Ed said" One model that *might* work is that of traditional open-source
projects. For example, it would be silly for institution X to roll (and
maintain) their own web-server software, but using Apache is a very
rational choice. Maybe something like DSpace or Fedora could serve as
an example?"
---
When 100+ major public and higher education libraries depend on a FOSS
product to run their respective businesses I may consider doing a
one-off pilot project. Not before.
Sorry to be crass but money means accountability - on the part of those
that spend it and on the part of those who are paid. My employer pays
handsomely to have somebody with a brain on the remote end of a support
phone call. If there is something to complain about, I have someone to
complain to, all the way up to the corner office.
FOSS has its place, but there is not enough of a critical mass behind
our nitch-market to create, say, the PostgreSQL of library automation.
I'd rather hand this task over to one of the half-dozen or so viable
vendors left in the library automation market, and make the best
possible use of their product within the limits & boundaries of that
product. Those limits & boundaries may not be as elastic as I'd like
them to be. Others find themselves in different situations, and they
make the choices appropriate for them.
So, in our discussion of the next generation catalog, it may be helpful
to envision a symbiotic relationship between the folks who can afford to
hand-craft their own Space Shuttle, and the folks who want to get the
best possible use out of a Soyuz.
Mark
-----------------
Mark Andrews, MLS
Systems Librarian
DoIT Academic and eLearning Technologies
L 32 Reinert Memorial Alumni Library
402.280.3065
mja30807_at_creighton.edu
AIM: mja30807
-----------------
One model that *might* work is that of traditional open-source projects.
For example, it would be silly for institution X to roll (and maintain)
their own web-server software, but using Apache is a very rational
choice.
Maybe something like DSpace or Fedora could serve as an example?
Ed Sperr
http://marginalist.blogsome.com
Received on Wed Jun 21 2006 - 14:15:15 EDT