[OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] Subject: identifying all existing documentation

[Bill Hudson]

>Good quality documentation saves users time; makes it easier for new users to install, understand, and use Evergreen; and minimizes duplication of effort. 

And it makes Evergreen more appealing as a viable choice for a larger number of libraries. When we evaluate software/hardware internally, the quality of the documentation gets a fair amount of attention, whether the product is open source or not. Poor documentation can dramatically reduce the usability/value of complex systems and that impedes adoption rates. Good documentation will help alleviate "some" of the fear inherent in going open source. Without it, Evergreen will remain the choice of the bravest, the geekiest and/or OS fanboys (and girls :-) And while we all like living in the land of the brave, the geek and the fanboy, the faster Evergreen becomes mentioned in the same sentence as III and SirsiDynix, the better for us AND our patrons (read taxpayer).
BH


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Bill Hudson
Deputy Administrator/Manager, Information Technology
Library System of Lancaster County
1866 Colonial Village Lane, Ste. 107
Lancaster, PA  17601
717-207-0500 ext. 1269
http://www.lancasterlibraries.org