How to use this Page

While I love all of the Shanachie Tour videos of American public libraries released so far, my favorite is easily the one from the Florence Public Library in Colorado. Not because of the message of “the open source ILS song” sung by two librarians there, but more for the spirit in which they sing it. They are having *fun.* You really have to hear this one - jump ahead to the 10:35 mark if you just want to hear the song, but the interviews are great, too.

Nice job, ladies! And great videos, Shanachies! I can’t wait to see you again - I am proud to call you my friends. You inspired many librarians during your journey.

What if a writer actually celebrated his fan's efforts to imagine new installments of his work?

Karl Schroeder is urging his fans to share their role-playing game versions of his science fiction books. Check it out:

"I'm consumed with curiosity and want to know what your versions of Virga look like. So if you've been running a Virga campaign tell me all about it! If you've got maps, post 'em! ... I'm not going to sue anybody for stealing my 'intellectual property." Years of hanging around with Cory have cured me of any worries I might once have had on that subject." (Thanks Galleycat)

Why not use the software counterpart to these shared, open-source writing schemes?

Edward Champion recently rebuilt his laptop after a near-disaster that could have cost him years of work. In this post, he explains how he's using a slew of open source programs (including OpenOffice, GIIMPShop, Inkscape, and Audacity) instead of the major processing programs installed on his computer before the crash. Give these programs a try.

Finally, check out this bruising open-source debate raging between crime writers--arguing about the pros and cons of neo-noir (the writers who follow in the bloody footsteps of pulp fiction novelists). It starts with hardboiled web hero Kevin Burton Smith's essay and Sarah Weinman summed up the dramatic debate.

It’s great to mess around with open source tools if you’re geeky and techie. However what if, like many small libraries and solo librarians, you’re not? PALINET has been looking at open srouce tools and I really really like what PALINET is doing to make using an open source ILS a genuine option for their member libraries. Way to actually address the problem PALINET, nice job.

PALINET is aware that not all of our members have the technical support or skills necessary to install or test the open source applications that are currently available. We’re looking at a number of ways to address this issue, but we’ve taken two initial steps already. First, a member Technology Caucus has begun regular discussions of open source software tools in monthly meetings. Yesterday, a group of library developers met at the PALINET offices in Philadelphia to install test copies of Koha and Evergreen for evaluation and comparison. It’s my hope that we’ll be able to put together a couple of really clean, well integrated, model systems, which will demonstrate the kind of functionality that is possible with these open source ILS solutions.

[wilt]