Dear Dr Singh
I was very saddened to learn that Dr Singh of BHU library made
disparaging remarks about NewGenLib and its services at the recent
INFLIBNET's CALIBER meeting. You are of course completely free to
express your views in public and private and I am not questioning this
freedom. However, as a dispassionate third party (I have no commercial
interests) involved in NewGenLib's development and support, I will be
failing in my duty if I do not set the record straight.
- The development company (Verus Solutions Pvt.
Ltd. or VSPL) dedicated one of its staff members exclusively for BHU
for 6 months to sit with your library staff. Although you paid for the
staff's stay at Varanasi, kindly do not forget that this person was not
available for other training and support work at all to VSPL. This did
put a lot of pressure on this front. I wonder if any other vendor would
have agreed to put one of its staff exclusively for BHU use for 6
months.
- VSPL customized the software at BHU request
for a number of things. All customizations were done free of charge.
Some examples of the customization which was very specific to your
needs: 1. We created easy-to-use data entry templates so that data
entry operators that you appointed could enter data into the database..
2. We developed routines for you to print 5 x 3 inch catalogue cards, a
requirement that is no longer needed by other libraries, nor provided
by most ILMS vendors.
- VSPL conducted three training programmes at
BHU library at various times (two of these were at VSPL cost) during
the last two years because we wanted your staff to become as
comfortable with the functional modules as possible. Unfortunately, not
all of your staff took interest and many of them did not participate
wholeheartedly.
- Whenever VSPL received a phone call from
you/colleagues or when one of your colleagues was on chat, the support
staff attended to you patiently and attempted to help solve problems.
- On several occasions, VSPL supported via
customizations of the software, the capability for you to continue with
old practices that are not necessarily considered best practices today.
- VSPL helped your barcode printer vendor to use
output from NewGenLib to print barcode labels.
- Whenever you telephoned me, you expressed your
disappointment that you yourself could not participate in the training
programmes. Kindly recall that I invited you several times to come to
Hyderabad and spend a few days with developers and trainers. However,
your busy schedule apparently did not allow this to happen.
I am the last person to claim that NewGenLib is bug
free, etc., etc. But I can claim quite proudly that we (VSPL and KIIKM)
are constantly testing and improving the software and new versions with
new features will always be on our road map. Very soon we will release
a z39.50 client which will be well integrated with NewGenLib.
It is more than a year since VSPL installed the software, trained your
staff, gave you email, chat and telephone support without getting an
Annual Maintenance fee which incidentally BHU library has not paid.
I hope you will realize why I was saddened when I heard that you spoke
rather disparagingly about NewGenLib which is now open source. I am
happy to let you know that it has been welcomed by many current and
potentially new users.
In the final analysis, neither your criticism nor my defense is
important. What is enduring long after we have passed into oblivion is
that the extremely valuable collection at BHU, built painstakingly by
erstwhile librarians and scholars should become known and accessible to
your students, faculty, researchers and indeed worldwide. If indeed you
can do this with NewGenLib or any other software, good luck and God
Speed to you.
Best regards.
L J Haravu