open source open source solutions solutions for public
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Open Source Open Source Solutions Solutions for Public Librariesfor Public Libraries
Randy RobertshawTyngsborough Public Library
What is “Open Source”?
“Open source is a development method for software that harnesses the power of distributed peer review and transparency of process. The promise of open source is better quality, higher reliability, more flexibility, lower cost, and an end to predatory vendor lock-in.”
Open Source Initiative
“Open Source” Software = Reduced Cost + Higher Flexibility
“Open Source” Solutions Pros
– Community of Support– Almost no licensing costs– No vendor lock-in– Customizable/Flexible
“Open Source” Solutions Cons
– Project stagnates or simply folds– Cross-platform capability of “Open Source” solution– Commercial solutions are often offer more features.– Productization (Documentation, White Papers,
Manuals) is not incomplete or non-existent.
The “Open Source” Design Cycle
Idea/Need Experimentation
Beta / Prototype
Project CommunityFormation
Release 1.0 (for higher)
Evolution / Stability
Stagnation / Abandonment
Release Cycle
Based on a model originally depicted in Open Source for the Enterprise by Dan Woods and Gautam Guliani.
“Crossing the Chasm”
Innovators & Early Adopters have a high tolerance for risk and deficits in the technology.
Early & Late Majority have low tolerance for risk and are not interested necessarily in new functionality.
Key Questions to Ask About Open Source Software Solutions
1. How MATURE is the solution?
2. Does your organization have the SKILLS?
3. Is the ROI meet your expectations?
Open Source Maturity ModelHow MATURE is the solution?
1. AgeSolution should be >2 years in age.
2. Multiple Supported Platforms At least Windows & Linux operating systems.
3. Momentum Regular release schedule, no sporadic in nature.
4. PopularityA leader in open source software for its purpose.
5. Design QualityWell-defined API, compartmentalized architecture, well-written code.
Open Source Maturity ModelIs it easy to USE?
1. Setup CostSimplified Install Process, Adequate Documentation, Support Forums, Mailing Lists, and Possible 3rd Party Support.
2. Usage Cost Manuals, 3rd Party Support.
3. End User SupportForums, Mailing Lists, 3rd Party Support
USE Criteria – How much productization is there for the solution?
Open Source Maturity ModelDoes it INTEGRATE well?
1. ModularityModules/Components a plenty, well-defined API's
2. Collaboration with other products Integration with other products
3. Standards Compliance Current with industry standards
4. Developer SupportDeveloper Forums, Mailing Lists, etc.
Open Source Skill Set Model
COMMON PITFALLS OF OPEN SOURCE ADOPTION IN ORGANIZATIONS
1. Management underestimates the technology skill level of its personnel.
2. Personnel have an unrealistic view of their own technology skill level.
3. Open Source deployment is underestimated.
4. “Key-Person” Dilemma
Open Skill Set ModelMEASURING SKILL SETS
ROI (Return on Investment) Model
ROI (Return on Investment) ModelThings to consider...
Open Source vs. Commercial solutions' differences are not easy to quantify.
Some Open Source solutions actually have licensing fees.
“Cost of Narrowness” With Open Source solutions, the burden is on the organizations to develop or learn the skills. If accepted, anything is possible.
For Commercial solutions, the burdens take less time, but the range of possibilities is narrower and is restricted to the market's whim.
Just Beginning?
Avoid the use of Linux at the onset.
Look for mature open source applications that are Microsoft-Friendly.
Focus on applications that have specific functions: wikis, content management systems, or desktop apps.
Look for open source applications that replace existing systems or can extend existing services.
