#KohaCon2016

@prodromos

Using FOSS in Libraries: Crisis and Hope

software

ecosystem

legal

strategy

conclusions

1

Softw

are

& H

uman

s

27,319 commits

369 contributors

720,843

lines of code

198

years of effort

Software is not just about code

* Collective * Knowledge intensive * Learning Experience * Infrastructure dependent * Institution building

FOSS encompasses tremendous amount of value

* years of man-effort * organic community development * global expertise - local knowledge * sustainable development model * ideal for knowledge intensive organisations

2

The

Koha

Eco

syst

em

bug tracking

collaboration tool

knowledge base

project monitoring

video channel

3

Lega

l

Licensing Features:

• GNU GPL v.2 • User option for

• GPL v.3 • Affero GPL v.3

Key FOSS Freedoms

* the freedom to use the software for any purpose, * the freedom to change the software to suit your needs, * the freedom to share the software with your friends and neighbors,

and * the freedom to share the changes you make.

FOSS

Collective Activity

Human Centric

Brings Sustainability

Part of a broader strategy

4

Stra

tegi

c

Developing a FOSS strategy I

* People and Roles * Developer(s) * Community Management

• Find other communities • In your country and elsewhere • Organise meetings • Organise conferences

• Procurement •Buy man-hours not products

•

Developing a FOSS strategy II

• Releases • Release from day-one • Understand what you are developing • Have a set of goals for the duration of the project

•Share • Experience • Expertise • Resources

Developing a FOSS strategy III

• Link • To your University departments

• Computer Science • Engineering • Information Science (Librarians)

• Students • Research •Policy Makers •Second level organisations (HEAL-link)

Developing a FOSS strategy IV

• Develop:

•policies (including IPR protection policy) •Public Relations policy (community driven) •standard procedures •events •knowledge base •business ecosystem around your software

5

conc

lusi

ons

Thinking of FOSS in libraries:

* part of a broader FOSS strategy * not just cost reduction * development of sustainable expertise * linking to research and development * related to open science and open data policies * knowledge instrument

+q a@

prod

rom

os

p.ts

iavo

s@uc

l.ac.

uk