---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Mon, 8 Apr 2013 10:03:27 +0530 From: Sunil MV Dear LIS Friends, Decisions regarding the adoption or selection of software by a library depends on various factors. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. I completely agree with the posting made by Shri Haravu regarding adoption of OSS or commercial software in an organization. I think the adoption of OSS in libraries requires passion, interest, and the ability to take bold initiatives by both librarians and decision makers. The lack of technical skills to manage or administer software by librarians is a primary reason why libraries have succumbed to the decisions of either management or commercial vendors. An important reason for low acceptance of OSS in Indian libraries is because of the inadequate marketing by OSS providers and partly because of their poor support. Koha has had excellent funding from consortiums abroad. On the other hand, NewGenLib built totally out of the passion of a few people has had no funding from Govt. or private sources. It is a pity that we librarians criticize poor support from vendors, but how many of us who are better equipped have taken the initiative to help other libraries? In other words, we do not believe in helping ourselves. It is a good move by major LIS industry service providers like Informatics to extend the OSS service support for Koha, Open Journal System (OJS), Open Conference System (OCS), etc. Such OSS service supports, strong service support by the OSS developers and the OSS community will definitely increase the adoption of OSS in libraries. Today we have Koha and NewGenLib which are rich in required standards in integrated library systems or library automation software. The features and capabilities of these two software(s) are better than several Indian grown LMS packages and much expensive software from abroad. I strongly recommend Koha for any type of library and for those who take Serials Control seriously, I suggest NewGenLib. I stand by my recommendation based on a research study. Recently, the study has been published as book Open source library automation software: features and capabilitieshttp://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/open-source-library-automation-software-mv-s.... The success stories of University of Mysore, Goa University, Delhi Public Library, Bangalore University, etc., and my own institute SDM Institute for Management Development, Mysore are some of the examples, to name a few. Having heard about the stories from librarians who are in the clutches of commercial software (both government and non-government) paying huge AMC, it is good to consider Koha and NewGenLib in your software selection list seriously. OSS will certainly reduce cost, give freedom to change to another software package, and build confidence to adopt new technologies. I would also like to disabuse the detractors of OSS for libraries on the question of support. True, in the past this may have been poor. My experience with NewGenLib since last two years has been excellent. All support is now received via remote desktop and an issue is resolved very efficiently. Thanks and Regards, On Fri, Apr 5, 2013 at 5:52 PM, jharavu wrote:

I think Mr. Sridhar is making sweeping comments without substantiating his views. The selection and use of an open source library management system (LMS) as opposed to a commercial LMS is not a black or white situation. There have been many libraries who initially chose a commercial LMS for good reasons, viz., there were no open source LMS (worthwhile or not) at that time. When they saw that the commercial LMS did not satisfy their needs for one or other reason, they looked for alternatives in one or other spaces (open source or commercial). I don't think we should conclude that they squandered money because of this. We are constantly seeing new products of all kinds and software is no exception. If an organization moves its database from say, MS-SQL Server to Oracle at a cost, I don't they think it is a waste of resources. Such migration if supported by objective reasons of better performance, new reports, better support, I think, should be seen as a progressive step. I think this is true of libraries who moved from a commercial to open source LMS.

Regarding support by open source vendors, I would like to say again that it is unfair to sweepingly say that support is poor. I know that many OSS LMS have taken to remote desktop support which is both cost-effective and timely.

Ultimately, choice of a LMS should be made on detailed considerations of benefits -vs- costs.

Please make a detailed survey of those who are using LMS in the two spaces and share your findings.

Haravu

On Thu, Apr 4, 2013 at 3:59 PM, Sridhar Gutam wrote:

...

I have some points to make here on FOSS>...

When anyone buys a Propriety Product .... it includes the support....

Whereas in FOSS.... the Support is from outside.. Either Community (Free) or Commercial/Private (Paid)...

FOSS is peoples/community developed products.... its easy if we learn about it... you would love to know what it is and how it is build.... you can empower yourself...

In Propriety Software.... you are free to have cup of tea... and leave the job to the Customer Service Support Person.... And after first year... the next year comes as AMC at a percentage of the total cost of the product...

in FOSS... Community is there to help you out... many spends time and energy in developing FOSS products for the community...

Now you decide....

Sridhar

__________________________________________________________ Sridhar Gutam PhD, ARS, Patent Laws (NALSAR), IP & Biotech. (WIPO) Senior Scientist (Plant Physiology) Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture Joint Secretary, Agricultural Research Service Scientists' Forum Convenor, Open Access India Country Representative, YPARD Rehmankhera, Kakori Post Lucknow 226101, Uttar Pradesh, India Phone: +91-522-2841022/23/24; Fax: +91-522-2841025 Mobile:+91-9005760036/8005346136 Publications: http://works.bepress.com/sridhar_gutam/