“Open Source” Solutions for Desktop Applications
Need Some FOSS?
puTTy
Show Me the FOSS!SourceForge http://sourceforge.net/
FreshMeat http://freshmeat.net/
OSDir.com http://www.osdir.com/
O'Reilly CodeZoo http://www.codezoo.com
MacForge http://www.macforge.net
Open Source as http://www.osalt.com/ Alternative
PortableApps.com http://www.portableapps.com/
Are You Getting FOSSed?Type of Software Proprietary F/OSSWeb Browser Internet Explorer Mozilla Firefox; Opera
Word processing Microfoft Word Open Office Writer
Presentations Microsoft PowerPoint Open Office Impress
Spreadsheets Microsoft Excel Open Office Calc
Database Oracle; ms sql server MySQL PostgreSQL
Graphics editing Adobe Photoshop GIMP
Desktop Publishing Quark Xpress Scribus
Instant Messaging AIM GAIM
Finances Quicken GnuCash; TurboCash
PDF Creation Adobe Acrobat PDF Creator; Ghostscript
Audio Editing ProTools Audacity
Flowcharting Visio Dia
Vector Graphics Adobe Illustrator Sodipodi
Email client Outlook Thunderbird; kMail
Source: Overview of Free/Open Source Software for Librarians Presentation by Eric Goldhagen
What Else Can I “Add-On”?Add-On's (Under “Tools”)Themes, Extensions, Plug-In's, Search EnginesFirefox Add-On'shttps://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/Catalog Search Engine (Keyword Search)Catalog Search Engine (Keyword Search)•http://www.mvlc.org/firefox.htmInfoRSSInfoRSS – RSS AggregatorBookmarks LinkCheckerBookmarks LinkChecker•LibX ExtensionLibX Extension
Thunderbird Add-On'shttps://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/
Open Office Add-On'sThemes & Clip ArtDmaths – Mathematical Formula Editor Dxf2calc – CAD DrawingsOOoLilyPond – Music Notation
What Am I Using?
Mozilla Thunderbird
Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Filezilla
And my staff uses...
Mozilla Firefox
Public Computing, Linux, and Open Source
Factors Influencing Upgrade DecisionsPublic Libraries & the Internet Study (2006) – Florida State
http://www.ii.fsu.edu/plinternet_findings.cfm
The Status of Upgrade Schedules for PC'sPublic Libraries & the Internet Study (2006) – Florida State
http://www.ii.fsu.edu/plinternet_findings.cfm
Tyngsborough Public Library (MA)Malden Public Library (MA)Flathead Library System (MT)
Massachusetts School of PharmacyUniversity of VermontHoward County Library System (MD)
Company Founded 1999 2004
Linux OS SUSE, Red Hat's Fedora, Ubuntu Ubuntu
10-1 Solution Yes Yes
OpenOffice Yes Yes
Adobe PDF Reader Yes Yes
Cross-Over Technology Not Yet Yes(Windows Programs in Linux)
Remote Administration Yes Yes
Privacy Protection Yes Yes
Customization Yes Yes
Public Storage Folder Yes No
Turn-Key Solution Yes Yes
Public Computing Before Userful Arrived
6 Public Computer Terminals
3 Public Catalog Terminals
Varying Microsoft Operating Systems (Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows 95)
Locked-down with “Deep Freeze” and Administrative Restrictions
Norton Anti-Virus
**Constant Staff Attention
8 Public Computer Terminals (2 Pods of 4)
3 Public Catalog Terminals
Red Hat's Fedora Linux Operating System with Userful Application
Userful System:Time Session Management,Privacy Protection, Usage Reports, Click-Through Acceptable Use Policy, Virus Protection, Firewall, CIPA Filter, Supports over 14 Languages, Centralized Control, Print Control
Public Computing After Userful Arrived
The Advantages
No more stragglers at the end of a day.
Older citizens really like the Large Print profile.
Generating statistics for reports of computer use is simple.
A major reduction in staff time for computer maintenance.
Library's Internet Policy is front and center—and not cluttering the desk space.
Time Management, System Administration
The Disadvantages
1 computer is actually 4 computers
OpenOffice does not equal MS Office.
Where do I put my storage device? (i.e. floppy disk, CD, flash drive)
“I saved it on the desktop!”
Open SourceContent Management
Systems (CMS)
phpWebSite
Pitfalls of HTML/Traditional Web Publishing
Static/Outdated Content
Table-based Layout
Incoherent Navigation
Inconsistent Style and Structure
Graphically Unappealing
Lack of Interactivity
Open Source Content Management Systems (CMS)
Joomla Drupal WordPress Plone
Joomla Sites: United Nations, South Carolina State Library, Atlantic City Public Library
Drupal Sites: CERN, NASA, The Onion, Ann Arbor Public Library, oss4lib.org
Wordpress Sites: Northern Lights Insights (MN Libraires), Cook Memorial Library (NH)
Plone Sites: City of Lowell, Brazil, CIA, Rosetta Project, Keio University Library (Japan)
A Simpler Comparison of CMS
Source: IBM Internet Technology Group
Drupal Joomla!
