Mentat
June 24, 2009
Open Source Library Systems: Free is Just the Tip of the Iceberg
Just finished doing a webinar with Infopeople called Open Source Library Systems: Free is Just the Tip of the Iceberg. Lots of interest and some great questions that indicate people are really checking into the open source options for their library system.
The archive of the webinar as well as the slides are available on the Infopeople site.
On a side note...I use the acronym OSLS to distinguish between open source library system software and the proprietary integrated library system software currently used by most libraries (commonly referred to as an ILS). Someone in the webinar today complained that this new OSLS was unnecessary. I beg to differ.
While it is true that the current open source library software products are indeed integrated library systems (ILS) of an open source nature (OS), it is also true that I have the job of often talking about the difference between the commercial, proprietary ILS products versus the open source ILS products available. Rather than continually saying "Evergreen and Koha this" and "Evergreen and Koha that," it makes life a lot easier to say OSLS when something I'm saying applies to both of them. I supposed I could have made up the acronym OSILS or OS-ILS but somehow that didn't seem right. That makes it sound like they are some modified version of an ILS. In fact, an OSLS is a different beast from an ILS. It isn't "integrated" in the same way that most ILS products are -- as in locked together and locked down. So, I'm happy to dump the "integrated" part and leave it clean and simple and clearly distinguished from the ILS of yesteryear.
So, the webinar (linked above) is about open source in general and what it means to have an OSLS versus an ILS.
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May 6, 2009
Materials Handling Study
If you have ever wondered how materials handling automation could fit into your library environment, you might enjoy this study I did for a client. It is currently available online as an attachment to an RFP they've got listed (for RFID and Circulation and Security System implementation).
I'm hoping you find the study useful because it describes all the factors that come into play making a strong argument for automated materials handling as a way to support better customer service and and improved work environment for staff.
While you're at it, don't miss this analysis I did for another client analyzing the benefits of automated check-in systems at a medium sized library (which already had some AMH components). This analysis showed that there are additional savings to be had by adding the automated check-in systems to the automation mix.
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April 21, 2009
San Jose Public and Filtering - Useful Stats
The group Books Not Filters is trying to fight the push for installing expensive, and imperfect internet filters on public computers at San Jose Public Library. The group is behind the Vice Mayor's proposal. She is urging the Mayor and City Council to look at the bigger picture and respond accordingly.
Toward that end, the Vice Mayor compares the use of of the library against pornography viewing incidents noting that of 1.5 million computer sessions in the last two years, there have only been 14 complaints of people using the computers to view pornography.
| Ratio of Pornography Viewing Complaints to Computer Sessions: |
| 14 |
| 1,500,000 |
Additional context: The Vice Mayor suggests that any investment in filters should be deferred until after the San Jose Police Dept. is able to fully fund their Sexual Assault Investigation Unit (to catch the really bad guys), and after library hours per branch return to their FY 2000-2001 levels (to ensure full provision of services for youth), and after the crossing guard program is fully funded to match need (to keep kids from being run over).
Sounds darn reasonable to me.
Filters are right about 85% of the time (under the best of circumstances) and they are a bear to manage (correctly), and very expensive (for a good one....that makes mistakes only 15 of 100 web page views).
The Vice Mayor closes by recommending less expensive approaches to protecting children from pornography: using privacy screens and public campaigns urging parents to take greater responsibility for their kids' computer usage.
Good ideas...although privacy screens are expensive at $70 each (which accounts for 5-10% of the cost of each computer). At least they are relatively easy to manage. And they work. Parental involvement is good.
Teaching kids how to stay safe while using the Internet is even better.
Here's the Vice Mayor's letter if you care to read it.
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April 20, 2009
New Book on Library Delivery
I'm one of the contributing authors for a new book titled Moving Materials: Physical Delivery in Libraries available from ALA Editions.
Valerie Horton and Bruce Smith are the editors. It's $70 (crazy high ALA prices) and is available for preorder now.
Here's how they describe the book:
Picking, packing, delivering, and returning library materials can be very time consuming and expensive; yet, it is one of the most important and least understood functions within a library. Until now, little time has been spent studying, exploring, or writing about the physical delivery of library materials.
Moving Materials is the guide to contemporary logistics management for libraries. Eleven experts in the field explore every aspect of this multi-million dollar function, so readers will learn
- The impact of pricing on delivery services
- Managing in-house delivery systems
- The value of outsourcing physical delivery to a carrier service
- Details about routing and materials management systems
- New technologies and the impact of library 2.0 on physical delivery
Moving Materials is a practical, useful handbook for library managers who want to save money and offer quality materials to their patrons.
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