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Open Source ILS in Nebraska
You may have heard the term open source. Perhaps you have been reading about other libraries using open source software such as Evergreen or Koha. The Nebraska Library Commission is investigating the possibility of developing a shared statewide library system using open source ILS software. An open source solution would allow us to configure a system to better suit the specific needs of Nebraska libraries. A shared system would also allow libraries with few or no technical staff to eliminate the need to manage their own individual catalogs. Nebraska has seen already seen success with shared catalog systems and we hope to have the opportunity to bring this option to an even greater number of libraries. If your library has any interest or questions about a shared open source solution, please let us know.
This is a great opportunity for us to unite our collections, have a one state catalog, reduce costs and provide a better product for our patrons. We can finally cut the ubilical cord to vendors who don’t listen to our needs, don’t provide adequate resolution to our problems — vendors who love taking our money but feel no responsibility to us the customer. Librarians of Nebraska unite!
I’ll second Ted’s comments. This would be a great option for Nebraska Libraries of all sizes. My question is how quick do we anticipate this could become a reality? Michigan and Georgia both have this as an option already, right? So, it would seem that might help speed up the process in Nebraska if we could use what they know. And to echo Ted’s comments on vendors not responding to customers – Follett is a good example. Many Nebraska libraries subscribe to Follett and their last upgrade includes a feature that records the history of what library customers are checking out. If you disable that feature you lose other stats that are valuable. So far the response from Follett on this issue has been way less than helpful – and the feature certainly puts public libraries in a bind with confidentiality, which is protected by state statute. Just an example – so certainly I hope in the planning and conversation on an open source catalog you’ll include some of the libraries currently using Follett. I’d like to see broader discussion of the topic, and do know Ted will share info at the Regional Library Systems Automation Vendor Day on January 25th – so that will broaden the audience a bit.
Yes, this would be a great option to bring a shared ILS option to Nebraska libraries. The Georgia Public Library Service, which is the state library of Georgia, developed the Evergreen open source ILS code. They have Evergreen implemented as the ILS for their shared PINES system used by more than 270 public libraries in Georgia.
The Michigan Library Consortium is also investigating this option for those libraries interested in an open source ILS in the state of Michigan. They hope to have an Evergreen ILS in production by the summer of 2008. You can read about progress in the state of Michigan on the Michigan Evergreen blog.
The NLC has an Open Source Task Force which is discussing options at this time. Members of this group, which are made up of staff from libraries using Horizon, Sirsi and Follett systems, have been learning all they can about other installations of open source ILS and other ILS options. In the fall two members attended the Symposium on the Future of the Intergrated Catalog held in Champaign, IL. At the end of November the PLRG heard from Randy Dykhuis, Executive Director of the Michigan Library Consortium, regarding Michigan’s plans to offer an open source software solution for libraries in that state.
Future plans are to gather more data regarding to funding options and offer presentations about open source at different venues such as the May 15th (changed to May 22) Vendor Day to be held at the Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln.
Stay tuned as as we learn more and try to develop more concrete plans for how this can be implemented in Nebraska and as always, please let us know what you think either via this blog or by contacting me directly via email Shannon.