across software packages.

Examples:•‡biblios•Exhibit•Greenstone•Prospero

Libraries That Have Tried OSSIn MOBIUS:•VUFind•Truman State University

Elsewhere:•Evergreen•Michigan Library Consortium

•Koha•MassCat

•Greenstone•Auburn University

Why would a library choose OSS?•Ease of administration•You can do what you want!

•Reliability•Ensured by peer review, not contract

•Cost (of course)•Free as in…

Caveat user!What you save in vendor charges, you may wind up paying for in: •Training

•Lack of support or documentation•Personnel hours•Equipment

So which is cheaper, overall?

Currently, OSS organizations claim an edge in cost……Which means you still pay for using OSS, one way or another.

OSS and the Library Software MarketIn the past, libraries employed automation strategies to manage multiple turnkey applications.

The integrated library system (ILS) was developed in response by software companies.

OSS and the Library Software MarketNow, libraries turning to…

•Software as a Service (SaaS)•Equinox (Evergreen)•LibLime (Koha)

•Supplementing paid products with open source

OSS and Tomorrow’s LibrariesWill open source “open” the

library software market?

•Competition with traditional vendors

•Interactivity•Pricing models•New innovations

OSS and Tomorrow’s Libraries…and create a world where information is more open

and more free?

Thank YouYou, the audience

For your time and consideration

Librarians across MOBIUSFor their curiosity and willingness to experiment with OSS

MACPACFor graciously accepting this presentation

MCO StaffFor support, criticism, and the fantastic idea of using lolcats

Questions? Comments?

Image Credits

Android.comThe Apache Software Foundation (www.apache.org)

I CAN HAS CHEEZBURGER? (www.icanhascheezburger.com)

LOLCATS.comThe Mozilla Project (www.mozilla.org)

OpenOffice.org