Presentation given at the 2012 American Library Association Annual Conference. Anaheim, CA. June 24, 2012. The program title is "New Library Technology Paradigms: OS vs. Black Box vs. Hybrids." The program was organized by the Heads of Library Technology Interest Group. #ala12

1. From a small library’s
perspective
− New Library Technology
Paradigms: OS vs. Black Box vs.
Hybrids
Bohyun Kim, Digital Access Librarian,
Florida International University Medical Library
http://www.slideshare.net/bohyunkim
http://twitter.com/bohyunkim
American Library Association Annual Conference.
Anaheim, CA. June 24, 2012.

2. At a Small Library,

3. Open Source Software

4. Blackbox

5. Huh?

6. Open Source Offers
“Freedom”
Freedom from _____?
Freedom to do _____?

7. Reality
Small staff with limited knowledge
Can afford only the minimum support and
maintenance of whatever system implemented
and used.
No inside R&D
Outside vendor support is important because
inside support is limited.

8. Working with the IT
outside the library….

9. Take it or Leave it …

10. Software in Use
Cascade Server (CMS)
SharePoint (Intranet)
SharePoint LMS
Tegrity (Lecture recording)
IE
LiveMeeting

11. Hard to serve existing
library services
&
Hard to try new things

12. Things we do not like to
hear :
That feature is not available in this system.
Or a low priority to add.
Or the vendor will work on adding that feature.
Wait for the next release.
Or you need to buy an upgraded version.
Or customization costs.
Or you just can’t do it.

13. Remember FireFox?
Now you don’t have to use
IE.

14. Can I fix or change it?

15. Reason for OSS
Required feature set may be better supported.
Fast updates and bug fixes possible
Likely to be easier for troubleshooting
Some vendors are costly, incompetent, poorly
qualified.
Room for customization even if you are not a
big/rich institution
Development led by a community’s inputs and
needs such as more use of standards

16. Big Libraries vs. Small
Libraries
Photo from Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackeycove/3996433617/in/photostre
am/

17. Possibility
?
Feasibility
?
Sustainability
?

18. OSS is Commitment to
Innovation
and
Investment in the future of
the library

19. If want to go fast,
you go alone;
If you want to go far,
you go together.
-An African Proverb

20. How can we travel together
to go farther?
How can we form
an inclusive community
where all can contribute?