FROM THE DESK OF THE STATE LIBRARIAN
More than 25 years ago the State of New Hampshire embarked on a venture to automate the libraries in the State to improve libraries service. The key component to the automation was the New Hampshire Union Catalog, which enabled libraries to share materials by providing information on titles and holdings. The State Library has hosted the N.H. Union Catalog since the early 1930s and has faciliated interlibrary loans for more than 70 years. That role for the State Library has increased: The NHU-PAC has more than 1.8 million records and 7 million holdings; helping libraries share materials more easily. What the State automation has never done is to provide an option for smaller libraries to have an ILS (Integrated Library System) to cover circulation, acquisitions, serials control, etc. The larger libraries in the State, over time, acquired these systems, at their own expense. GMILCS has covered libraries in the Merrimack Valley with a system that is usable at the local level for more than 20 years.
As the State Library looks to a new system for NHU-PAC and Moose (the State Library's in-house system) a number of innovations are now possible that were not available the three other times we have brought a new online system. Traditionally, library automation has been the domain of a few large vendors: DYNIX (now SIRSI DYNIX) Innovative Interfaces, GAYLORD (now Polaris), DRA (merged with VTLS now defunct), LS2000 (Avatar bought by OCLC then dropped). As you can see, a pattern is appearing here. The ILS market has not been a particularly stable environment and in which some cases has caused real problems for customers. The N.H. State Library being one of these unfortunate victims in these shake-up mergers and dissolutions.
Some of the machinations that have befallen the automation vendors can be attributed to the maturation of the industry, others to the business environment extant during the 1980's, 90's and 00's, i.e., mergers and acquisitions frenzy, ruthless cost cutting, rapid growth in software and hardware development. These constant changes necessitated rapid product development in order to stay competitive.
The maturation of library automation has brought about opportunities that now must be carefully considered as organizations look to improve operations and service to library customers. A great change that needs to be looked at are the opportunities and challenges of open source software for library automation systems. The concept of open source software has been used by software developers for many years. Many see it as a way to improve the functionality of software by soliciting help in developments. In essence, a community of selfless geeks want to make things better for the users. There are a number of open source ILS projects underway currently; Evergreen, was developed by the Georgia Public Library Service and KOHA, which is now in America, but was developed by the Horowhenua Library Trust in New Zealand. Both Evergreen and KOHA use the GPL (General Public Licenses) to allow organizations and individuals to use the software free of any copyright charges. Many open source software initiatives such as Evergreen and KOHA are adopting "Copyleft" approach to software development. "Copyleft is a general program requiring all modifications and extended versions of the program to be free as well." The principal here is that if someone or an organization takes an open source program and changes or improves it, they can not charge for the improvements to the program. Recently, the libraries in Indiana that have adopted Evergreen modified the software to add a credit card module; this modification is now available to all who wish to use Evergreen.
If you are interested in learning more about KOHA, Evergreen, and Open Source Software, visit the following sites: www.gnu.org; http://open-ILS.org; and www.koha.org.
-Michael York, State Librarian |
