Category Archives: Open Source

Announcing Scriblio on Libology

Posted on 30 March 2008 by Rick Mason

Libology’s Scriblio installation. Scriblio, the open-source Library OPAC that runs on a WordPress installation, has been installed on Libology.  Several notes about this software installation: The library catalog contained within this installation of Scriblio is Capital University’s, located in Columbus, … Continue reading →

Posted in Libraries, Library 2.0, OPAC, Open Source, Software, Web Design | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Announcing Scriblio on Libology

Courseware, Web 2.0 and Libraries

Posted on 26 February 2008 by Rick Mason

Last September I wrote about Libguides, an online service that creates web 2.0-style offerings for library web sites. I was impressed with the quality of their offerings, but had misgivings about the cost, especially when one considers that a library … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs, Libraries, Library 2.0, Online Services, Open Source, Software, Web Design, Wiki | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Courseware, Web 2.0 and Libraries

Evergreen Acquisitions

Posted on 21 February 2008 by Rick Mason

Evergreen has announced their progress on their Acquisitions portion of the open-source ils.  They are on target to have a functional acquisitions/serials capability by summer! Take a look at their progress, noting that their vanilla interface is only in place … Continue reading →

Posted in Acquisitions, ILS, Libraries, Open Source, Software | Tagged | Comments Off on Evergreen Acquisitions

Day of the Blog

Posted on 8 February 2008 by Rick Mason

This will be the eighth post today, possibly a record. Not that I was trying… there were just too many interesting bloggable items, and for once there was enough time to post them all. In addition, and the purpose of … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs, Open Source, Search, Software, Web Design | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Day of the Blog

Indiana Open Source ILS Initiative

Posted on 13 January 2008 by Rick Mason

This announcement by the Indiana State Library and the Hussey Mayfield Memorial Public Library in Zionsville is significant : they aim to make Indiana the third statewide implementation of the Evergreen ILS, assuming that it meets their needs. Third??? Well, … Continue reading →

Posted in Government, ILS, Libraries, Open Source, Software | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Indiana Open Source ILS Initiative

Perceptions 2007

Posted on 10 January 2008 by Rick Mason

Perceptions 2007: An International Survey of Library Automation contains the results of a survey conducted by Marshall Breeding.  He explored the relationship between libraries and their Integrated Library Systems (ILS). The results are interesting.  Without going into my own views … Continue reading →

Posted in ILS, Libraries, Open Source, Software | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Perceptions 2007

Open Source Living

Posted on 27 December 2007 by Rick Mason

Open Source Living is a directory of open source software. Directories are nothing new, with SourceForge and FreshMeat leading the lists.  However, most directories are chock full of software not fully fleshed out, or with so many choices that the … Continue reading →

Posted in Online Databases, Open Source, Software | Tagged , | Comments Off on Open Source Living

Code4Lib Journal

Posted on 17 December 2007 by Rick Mason

Issue 1 of the Code4Lib Journal is now available! The journal is an open-access journal dealing with, well, the more techie aspects of libraries. Even if you aren’t into systems and web coding, you should still look this over. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Libraries, Library 2.0, Open Access, Open Source, Periodicals, Publishing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Code4Lib Journal

LC and Open Data

Posted on 12 December 2007 by Rick Mason

Read this post on Thingology, the blog for LibraryThing, then check out the OpenBibliographicData petition on the Open Knowledge Foundation Wiki. If you agree with the petition, I urge you to create an account and add your name to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs, Cataloging, Libraries, OCLC, Open Access, Open Source, Wiki | Tagged | Comments Off on LC and Open Data

Zotero program on OPAL

Posted on 7 December 2007 by Rick Mason

Zotero is a fantastic example of how open source can transform not only software development, but organization of information as well.  The potential of this citation management web-browser add-on to transform learning and research is tremendous.  If you haven’t tried … Continue reading →

Posted in Lecture, Libraries, Library 2.0, Open Source, Software, Web Design | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Zotero program on OPAL

