Dear Professionals, Herewith I have forwarded my response I sent through lis-forum soon after the announcement of NewGenLib as open source software. My message answers few questions raised by few LIS colleagues. Ther is no poin in discussing the merits and demerits of SOUL, GRANTHALAYA, Maitreyee, Suchika, etc. At this juncture of avilability of open source software, what should be our (librarians) stand? What responsible institutions like INFLIBNET, NISCAIR, DRTC, NIC, Keshavan Institute, etc should do? Government has spent lot of money various agencies for the development of good library automation system. Some of them were cooked half? Discontinued further developments? some of them never saw the light of the day? Some of them did not get good support after sale or implementation? While I have full confidence in the capability and vision of present director of INFLIBNET for developing SOUL as one of the good system, my basic question is, at this juncture is it necessary still put efforts and spend money on such developments, when so many open source softawre are available? NEWGENLIB, apart from using open source flatform, uses only open standards. It has stood test ofthe time. At national level we should have customization, migration and support service arrangements on any open system we adopt. MY LIS-FORUM MESSGE SENT ON 11 JAN 2008, GIVES SOME SUGGESTIONS IN THIS MATTER (Copy enclosed below) Goudar ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2008 18:25:02 +0530 (IST) From: I.R.N.Goudar <goudar@css.nal.res.in> To: lis-forum@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in Subject: [LIS-Forum] NewGenLib-What next? Dear Professionals, Great news! NewGenLib, library automation software has become open source software. I appreciate the initiative and gesture of Dr. LJ Haravu and his team of Keshvan Kesavan Institute of Information and Knowledge Management, Hyderabad and also those who are behind this move. I am proud of this unique gift for L&IS and KM community in the world by Indian librarian community. I have seen the demonstration of this software, it uses open source platforms and other tools, confirms to open source standards unlike many commercial software. The features and the functionalities are of high standard. I am quite sure that this move will revolutionise library automation and digital library activities in a big way especially in India. This welcome development raises many questions: a. What would be the role of Mr. Haravu and his colleagues now onwards? b. Who would support the further development of NewGenLib? c. Who would give the support for installation, customization and porting the whole data if one would like to migrate to this software? d. What about the libraries who have baought NewGenLib earlier? etc I have following suggestions in this matter: a. Few Government institutions like DESIDOC, DSIR, NIC, INFLIBNET and Erstwhile INSDOC also have developed library automation software like Maithriyee, Sanjay, SOUL, E-Granthalaya, Granthalaya, Suchika, etc. I strongly feel that all these institutions and others interested should put their efforts in further development and implementation of NewGenLib in all academic, specialized, public and industrial libraries in India in a synergized manner instead of wasting their manpower, time and money on their products. b. All Indian LIS schools should teach NewGenLib software as a part of their curriculum. Institutions like, DRTC, NCSI, NISCAIR can take the lead for developmental activities and training program. Keshavani Institute should get sizeable aid from Governmental agencies to carry forward the activity. Dr. Haravu's group can help the individual libraries for installation, customization, porting, etc and charge nominally for the service. c. National Knowledge Commission, ILA, IASLIC, SIS and other library associations should make note of this development and extend suitable help and guidance. d. Departments of Public Libraries of different states should not only adopt this software, but try to extend their help in the development of this software. e. We should stop promoting KOHA in our country. f. All professionals should come forward in further development of NewGEnLib and should help to compile good manual. Better we have a discussion group specifically meant for this puepose. g. NewGenLib has a nice module for Union Catalogue. We should make use of this to have Union Cataloges say of all Universities, State level Public Libraries, all CSIR Labs, etc. Initially we should hold one day brain storming round table meeting of selected 15-20 top level Indian librarians in the country who have successfully automated their libraries in a big way and few LIS Faculty along with Dr. Haravu and his technical team. I request Dr. ARD Prasad of DRTC to take a lead in this matter. ONCE AGAIN CONGRATULATIONS AND HEARTFELT THANKS TO DR. HARAVU AND KESHAVAN INSTITUTE. Goudar -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. I.R.N. Goudar Tel: 91-80-25086081 Sci F & Head, Information Centre for 91-80-25235315 Aerospace Science and Technology Fax: 91-80-25268072 National Aerospace Laboratories E-mail:goudar@css.nal.res.in Airport Road, BANGALORE-560 017 India http://www.icast.org.in/staff/goudar.html -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. _______________________________________________ LIS-Forum mailing list LIS-Forum@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in http://ncsi.iisc.ernet.in/mailman/listinfo/lis-forum -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.