Open Source & Libraries
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This document discusses open source software and its relevance for libraries. It begins by addressing common concerns about open source like security and lack of commercial support. It then explains how open source software development works through peer review and transparency. Examples are given of large organizations and businesses that use open source. The document emphasizes the natural alignment between open source principles of open access and collaboration and libraries' mission. It provides resources for libraries considering open source options.
![Open Source & Libraries
Libraries and Open Source make
the perfect pair
[Librarians] "are almost ethically
required to use and develop open source
software."
-- Crawford, R. S. http://www.lugod.org/presentations/oss4lib.pdf
"The open source movement and
libraries have a lot in common, not the
least of which is the belief in free and
open access to ideas and information"
-- Burger, T. M. http://www.linux.com/feature/59491
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cavort/151687944/](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/opensource-bywater-091021105424-phpapp01/85/Open-Source-Libraries-15-320.jpg)
Open Source & Libraries
- 1. Open Source for Libraries Nicole C. Engard Director of Open Source Education nengard@bywatersolutions.com Learn more at: www.bywatersolutions.com
- 2. What is Open Source? • “Isnʼt that insecure?” • “I donʼt want to share my data!” • “How can it be any good if itʼs free?” • “We donʼt have the staff to handle open source.” • “Weʼve never had success with homegrown systems.”
- 3. What is Open Source? Open source software is software that users have the ability to run, distribute, study and modify for any purpose. Open source is a collaborative software- development method that harnesses the power of peer review and transparency of process to develop code that is freely accessible.1 Open source draws on an ecosystem of thousands of developers and customers all over the world to drive innovation.2 1,2 http://connect.educause.edu/display/47941
- 4. What is Open Source? The Cathedral (proprietary software) •Development occurs behind walls •Source code is usually not provided - kept locked up •Corporate hierarchy The Bazaar (open source software) •Code developed over the Internet with several others in public view •Source code open to all users •“Given enough eyeballs, all bugs are shallow” http://www.catb.org/~esr/writings/cathedral-bazaar/cathedral-bazaar/
- 5. Open Source Governance What kind of quality control is there? •Most open source projects have a release manager or a manager of some sort who reviews the code and approves it before adding it to the final release What is the roll of the community? •The community looks out for the best interests of the software. They work as the governing body behind all decisions related to the software. The community decides what features to develop next and who the managers are.
- 6. Open Source Community • Open source is about more than free software • Community is crucial to the growth of open source • Without shared knowledge and collaboration the project will not grow • People who use open source can collaborate in many ways with the community • Write code • Write documentation • Debug • Educate others
- 7. Open Source Community “Crowdsourcing has it genesis in the open source movement in software. The development of the Linux operating system proved that a community of like- minded peers was capable of creating a better product than a corporate behemoth like Microsoft. Open source revealed a fundamental truth about humans that had gone largely unnoticed until the connectively of the Internet brought it into high relief: labor can often be organized more efficiently in the context of a community than it can in the context of the corporation. The best person to do a job is the one who most wants to do that job; and the best people to evaluate their performance are their friends and peers who, by the way, will enthusiastically pitch in to improve the final product, simply for the sheer pleasure of helping one another and creating something beautiful from which they all will benefit.” Howe, J. (2008). Crowdsourcing: Why the power of the crowd is driving the future of business. New York: Crown Business. p.8
- 8. Who’s Using Open • Government Agencies • All Kinds of Businesses • Schools (K-colleges) • Web Developers
- 9. Open Source in Business http://www.unisys.com/about__unisys/news_a_events/industry__analyst__reports/open__source__software__expanding.htm
- 10. Open Source on the Web Total Active Servers: 11/2000 to 8/2009 http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2009/08/31/august_2009_web_server_survey.html
- 11. Why so Popular • Reliability through Peer Review • Freedom to Innovate • No Vendor Lock-in • User-centric Development • Zero License Fees
- 12. Why should libraries care?
