The proprietary software used by most libraries is incredibly expensive, and comes with support costs that can be even higher. Projects like Koha bring the option of a free and open source solution into play.
The Video Screening Room
Randal Schwartz, from TWiT.tv’s “FLOSS Weekly,” interviews Nicole Engard and Brendan Gallagher, about the open source Koha Integrated Library System (ILS), which originated in New Zealand in 1999. Along with being a web developer, Nicole is a prolific blogger on Opensource.com and last year was recognized by Red Hat for her significant contributions to open source advocacy.
The part of this interview I love most is when Nicole explains how she left her job at a law library because the law library would not opt for an open source solution (Koha ILS). Businesses, organizations, governments, colleges and schools who feel proprietary solutions are better than open source ones will continue losing employee talent in this way. Their best talent will literally walk out the door. Search YouTube for Nicole Engard’s name to see a bunch of other videos she is in.
For the past 10 years, Phil has been working at a public library in the Washington D.C.-area, helping youth and adults use the 28 public Linux stations the library offers seven days a week. He also writes for MAKE magazine, Opensource.com and TechSoup Libraries. Suggest videos by contacting Phil on Twitter or at pshapiro@his.com.
