[OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] eIFL-FOSS ILS Case Studies published

[Randy Metcalfe]

Dear All,

For the past year, 6 libraries from Malawi to Nepal have been learning
a great deal about free and open source software (FOSS) integrated
library systems (ILS). Case studies of their investigations,
successes, and learning points are now available. The participating
pilot sites in this project range from the relatively small (50,000 to
70,000 volumes) to the very large (more than 4 million volumes). They
also stretch from libraries with a single systems librarian to
libraries with an entire IT team. This project was not merely about
installing and using a FOSS ILS; it was about learning to engage with
FOSS development and support communities. It's all about
participation. We are delighted to report that the technical leads
from each pilot site (and the teams they managed, where those existed)
have taken engagement seriously. So much so that eIFL.net libraries
are now regular contributors to the Koha http://www.koha.org/ and
Evergreen http://www.open-ils.org/ ILS development and support
communities. With the publication of these case studies we hope many
more libraries within the eIFL.net community will take up the
challenges and opportunities that come with FOSS in libraries. The
case studies may be accessed here:
http://www.eifl.net/cps/sections/services/eifl-foss/ils/case-studies

The 6 participating pilot libraries are: Fundamental Scientific
Library of the National Academy of Sciences, Armenia; Mzuzu University
Library, Malawi; Library of the Faculty of Medicine Pharmacy and
Dentistry, University of Bamako, Mali; Madan Puraskar Pustakalaya,
Nepal; and Midlands State University Library, Zimbabwe.

Best wishes,

Randy

-- 
Randy Metcalfe