Community Features Very impressive. Community Builder component required.
SEO Native SEO. Very Poor. OpenSEF works, but SEO slows sites.
Forums Joomlaboard VbDrupal
Multimedia Features Video & Podcasting Video & Podcasting
Photo Galleries Native Module & Gallery2 Integration Gallery2, Flickr Integration, Expose Flash Gallery
Event Calendars Not Great. Far behind Joomla. Many options for Calendars.
Template/Themes One commercial vendor. Poor Selection. Wide Selection of Commercial & Free Templates.
Blogs Decent blogging capability. Good blogging capability.
Document Management Nothing worth considering. DOCMan project.
User Permissions Community management. Drupal's Strength. Joomla!'s architecture limits it. 1.0 designed for admininstrators.
Content Management Categories & Subcategories. Strong. No cross-categorization.
Documentation OK 1.0 is poor. Beta 1.5 will have improved Productization.
SSL Compatible Yes With Hacks.
Commercial Community Weak. Very Strong. Commercial solutions available.
General Community Decent. Non-profit driven. 100's of components. Forums are very strong.
Easy-of-Use Templates or modules installation not straight forward. Administrator back-end allows for uploads of components.
Learning Curve OK. Easy.
Size5.0 2.89MBLightweight and well-optimized.
1.0.11 16.4MB1.5 16.7MBLots of code.
Drupal vs. Joomla: The Basics
Content Management Systems
CMS Matrixhttp://www.cmsmartix.com/
Plone http://www.plone.org/
Joomla! http://www.joomla.org/
Mambohttp://www.mamboserver.com/
Drupal http://www.drupal.org/
phpNukehttp://www.phpNuke.org/
The AdvantagesThe ability to publish and unpublish.
The true integration of Library 2.0(i.e. Flickr, YouTube, Translation, Social Bookmarking)
Professional Templates at minimal cost.
A great support community.
Multiple users with varying control.
The DisadvantagesSEO (Search Engine Optimization)
The need for caching
The failures of CSS
Beware of the SPAM
Component/Module Removal
The Peril of Backups
Lessons LearnedNever use the Root directory for your website; “forward” requests to a secondary directory.
Giving credit is nice; hackers will love you!
“Everything isn't always BETA.” STABLE works.
CMS do not equate to no web-editing or scripting—just less of it!
Commercial Hosting Services offer the Fantastico program for installing OS Applications. Why not?
e-Government Podcasting
Purpose: To create an audio archive of local government meetings, while offering the public an alternative to cable-broadcasts.
MP3 File64 kps Bit Rate44.100 Sample Rate
e-Government Podcasting
e-Government Podcasting
Do you know him?
Casey Bisson, Plymouth State University
Creator of the WoPac (now, Scriblio)
Or how about him?
John Blyberg, Darien Public Library, CTCreator of the SOPAC (Social OPAC)
Open Source for Librariesoss4lib.orghttp://www.oss4lib.org/
OSS Watchhttp://www.oss-watch.ac.uk/
Code4Libhttp://www.code4lib.org/
Library Open Source Developer Portalhttp://liboss.westlib.asu.edu/
Linux Librarian http://www.linuxlibrarian.org/
Linux in Libraries http://www.linuxinlibraries.com/
Linux in Libraries Mailing Listhttp://www.ohio.lib.in.us/staff/atate/lil/
Open Source Applications for Libraries
Greenstone Digital Library
LuMix LinuxDesigned for Howard County Libraries (MD)http://sourceforge.net/projects/lumix
SOPAC (Social OPAC)
Open Source Solutions in Public Libraries
Randy RobertshawTyngsborough Public Library(978) [email protected]
Recommended Reading
“Wikinomics”
“Moving to Free Software”
“Open Source for the Enterprise”
http://www.tynglib.org/oss.pdf