Feedback | Letters to LJ, September 15, 2011
“Using open source software requires the library to take a much more active role in developing, testing, and implementing digital services.” Sep 15, 2011Open source lessons
Our library has been using open source software for the past ten years and has used the Koha ILS (integrated library system) for the past five years (David Rapp, “Open Source Reality Check,” LJ 8/11, p. 34–36). Over those ten years, I have come to the following conclusions:
1.) There is significant savings with open source software, eventually. In the beginning, you will spend as much on an open source solution as you will on a closed source. The savings come down the road and are incremental to begin with. Those increments become rather significant four, five, and seven years after the project is implemented.
2.) Having an ILS as a library’s first open source project is a bad idea. Open source solutions must follow a strict development pattern to be successful (proof of concept, beta test, load testing, and production). If you don’t follow those steps, when you go into production you will have issues with both patrons and staff.
3.) Make as few changes to the base program as possible. One of the advantages of open source is that you can modify the program to fit your needs. This is also a major disadvantage, especially in a program that is updated frequently like an ILS program. Every time the program is updated you must reintegrate your changes into the code base, which may or may not have changed. I highly recommend that as few changes as possible be made. If a change is made, submit the change, as a system preference, to the community so, in the future, you can activate your solution in the program preferences area instead of hiring someone to rewrite the program.
Open source is a viable, cost-effective, and proven way to provide services to a public library. However, it does not follow the usual vendor model to which libraries are accustomed. Open source requires that the library take a much more active role in developing, testing, and implementing digital services.
—John J. Brice, Exec. Dir.,
Meadville P.L., PA
One of LJ’s best
Sam R. Kennedy’s cover artwork (LJ 8/11) is exceptional, providing one of your best covers ever. The accompanying Genre Spotlight, Neil Hollands’s “SF/Fantasy’s Epic Journey” (LJ 8/11, p. 20–25) is also great and includes some excellent collection development pointers for librarians eager to meet the needs of regular readers of science fiction and fantasy and those recently turned on to epic fantasy by HBO’s Game of Thrones.
—David M. Lisa, Consultant, Lib. Development Bureau, New Jersey State Lib., Trenton
Silly stereotypes
I admit I get a little peeved when I see things like “the mom factor” in the article “Not Just for Teens” by Angela Benedetti (LJ 6/15/11, p. 40–43). I’m a single dad of two teenage girls, and I read many of the same titles as my oldest daughter, such as Leviathan, The Throne of Fire, Rage of the Fallen, City of Fallen Angels, and many more. So, hey, stop stereotyping males and females. It’s annoying and just plain silly.
—Matthew R. Williams,
Dir., Kearney P.L., NE
Essential 9/11 sources
I was a little disappointed that Charlene Rue and Miriam Tuliao missed some very key sources in “Changed Forever,” their “9/11 Ten Years Later” Collection Development piece (LJ 6/1/11, p. 59–62). I understand that they could not include everything, but that is no excuse for omitting The War on Truth: 9/11, Disinformation and the Anatomy of Terrorism by Nafeez Ahmed, the DVD Loose Change: An American Coup, and, last but not least, the 911truth.org website. These are essential for any collection development list on this topic.
—Jason Villani, Reference Libn.,
New Britain P.L., CT
Correction
The article “California State Funding in Jeopardy” in Library Hotline (7/18/11, p. 1) states, “As Santa Clara did in May, public library districts will have to begin charging....” The Santa Clara County Library District took this action. The municipal libraries in Santa Clara County did not. Those include Los Gatos, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San José, Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale. These libraries still provide equal access for all state residents.
—Julie Passalacqua, City Libn.,
Santa Clara City Lib., CA
The librarian’s lament
so many books
so little time (or space)
making room for the new,
i must weed, and weed,
but wait!...it’s...
i’ve just found another
yet unread,
but a must read
if ever there were...
blimey! succotash! cripes!
i started weeding,
but am now just reading!
too much good stuff! (in the library)
—Dennis McCargar,
Los Angeles Cty. Lib.
