The Earthbound Librarian

Q: how do you keep OSS-powered systems, workstations secure?

A: in general, Linux-based systems much more secure than Windows

Q: Does DeepFreeze work with these?

A: Most problems that DeepFreeze addresses are addressed throughout overall system of Userful system (Tyngsborough)

Q: re: hosting costs for LibLime vs. commercial vendors

A: typically 20-25% less than one major vendor

Q: Cost of UserFul? And security…is it running antivirus? is that a consideration?

A: Does run antivirus; Userful structure = Linux kernel, over that = Userful administration with all those functionalities. Cost: somewhere around $4000 for one pod. Look at cost of people, too. We haven’t had to touch these machines in two years: installed & walked away. Pay for support. Good product. Groovix (competitor) price structure looks even less; maybe $1500 less. Not sure why that is.

Q: follow up: Pricing = subscription or one-shot?

A: One-shot; includes 3 years of support, upgrades

Q, second follow up: Does that include hardware, software, and support?

A. Depends where you’re at. TPL had very old machines; brought in hardware & software through Userful. Can buy just software.

Q. Do they offer staff computers, too?

A. (RR) They do handle businesses…probably less restrictive. Advantage of Userful: you don’t need all the gadgets. With Pharos, lots of problems w/it not playing well with operating systems…lots of consulting fees.

Q. Interest in OSS piqued by ILSs; now hearing about digital library mgmt systems, etc. What else is coming along that will be of interest to libs?

A. (JF) Kete, from New Zealand: community-based digital library system. Greenstone (also NZ). Academic: DSpace, Fedora (SOA). Quite a few library apps out there. Another federated search product, LibraryFind (Oregon State U). Could go on & on…

Q. When you integrate subscription databases into free metasearch, are there fees associated?

A. JF: Any metasearch product only as good as gateways that it has to proprietary DBs. Relationship with TDNet; they have the gateways. It’s proprietary, unfortunately, so for now: yes, subscription fees. Long-term goal: create set of OS gateways that will allow direct access to DBs w/o 3rd party component.

Q: Some of us are absolute non-programmers, just want to get a little experience (Hello World! situation), where to start?

A. (WH) Start with Python: great online tutorials. Can start with a little knowledge, build upon it quickly. Few solutions that Python *can’t* help you with.

Q. Integration of social apps into Koha (Amazon data)…what other services?

A. (JF) review module not associated w/Amazon (free); working on new tagging system; working with some existing tagging networks (e.g. del.icio.us). Would love to see plugins with Flickr, YouTube, etc. These ideas easy to integrate. The Amazon service took about 15 hours to write.

Q. Does Koha have a staff interface?

A. (JF) Yes: acquisitions (vendors, multiple currencies, check orders); circ; borrower mgmt; serials; cataloging module w/integrated Z39.50 (download directly from LoC!); reporting module; very rich systems administration module (colors, permissions, features, etc.). Apologize, didn’t have time to demonstrate the staff side. Would like to have new report module written.

Q. Does Koha have a CMS built in?

A. Koha now has a basic news module that can be added directly to template, for libs that don’t want full-fledged CMS. Have talked about full CMS; would be pretty large projects; no one’s been that interested.

Q. Contrast Koha & Evergreen?

A. Major difference: Koha was grassroots: started w/rural libraries, distributed organization, bottom-up decision making. Evergreen: PINES library system; top-down decision making. Koha: 800 libs worldwide, 8 years old; Evergreen: 1 year old, 1 consortium.

Q. Will major ILS vendors be able to rise to this challenge?

A. I’ll tell you why they don’t have a chance. (laughter) All about architecture. OS systems built on current technology. Most existing systems = old technologies, legacy code.

Q. does Koha work well with small devices?
A Mobile device compatibility: PDA stylesheet. Also, recently added text messaging capabilities; chatbot for overdues, notices.

Q. For Wes & Elizabeth: Do either of you see promoting having libraries move into Linux products? Are you already doing that, or will you in the near future? Will Microsoft Vista have an impact on that?

A. Wes: One complicating factor: Really easy to get cheap MS software for library. Dual booting Windows & Ubuntu in WMRLS training lab. Donated computers for smaller libraries; considering dual booting there.

Q. Why would you have dual booting systems in the library?

A. Have the ability to try out the software, compare. ET: People coming to lib use workstations for different purposes. Some like to try new things; for others, PC at home is down, just want it to be like home computer. Any kind of change in those situations can be stressful. Hard making things as comfortable as possible for all users. Re: Vista, anytime someone has to make a decision to upgrade, opportunity to look around @ other options. WH: Many libs in WMRLS using OSS on windows system. Some using Linux for public internet access.

Q. What do patrons think of this?

A. Once in a while, one or two are taken aback. Malden kept 2 or 3 “emergency” Windows machines around. Not many ppl use them; just a couple every so often. Phobia even when upgrading Windows versions. Happens when GUI changes.

Q. People tend to adjust?

A. They do. Biggest problem: people remembering not to save to desktop, bring their own devices. Common to both systems.

Q. Do you notice a big increase in performance with open source OS vs. Windows?

A. WH: Big plus for Linux a few years back: software well-written, optimized. There are issues with driver compatibility. As PCs have increased their performance, requirements for most user applications haven’t changed too much in last few years.

Q. Except that you can use Linux on machine built for XP, but you can’t upgrade that machine to Vista.

Q. Question on Koha: If you have ebooks, audiobooks, playaways, is there a module to access those? (Follett)

A. Do they come in Marc format? (yes) You can import them into database, access them through link view. Sometimes, problem b/c you need to pass them thru authentication first. Nelsonville PL sponsoring redirect module; will allow you to put in url for redirect link so you can send them to authentication, pass them through to site.

Q. Do you see government, higher-level institutions starting to help promote open-source solutions for libraries? Someone willing to stand behind it?

A. (RR) Would love to see that. Was thinking about Allen Smith. Once said, in 70s, everybody was doing their own thing. In 80s, more consistency. Would be nice if at national level, could do projects for libraries like PC reservations, web apps for reserving passes, something! Calendar that interfaced all that stuff. Within that, beauty of modularity is, different libraries could choose different features. Would love to see it; not sure if it’s going on. JF: Something I’ve thought a lot about: Discovered OCLC when first getting involved w/libs. have a bone to pick with them: how they handle data, sell services. Supposed to be collaborative network, yet they sell services to you based on your efforts at exorbitant prices that you can’t afford. Want to create collab network based on open standards, benefit whole library community. My route to that: sidestep a bit, build Koha through some productization…but long term, love to see collab network between large academics, PLs, consortia, companies like userful, Care Associates (? Carl Grant). Lots of folks heading in that direction. Open Source Library Consortium? (OSLC) (laughter) Challenge is finding resources: people with time & talent to build it. Someone’s gotta take the reins on that. If you have an interest, start building a network of people & resources. Go after grants. Mellon?