In addition to what Mr. Vinod Mishra has pointed out, I would like to say that:- 1. Maintenance, Upgradtion and Daily Operations are a full time job. So installation or hosting is just beginning. 2. Most of the Popular Library OSS like KOHA and DSpace have free demo sites. If any Library Professionals want to use these software's in the library, then I suggest them first to study and practice on these free demo sites. 3. Considering the environment of Academic Institutions in India, Library Professionals will face lot of problems if they try to depend on vendors or IT professionals for even small aspects. 4. I addition to demo sites, Library Professionals can even practice by installing live dvd and practice on it. 5. I don't say that you have to be competent as IT professional, but try to learn important aspects by exploring free resources available on the internet, with which you can reduce your dependency and their by also increase your professional value. At the out-sight, I take this opportunity to acknowledge all my seniors in library automation field who comparatively had much less resources and support as compared to our generations, yet their dedicated hard work, guidance and posting of free resources, tips, and manuals have helped our generations to conveniently automate our libraries. -- Mr. Mahesh M. Angadi, Librarian, Model College, Dombivli (E). Contact No. 9869120258, (0251) 2470010. On Tue, Jul 25, 2017 at 8:58 PM, vinod mishra <mishravk79@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear All,

Now a days open source solutions are dominating the Library and information services and many of us are using it. We have implemented these solutions either by commercial firms or by help of any Volunteer/In-house manpower. The commercial firms are bound to provide you services after sells but volunteers are not therefore dependency on volunteers to avail there help in future is doubtful.

Therefore if you want long term voluntary supports from person who has implemented OSS in your libraries please inquire from others who have avail their services before inviting such volunteers. I am getting lot of feedback of such victims who got the volunteer support but now they stopped, may be because it has been already added in their profile?. Please apply the same procedure as you followed to avail any commercial support like feedback with previous client, meeting to know the attitude, how they may support after implementation, what will be their alternatives etc. It would be much better to join forums, social media etc. from where you can get supports as well in a better way.

With Regards,

Vinod Kumar Mishra, Assistant Librarian, Biju Patnaik Central Library (BPCL), NIT Rourkela, Sundergadh-769008, Odisha, India. Mob:91+9439420860 Website: http://mishravk.com/

*"Spiritual relationship is far more precious than physical. Physical relationship divorced from spiritual is body without soul" -- Mahatma Gandhi*

-- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.