Open Source Projects:The Prospero Experience

Eric H. Schnell

Assistant Professor

Head, Information Technology

Prior Health Sciences Library

The Ohio State University

Open Source, not Open“Sores”

FoxTrot By Bill Amend

Appeared 2/7/2000Copyright 2000 United Features Syndicate

What is Open Source?

A Philosophy of Software Development where Source Code is Distributed

Openly Modifications / Derivatives are

Encouraged Software Licensed Free (“as free as a

free kitten…”) Community / Network Involvement

(Linux, Apache Web Server, PHP, MySQL)

Why Open Source?

Commercial Developers Slow to Respond to Internet Driven Needs

Niche Vendors Gain Monopoly / Single Source Strategy

Commercial Product Lifeline Uncertain Program is Customizable Reduces Direct Software Costs No Vendor Software Maintenance “Fees”

Non Sequitur by Wiley Miller

Appeared 6/6/1997

Copyright 1997 Wiley Miller

Library System Paradigm

Software Vendors do not Sell Software, they Sell “Licenses”

The Vendor Controls Functionality and Features

Maintenance Fees are Often Not Optional

Decisions Often Based on Budget, Not Patron Need

Library System Paradigm

Libraries make Significant Investments to License, Maintain, and Train

Few Switch once Committed to a Specific Technology

Dilbert by Scott Adams

Appeared 3/19/2000

Copyright 2000 United Feature Syndicate, Inc

Open Source for Libraries

Development of New Systems to Support Library Services

Timely Response to Internet Driven Needs

By Libraries; For Libraries

Why Open Source for Libraries?

Reduce Electronic Service Implementation Timetable

Reallocate Funds to Other Needs Creation of New Consortiums Break away from the Library

System Paradigm

What is Prospero?

Electronic Document Delivery System Originally Designed to Work with Ariel®

Can be Used as Stand Alone Converts Ariel TIFF Documents to PDF Places them on an Authenticated Web

Site Like Ariel, Prospero is a Character in

Shakespeare's “The Tempest”

Why Prospero?

Advisory Committee Recommendation

Full-Text Journals Online, Why Not ILL?

Shorten Document Delivery Time Any Time, Any Place Access Commercial Alternatives Not

Economical

Prospero Modules

Staff Interface Installed on Ariel PC Uses Ariel Directories Can Scan Direct or Import

Staff Interface

Prospero Modules

Staff Interface Installed on Ariel PC Uses Ariel Directories Can Scan Direct or Import

Patron Interface /Server Side Install on Windows/ Unix-Linux Server Any Web Server Software

Patron Interface

Prospero Timeline

March 1999 – Began Search for Existing Systems NLM’s DocView ILLiad Marshall’s WebEDD

April ‘99 – Decided to Create Homegrown System

April ‘99 – Discovered Yale’s EDD Software May ‘99 – Released Prospero 1.0 April ’00 –Version 1.35 (15th revision)

Prospero Team Project Manager

Communications Web Site & Message Board Management Contact for Administrators / Prospero

Implementers Programmer

Wrote Code Debugged Problems

Evaluators Used Beta Code Identified Initial Features

Prospero Team

40+ Outside Contributors 3 High Use Sites Local Staff

Time Commitment

Project Manager 60 hours initial Web site Development and

Creation of Support Materials. < 1 Hour a Day Ongoing Support

Programmer ~100 Hours Initial Development. 8 Hours per Week Ongoing Support

Evaluators Feedback Through Regular Use

Customer Service

Web Site Questions and Feedback via Email Web Discussion Board “Users Helping Users”

Development Costs

No Direct Software Costs No Direct Ongoing Software

Maintenance Costs Utilized Existing Hardware Staff Time (~ $3500 1st year indirect cost)

Benefits

Established Service When Needed Allows Others to Establish Similar

Services, Cheaply Staff Learning New Skills Creating New “Network” of Library

Development Partners Break Away from the Library

Systems Paradigm

Hidden Benefits

Over 260 Organizational Downloads from 21 Countries

Promotes the John A. Prior Library and The Ohio State University

Publication, Presentation, Award, and Grant Opportunities

Local Recognition

Lessons

User Expectations Implementation Issues Individual Privacy (Open Source a Safe

Haven?)

Systems Security Library System Paradigm is Alive

Words of Advice

“One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth.”

-- Abraham Maslow

Thanks! Merci!

E-mail: schnell.9@osu.eduProject:

bones.med.ohio-state.edu/prospero/

oss4lib: www.oss4lib.org