From a small library’s perspective

− New Library Technology Paradigms: OS vs. Black Box vs. Hybrids

Bohyun Kim, Digital Access Librarian, Florida International University Medical Libraryhttp://www.slideshare.net/bohyunkimhttp://twitter.com/bohyunkimAmerican Library Association Annual Conference.Anaheim, CA. June 24, 2012.

At a Small Library,

Open Source Software

Blackbox

Huh?

Open Source Offers “Freedom”

Freedom from _____?Freedom to do _____?

Reality

Small staff with limited knowledge

Can afford only the minimum support and maintenance of whatever system implemented and used.

No inside R&D

Outside vendor support is important because inside support is limited.

Working with the IT outside the library….

Take it or Leave it …

Software in Use

Cascade Server (CMS)

SharePoint (Intranet)

SharePoint LMS

Tegrity (Lecture recording)

IE

LiveMeeting

Hard to serve existing library services

&Hard to try new things

Things we do not like to hear :

That feature is not available in this system.

Or a low priority to add.

Or the vendor will work on adding that feature.

Wait for the next release.

Or you need to buy an upgraded version.

Or customization costs.

Or you just can’t do it.

Remember FireFox?Now you don’t have to

use IE.

Can I fix or change it?

Reason for OSS

Required feature set may be better supported.

Fast updates and bug fixes possible

Likely to be easier for troubleshooting

Some vendors are costly, incompetent, poorly qualified.

Room for customization even if you are not a big/rich institution

Development led by a community’s inputs and needs such as more use of standards

Big Libraries vs. Small Libraries

Photo from Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackeycove/3996433617/in/photostream/

Possibility ?

Feasibility?

Sustainability?

OSS is Commitment to Innovation

and Investment in the future of the library

If want to go fast, you go alone;If you want to go far,you go together.

-An African Proverb

How can we travel together

to go farther?

How can we forman inclusive community

where all can contribute?