Notes on Free Open Source Software for Libraries by risa
Thanks to Alex Yarrow for sharing her conference notes!
Went to this great session at Ontario Library Ass’n conference about e-IFL FOSS. Thought you might be interested.
Here are my notes:
OK – what is eIFL-FOSS? Electronic Information for Libraries: Free and Open Source Software.
From their website: “eIFL-FOSS advocates free and open source software (FOSS) use in libraries in developing and transition countries.” Access in these countries is mainly via university and academic libraries, but there is some country-wide access in some places. “eIFL-FOSS aims to raise awareness and understanding of FOSS, to facilitate eIFL.net member engagement with FOSS development communities, and to undertake projects of special significance to eIFL.net members. To this end, eIFL-FOSS: Has created a network of library FOSS champions; Promotes understanding of FOSS through case studies, briefing notes, and discussion; Has created a project supporting evaluation of and migration to a FOSS integrated library system (ILS).”
Bess spoke first about the concept of “free” software (versus “information imperialism”). Free means: “you are free to run the program; you are free to study and adapt the program to your needs; you are free to redistribute; you are free to improve the software and release your improvements (and the whole community benefits).”
Examples given about commercial software being unsuitable to many libraries (former USSR countries can get software in Russian but not in their own language, for ex.), including one about Linux available in Dzonka language in Bhutan!
An academic librarian in Ghana tells Bess, “students in Ghana can view artifacts from Britain” – through the British Library’s online collections – “more easily than they can artifacts from their own heritage.”
There was a fierce discussion at conference Bess was at about importance of open source software in countries where access to basic food and medication is scarce. I.e. software doesn’t solve these problems! No, but…where will skilled workers receive training/find relevant information?
Comment from librarian from Africa: “If knowledge/information is available to all it will be part of the solution!” “The empowerment of citizens depends on equal access to information worldwide!”
Barriers to FOSS programs: technical and language, economic, HR, socio/political, etc.
What does eIFL-FOSS do? Negotiates price/availability of e-resources/databases with publisher (reduced price dependent on country GDP); library consortium-building/developing; raising awareness about open access; eIFL-IP (intellectual property and copyright issues in libraries); knowledge sharing (e-newsletter, conferences); OSS for libraries. Sometimes also involved in creating supporting documentation for software, pilots/case studies.
EIFL receives core funding from the Open Society Institute and some other funding from various foundations including the MacArthur Foundation and the Ford Foundation.
Other guys’ notes:
http://superconference2008.blogspot.com/2008/02/session-418-open-source-and-libraries.html
eIFL-FOSS blog:
http://www.eifl.net/cps/sections/services/eifl-foss/foss-blog/
