[OPLINTECH] Ubuntu in libraries

Thu Dec 6 06:58:20 EST 2007

I, of course, think that this is a wonderful idea but it is an idea full
of opportunities beyond sending out an Open Source DVD.

I see several issues with switching to any Open Source on a large level
and a project worthy of the coordination and support OPLIN offered 10
years ago when everyone got a PC and a T1.

It seems to me that one needs to look at:

*         Backend staff training so technical support teams that have
learned the Microsoft way can support a new operating system.

*         Compatibility, layers and critical applications. It's great to
say OOO will do the job but what about CMI, your ILS client, your pay to
print software, electronic resources like Overdrive and Auralog, and
even something as simple as filling out an OPLIN support ticket which
requires IE.

*         Staff and public training. My mind boggles at showing staff
how to use Virtual PC or adding a plug-in to FF on an Ubuntu
workstation.

*         And the costs. While Ubuntu and LAMP is free, Ximbra is as
expensive as Exchange. And, frankly, you're not going to run an
enterprise on an old Gates computer as a server.

At GCPL we are about to embark on a 12-month project to see if we can
pull the plug on Microsoft. The first step is setting up what academic
support folk used to call a "star" lab with old equipment to test
everything from our servers to our OPACs, the second step is to move our
test environment to the type of hardware that will support our
enterprise, and if all is well in early 2009 we will unplug our Windows
equipment and move to OpenSource.

Along the way we're going to put together documentation and training
materials.

I'd like to share this experience with maybe a 21 Things like project,
some webex sharing, and maybe even a couple workshops here in Xenia.

This is right now a very vague idea, but if anyone is interested in
helping flush it out or maybe even helping with funding let's talk about
it and see where it can go.

Jim Mann

Technology Coordinator

Greene County Public Library

Xenia Ohio 45385

(937)352-4000 x1210

mailto: jmann at gcpl.lib.oh.us

Humor is always based on a modicum of truth Have you ever heard a joke
about a father-in-law? -- Dick Clark

-----Original Message-----
From: oplintech-bounces at oplin.org [mailto:oplintech-bounces at oplin.org]
On Behalf Of Stephen Hedges
Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2007 2:55 PM
To: oplintech at oplin.org
Subject: [OPLINTECH] Ubuntu in libraries

Folks,

I've recently seen an interesting article about a public library using

Ubuntu as the operating system on their computers:

http://fullcirclemagazine.org/issue-7/ (see page 18). That has me

wondering if any Ohio public libraries would be interested in trying

Ubuntu.

Jim Mann's done a nice set of videos on Edubuntu in libraries

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdvJIGQCVi0), which is pretty cool.

There's also an Ohio Ubuntu users group that would like to do whatever

they can to help libraries use Ubuntu

(https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-us-oh).  Actually,
they

would really like to see Ohio libraries offering Ubuntu CD's for
checkout,

as you can see from their wiki,

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/OhioTeam/CDdistribution.

Free Ubuntu CD's are available from "ShipIt." This project is designed
for

getting free, professionally made Ubuntu CD's out to users. Users groups

("LoCo's") like the one in Ohio are able to get larger quantities than
the

average user, if needed. The only concern is that the info provided with

the CD's is pretty much just saying "Welcome To Ubuntu," so the Ohio
group

has been working on designing a Quick Starter Guide, which should be
ready

for distribution by now. Let me know if you'd like a copy.

Anyway, all of this information is intended to help you get started if

you're interested in trying Ubuntu. There are also quite a few library

techs who use Ubuntu, so posting questions to this OPLINTECH list should

get you some good answers.

Stephen

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