Presentation overview
As library leaders and decision makers, we are acutely aware of ever increasing budgetary pressures. Keeping the doors open, maintaining functional staffing levels, and offering programs and resources necessary to stay relevant to our user populations have us scrambling for cost savings and improved efficiencies. We want to be sure that critical decisions are made with the best long term interests of our libraries in mind.
Increasingly, open source options are presented, discussed, and considered as real alternatives to some of our most expensive proprietary systems and applications. As librarians, how can we be sure we have considered all potential costs and opportunities as we search for options to improve productivity and reduce costs? Start in Chicago!
As librarians, how can we be sure we have considered all potential costs and opportunities as we search for options to improve productivity and reduce costs? Start in Chicago!
“Improving User Services Through Open Source Solutions: Potentials and Pitfalls” is a two hour panel based discussion co-presented by LLAMA SASS and RUSA STARS. Mark your calendars! Sunday, July 13: 3:30pm to 5:30pm, McCormick Place, Room: W474. A distinguished panel will introduce and discuss the issues.
Joe Lucia, of Villanova University, will offer a scan of the current library environment, present an overview of open source and the value it presents to libraries and their various organizations, and offer his view as to whether libraries should consider open source alternatives.
Randy Dykuis, of the Michigan Library Consortium, will describe the selection process used by MLC in considering an open source ILS, the steps taken to select and implement Evergreen by MLC, and the participation in Evergreen by MLC members.
John Garino, of St. John’s University, will present the WALDO, Westchester Academic Library Director’s Organization, instance of Koha and discuss issues related to the implementation and expansion of Koha, and the promotion of the ILS service to new members beyond those participating in this medium-sized cooperative of academic institutions.
John Brice, of the Crawford County Federated Library System, will discuss the selection, installation, and incorporation of Koha by each of the CCFLS members. John’s perspective will offer insight into issues unique to public libraries.
The panel presentations will be followed by questions from the floor and the open mike session is expected to include lively discussions between panel members and the audience.
Attendees should come away from the presentation with a clearer understanding of open source for libraries and whether open source is a viable option for individual libraries and library systems. Furthermore, attendees should understand how to develop a process for evaluation and comparison, and have the knowledge to initiate a plan for determining the true costs and benefits, if any, of adopting or participating in an open source alternative.