Open source software is software whose source code is published and made available to the public allowing anyone to copy, modify and resistribute without paying anything - yes it is free!!
This software evolves through the community cooperation of individuals and large companies.
We aleady have OpenOffice available for use by patrons in our library and this is probably just the beginning.
Mozilla Firefox ( web browser) and Blender (3D graphics editor) are examples of Open source application software.
Moodle , the course management system we use, and MediaWiki, the software that runs Wikipedia are examples of Open source server software.
There are of course advantages and disadvantages of Open source software. Businesses do achieve greater penetration of the market with a very much reduced cost of marketing, however it is very difficult to design a commercially sound business model around the idea of Open source software. The technical requirements may be satisfied but not the requirements of the market!
The cooperation of individuals and large companies does produce reliable, high quality software quickly and inexpensively.
Open source software is being taken up by libraries as a way of reducing costs and being able to have input into the design of the application. Evergreen is used by nearly 1000 libraries (mainly US and Canada, but also Tasmania) to provide their public catalogue, circulation and acquisition software.
I wonder how much the Corangamite Regional Library Corporation spends on software applications?
Friday, July 29, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Useful Web 2.0 applications and Libraries
Web 2.0 is the term used to cover web applications that involve information sharing and collaboration on the world wide web. It is all about new and improved online connections.
We are using Web 2.0 applications every day now whether for social networking, web services, or software services.
Patrons walk into our library everyday to use social networking sites such as Facebook and twitter. They can create and edit Wiki's. They can post on their blog and comment on others. They can spend hours on video hosting and sharing sites such as YouTube, Myspace and Flickr. Every teenager seems to have a mobile phone and video can now be taken at any moment!
Other patrons come to the library to pay bills. They are paying a company (or Ebay seller) using Paypal which is a Web 2.0 service, that shares information with the company. Many websites combine data and maps from different sources (a mash-up) which are also provided to us through Web 2.0 technology.
Finally Web 2.0 allows us to access software such as Zoho, Google docs and project management software.
These are all amazing applications that keep us connected, save us time and allow us to share and work with others, however there are still many disadvantages.
Security and privacy are major concerns especially when banking or credit card details are given out. Social networking sites are dealing with the potential for misuse (fake Facebook pages), online bullying, risks to child safety by sexual predators, psychological effects, and trolling (eg. the defacing of tribute pages). Data mining is also an issue where companies use information to increase sales.
Could we live without Web 2.0 applications now???
We are using Web 2.0 applications every day now whether for social networking, web services, or software services.
Patrons walk into our library everyday to use social networking sites such as Facebook and twitter. They can create and edit Wiki's. They can post on their blog and comment on others. They can spend hours on video hosting and sharing sites such as YouTube, Myspace and Flickr. Every teenager seems to have a mobile phone and video can now be taken at any moment!
Other patrons come to the library to pay bills. They are paying a company (or Ebay seller) using Paypal which is a Web 2.0 service, that shares information with the company. Many websites combine data and maps from different sources (a mash-up) which are also provided to us through Web 2.0 technology.
Finally Web 2.0 allows us to access software such as Zoho, Google docs and project management software.
These are all amazing applications that keep us connected, save us time and allow us to share and work with others, however there are still many disadvantages.
Security and privacy are major concerns especially when banking or credit card details are given out. Social networking sites are dealing with the potential for misuse (fake Facebook pages), online bullying, risks to child safety by sexual predators, psychological effects, and trolling (eg. the defacing of tribute pages). Data mining is also an issue where companies use information to increase sales.
Could we live without Web 2.0 applications now???
Cloud Computing & Libraries
Cloud computing is the next stage in the evolution of the internet, however the definitions given on the internet can be absolutely bamboozling!
The cloud server provides the means through which everything from the computing power, infrastructure, applications, business processes to personal collaborations can be delivered to you wherever and whenever you need.
Organizations or businesses remotely access a cloud server. They can instantly get more computing power or release it when not required!
There are many benefits such as:
Libraries are already providing services on their public internet terminals, such as Hotmail, Gmail, Flickr and Facebook that utilise cloud computing. Libraries are also using LibraryThing, Google Apps, Biblio, twitter, and even catalogue and database applications such as Jstor and WorldCat.
I can share my photos of Vietnam with you on Flickr, Picasa or Snapfish, and I can access them all in my library.
The DC Public Library and the British Library are using cloud computing servers now, so it is appears more and more libraries are heading for the clouds!
Of course there are also a few drawbacks and issues that concern many users: privacy, security, reliability, data ownership, control, will it become obsolete, and being locked-in to a particular cloud server.
The cloud server provides the means through which everything from the computing power, infrastructure, applications, business processes to personal collaborations can be delivered to you wherever and whenever you need.
Organizations or businesses remotely access a cloud server. They can instantly get more computing power or release it when not required!
There are many benefits such as:
- availability
- portability
- reliability
- performance
- security
- cost
- collaboration opportunities
Libraries are already providing services on their public internet terminals, such as Hotmail, Gmail, Flickr and Facebook that utilise cloud computing. Libraries are also using LibraryThing, Google Apps, Biblio, twitter, and even catalogue and database applications such as Jstor and WorldCat.
I can share my photos of Vietnam with you on Flickr, Picasa or Snapfish, and I can access them all in my library.
The DC Public Library and the British Library are using cloud computing servers now, so it is appears more and more libraries are heading for the clouds!
Of course there are also a few drawbacks and issues that concern many users: privacy, security, reliability, data ownership, control, will it become obsolete, and being locked-in to a particular cloud server.
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