[OPLINTECH] Ubuntu in libraries

Thu Dec 6 09:29:10 EST 2007

I should have added that aside from the live CD interested people can use
the free VMware products to test Ubuntu or another *nix operating system
with a virtual machine in Windows.

On 12/6/07, Dan Will <willda at oplin.org> wrote:
>
>  James,
>
>
>     I see you have really thought about this, and I like your thoughts. It
> would be wonderful if OPLIN could help. I told Steven yesterday that I have
> just finished (if we are ever truly finished) installing Ubuntu as "my"
> principal OS. It has taken more than a little research to get everything
> setup and I've been "playing"  with it on and off for about a year and a
> half. I can not see the average "small town" Library switching without MAJOR
> help on the support side. Even though we have to pay M$ license fees, we ARE
> familiar with the setup and administration of Windows. After all, we have
> been building our knowledge of it for a long time. I hope to be able to put
> a few Edubuntu/Ubuntu stations out to the public in the coming months. I am
> interested to see how much use they get.
>    I would be glad to feed you any data we get here if  you think it would
> help you.
>
>   --
>
> Dan Will
> Technology Supervisor
> Meigs County District Public Library
> Pomeroy, Ohio 45769
> 740.992.5813
> 740.992.6140 (fax)
>
> willda at oplin.org
>
> The difference between fiction and reality?
> Fiction has to make sense.
> Tom Clancy
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> *From*: Mann, James H. <JMann at gcpl.lib.oh.us<%22Mann,%20James%20H.%22%20%3cJMann at gcpl.lib.oh.us%3e>
> >
> *To*: hedgesst at oplin.org, oplintech at oplin.org
> *Subject*: Re: [OPLINTECH] Ubuntu in libraries
> *Date*: Thu, 6 Dec 2007 06:58:20 -0500
>
> 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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-- 
David Popeck
Lakewood Public Library
Electronic Services, Supervisor
216-226-8275, ext. 118
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