Firefox : Add to Search Bar

Posted on 29 November 2007 by Rick Mason

For those of you using the Firefox web browser (and if not, why?) here is an add-on that is currently impressing me to pieces : Add to Search Bar. It isn’t flashy, or obvious, but it does one thing that … Continue reading →

Posted in Libraries, Online Databases, Open Source, Search, Software, Web Design | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Firefox : Add to Search Bar

Library Software Manifesto

Posted on 12 November 2007 by Rick Mason

The Library Software Manifesto was compiled by Roy Tennant (with input from many others) and should be read by everyone who uses an Integrated Library System (ILS). Why?  Reviewing the manifesto puts one into the mindset of critically reviewing your … Continue reading →

Posted in ILS, Libraries, Open Source, Software | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Library Software Manifesto

ILS usage in the ARL

Posted on 8 November 2007 by Rick Mason

Marshall Breeding has posted a chart detailing the various brands of Integrated Library Systems (ILS) software used by the Association of Research Libraries (ARL). Most interesting, from my own perspective, is that Voyager and Millennium are the top two systems. … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs, ILS, Libraries, Open Source, Software, Statistics | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on ILS usage in the ARL

Adding Functionality to the Web OPAC

Posted on 26 October 2007 by Rick Mason

Schemes to Add Functionality to the Web OPAC is a posting by Disruptive Library Technology Jester (a.k.a. Peter Murray of OhioLINK) in which he lays out a basic categorization of ways in which libraries can get their OPACs to do more. This … Continue reading →

Posted in ILS, Libraries, Library 2.0, Open Source, Software, Web Design | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Adding Functionality to the Web OPAC

World Digital Library

Posted on 23 October 2007 by Rick Mason

The World Digital Library is a project that is quite vast in scope, but is looking ready to take on the challenge of combining primary historical resources from many of the worlds great libraries. This project was started by UNESCO … Continue reading →

Posted in Libraries, Maps, Open Source, Search, Software, Video, Web Design | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on World Digital Library

OpenOffice.org vs. Microsoft Office 2007

Posted on 11 October 2007 by Rick Mason

As a longtime user of OpenOffice.org, I pay attention to comparisons between that software and Microsoft Office.  The first set of reviews that I have encountered that compares Microsoft’s updated suite with the current version of OpenOffice have just been … Continue reading →

Posted in Open Source, Software | Tagged , , | Comments Off on OpenOffice.org vs. Microsoft Office 2007

LibGuides

Posted on 26 September 2007 by Rick Mason

(Note regarding this post:  When you read this post, be sure to read the comments as well.  I did not state my case as well as I should, and end up sounding as though I don’t feel that LibGuides has as much value for libraries as … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs, Libraries, Library 2.0, Online Services, Open Source, Software, Web Design, Wiki | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on LibGuides

OpenOffice.org vs. MS Office 2007

Posted on 11 September 2007 by Rick Mason

Office Software Shootout is an article/post on Linux.com that compares the latest versions of OpenOffice.org Writer (2.3) and MS Office Word (2007) across several categories. The result? Each program has strengths and weaknesses, but the reviewer concludes that OpenOffice.org comes … Continue reading →

Posted in Open Source, Software | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on OpenOffice.org vs. MS Office 2007

WebRunner

Posted on 24 July 2007 by Rick Mason

WebRunner is a project derived from Mozilla’s Firefox web browser that lets you install a site-specific browser on a computer.  The browser would be lacking the usual menus and toolbars, and would open everything within one browser window. This is designed for … Continue reading →

Posted in Open Source, Software | Tagged , , | Comments Off on WebRunner

VuFind released

Posted on 19 July 2007 by Rick Mason

VuFind, touting itself as “The Library OPAC meets Web 2.0”, has been released.  It is an open-source OPAC replacement that works for Voyager integrated library system (ILS) for now — they are planning to expand to other ILSs soon. This … Continue reading →

Posted in ILS, Libraries, Library 2.0, News, Open Source, Software | Comments Off on VuFind released