SWON Libraries Project - Open Source Resource
Glen began the meeting by sharing an outline for an online resource for open source in libraries. The site may use a wiki format and will be open for everyone to contribute and share. In addition to software, open source formats and website designs will also be listed.
State of open source in the region
- OHIONET is working with Equinox to develop a state-wide resource sharing solution for Ohio. Several other states are also partnering on the
project. The project should be completed in 2011.
- SEO is testing an open source ILS for its consortium. The test system will run in parallel with the existing live ILS.
Examples of open source in libraries
- Boone County Public Library using Dokuwiki for local history resources
- Pull objects from their Polaris Fusion server
- Dokuwiki makes it easy to control access
- Will be made available to public soon
- Cincinnati Public using MediaWiki for their history projects
- Mason Public and Mary L. Cook are using Joomla for their website content management
- Mason getting support via OHIONET
- Mary L. Cook using local person for website support
- Several public libraries in Ohio are using Koha for their ILS
- UPEI is using Evergreen for their catalog
- Zotero for citation and research management
Resources for open source mentioned during the meeting
How can libraries give back?
- Write documentation for open source projects
- Help translate software into different languages
- Contribute bug fixes
- Garry Collum is doing this for Koha
Discussion of storage reliability
- There's no way to store digital data with 100% reliability
- Even with a reliable medium, the data format must also be open and documented
- Open source software and formats make storing digital information safer
Next meeting
- September - possibly at a library. Glen will work with Beth & Vicky to find a date
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