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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dear All</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I would like to add our experience of conducting
several training programmes on NewGenLib, another open source library management
software.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>These workshops have to be sponsored by one or
other organization who have to pay for the cost of meals and refreshment and in
some cases free (or subsidised) cost for accomodation, transportation, fees for
guest faculty. In some cases our sponsors have donated to the support of
NewGenLib so that it can continue to improve and meet new needs. The charges per
participant has been in the region of Rs. 2500 to 3000 which just about covers
costs and is not exhorbitant by any means.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The Open Source movement can only succeed when it
is community-driven and community-supported. Institutions should be willing to
pay reasonable fees for ongoing support. Open Source does not mean FREE, it is
really about freedom. A good example of how libraries in the US and Australia
have provided support to Koha and Evergreen is worth mentioning. In fact, Koha
support is now provided by commercial firms in US and even in India.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I would also like to point out that, not only in
the library field but also in open source products such as MySQL, PostgreSQL,
Apache, Linux distributions, etc., community support is vital to their
success.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I believe that librarians in India should actively
champion the cause of open source solutions by offering their moral and
technical support to endeavours such as Koha and NewGenLib. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Managements of Instns., should be told of the
long-term cost-benefit of the movement and its benefits to society in
general.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thanks</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>L J Haravu</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Trustee, Kesavan Inst. of Information and Knowledge
Management (KIIKM)</FONT> </DIV></BODY><br />--
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