- 13. Open Source Concerns http://www.unisys.com/about__unisys/news_a_events/industry__analyst__reports/open__source__software__expanding.htm
- 14. Open Source & Libraries Libraries and Open Source Both... • Believe that information should be freely accessible to everyone • Give away stuff • Benefit from the generosity of others • Are about communities • Make the world a better place -- Horton, G. http://tinyurl.com/3jvumn
- 15. Open Source & Libraries Libraries and Open Source make the perfect pair [Librarians] "are almost ethically required to use and develop open source software." -- Crawford, R. S. http://www.lugod.org/presentations/oss4lib.pdf "The open source movement and libraries have a lot in common, not the least of which is the belief in free and open access to ideas and information" -- Burger, T. M. http://www.linux.com/feature/59491 http://www.flickr.com/photos/cavort/151687944/
- 16. Open Source & Libraries Libraries and Open Source make the perfect pair “Libraries are committed to the notion of the ʻcommons.ʼ Libraries are in fact one of the last best hopes for the preservation of the intellectual commons. That value system should extend to the intellectual work we do on our access systems. We should reclaim the domain of library technology from the commercial and proprietary realms and actualize is as part of our vision of the commons. ... We are also congenital collaborators. Can you think of any other group of institutions that share their stuff the way we do through ILL? -- Lucia, J. http://pln.palinet.org/wiki/index.php/Open_source_plans
- 17. Open Source & Libraries Common questions libraries have: Is there support? Do I have to know how to program? Do I have to skimp on features? Isn’t Open Source risky? Can I do it myself?
- 18. Support for Open Source Is there support? • ByWater Solutions • BibLibre • Equinox • And more! Do I have to know how to program? • Local Students • Freelance Developers
- 19. Do I have to Skimp on Features? • Open Source developers follow the rule of “Release early and release often” • Users vote with their dollars and time • Freedom to develop on your own • Developers love their products http://www.flickr.com/photos/ programwitch/2505184887/
- 20. Isn’t OPen Source Risky? Casey Coleman, chief information officer for the GSA (U.S. General Services Administration), said in a speech ... that the GSA heavily relies on open source to drive down costs, increase flexibility of IT dollars, and reduce risk. ʻYou get much more transparency http://www.flickr.com/photos/gmcharlt/ 3805445236/ and interoperability, and that reduces your risk,ʼ she said. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13505_3-9921115-16.html
- 21. Isn’t Open Source Risky? Several Levels of Risk to consider: • Software security issues • Open source is just as secure if not more secure than proprietary systems because of its transparency • Company mergers and acquisitions • Because you own the code to your system you are not tied to one support source and will never be left without support http://www.flickr.com/photos/auntie/102849109/
- 22. Can I do it Myself? • Absolutely, with the right in-house skills • Linux server management • Web programming • Perl / PHP / MySQL • Systems knowledge
- 23. Some Numbers
- 24. Open Source & Libraries When asked what Open Source apps they use at work, 977 librarians and library workers answered as follows
- 25. Open Source & Libraries When asked why they chose and open source app, 977 librarians and library workers answered as follows
- 26. Additional Links • Top 50 Programs that Drive You Crazy & their OS Alternatives: http://tinyurl.com/2xju2m • OSS Watch, open source software advisory service: http://www.oss-watch.ac.uk • Library Leadership Network: Open Source: http://pln.palinet.org/wiki/index.php/Category:Open_source • Open Source Living http://osliving.com • Nicoleʼs Delicious bookmarks: http://delicious.com/nengard/opensource
- 27. Open Source Blogs • The Open Road http://www.cnet.com/openroad/ • Open Ended from Ars Technica http://arstechnica.com/open-source • The H Open Source http://www.h-online.com/open/ • ZDNet Open Source http://blogs.zdnet.com/open-source • New York Times - Open http://open.nytimes.com • OSS & Libraries (Yahoo! Pipe) http://tinyurl.com/5aohv9
- 28. Online Reading List • Open Source: Narrowing the Divides between Education, Business, and Community http://connect.educause.edu/display/47941 • Open Source Software in Libraries http://infomotions.com/musings/ossnlibraries/ • Open Source Software and Libraries Bibliography http://www.vuw.ac.nz/staff/brenda_chawner/biblio.html • We Love Open Source Software. No, You Canʼt Have Our Code http://journal.code4lib.org/articles/527 • A Primer on Risk http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6611591.html
- 29. Print Reading List • The Cathedral and the Bazaar: Musings on Linux and Open Source by an Accidental Revolutionary by Eric S. Raymond • Embracing Insanity: Open Source Software Development by Russell Pavlicek • The success of open source by Steve Weber • The open source alternative: Understanding risks and leveraging opportunities by Heather J. Meeker • Open Sources 2.0: The Continuing Evolution by Chris DiBona, Mark Stone, and Danese Cooper • Producing Open Source Software: How to Run a Successful Free Software Project by Karl Fogel (http://producingoss.com)
- 30. Thank You Nicole C. Engard Director of Open Source Education nengard@bywatersolutions.com Learn more at: www.bywatersolutions.com