Taking matters into our own hands: influencing factors and concerning factors for libraries that developed Open Source library software
VALA 2010 CONCURRENT SESSION 12 – IT Management
Thursday 11 February 2010 10:30 – 11:00
Persistent URL: http://www.vala.org.au/vala2010-proceedings/vala2010-session-12-greenhill
Kathryn Greenhill, 2008 VALA Travel Scholar
Special Services Librarian, Cottesloe-Mosman Park-Peppermint Grove Library
http://KathrynGreenhill.com and http://www.thegrovelibrary.com
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VALA2010 Session 12 Greenhill Paper 977.71 KB- VALA2010 Session 12 Greenhill Presentation 4.08 MB
VALA2010 Session 12 Greenhill Podcast 14.54 MB
Abstract
Libraries that develop Open Source library software are influenced by a number of factors. The insights from this group are useful for library staff who are considering adopting Open Source library software. The author surveyed and interviewed staff who developed Scriblio, SOPAC2, VUFind, Blacklight, Koha and Evergreen. She also interviewed librarians who specified the Open Library Environment. The interviews and questionnaires revealed a common attitude to the cost of Open Source Software; similar concerns about speed and process for enhancements to proprietary library software; and similar satisfaction with the control and community that Open Source software has brought to their library operations.