[Publib] Open source software

[Cary Gordon]

For starters, I suggest that you take a look at Eric Raymond's seminal
essay (small book) on open source, the Cathedral and the Bazaar.

The key to successfully implementing a large-scale mission critical
system such as an ILS rests with the implementors. If you look at the
open source ILS marketplace, and this extends to all large-scale open
source projects, you will find two fairly distinct groups: those with
a software development and maintenance skills and the infrastructure
to back them up; and everyone else. The first group, often academic
libraries and large consortia like PINES, either develops from scratch
or, if they select an existing project, become involved as
stakeholders in that project. The second group might attempt to go it
alone, but most successful projects use a professional services
organization.

If you are in the second group, you might find that the startup costs
for a professionally implemented open source ILS aren't all that much
less expensive than a commercial system. The difference is that once
the system is up and running, you are not hostage to any vendor. There
are no license fees, and if you want to switch service providers, you
are free to do so. If you decide you no longer need a service
provider, or wish to by service a la carte, that's fine as well.

The part that I like best is this: You can add features to your system
at any time at no or little cost. Want to integrate your ILS and your
web site? No problem. APIs are free, like everything else, and they
are part of the system. You might have to pay someone to tune it for
you, but you won't have a $20k bill for turning it on.

Cary

2009/2/5 MJ Goodrum <mgoodrum at townofchapelhill.org>:
> I'm way out of my league here, but I'm on a committee that's putting
> together a workshop on Opensource software such as Evergreen and Koha.  Does
> anyone out there Public Library Land have any experience (good and/or bad)
> working with an opensource software company?  What made you decide to go
> with them rather than another vendor such as Dynix, Innovative, etc.?   How
> easy was it to migrate from your current system?  Did it cause
> problems/complications with your book, cataloging, and/or processing
> vendors?  What are the costs involved?  Does it work with a collection
> agency such as Unique management?
>
>
>
> Anything you are willing to share with us is greatly appreciated!
>
>
>
> M.J. Goodrum
>
> NCLA PLS Collection Management Committee
>
> mgoodrum at townofchapelhill.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> Publib mailing list
> Publib at webjunction.org
> http://lists.webjunction.org/mailman/listinfo/publib
>
>

-- 
Cary Gordon, MLIS
The Cherry Hill Company
http://chillco.com