Open Source and Libraries
I’ve been working part time in libraries since 2002. The work nicely complements my freelance work. It offers stability, dependable income, coworkers and public service. It also sheds plenty (maybe too much?) light on how people use the internet. The library environment has a great appeal; my coworkers have always been outstanding and learning is integral. I’ve shelved materials, helped people find books, movies and music, but mostly I’ve worked with computers. This has led me to a great interest in the role technology plays in the library, so much so that I wrote an 80-page senior project about it. I’ve also taken a keen interest in open source solutions for libraries. A few months ago I discovered an open source integrated library system (ILS) developed by people around the world called Koha. That discovery led me to find other neat open source library solutions. They include a digital collection management system called Kete and a kiosk management system called Libki.
The past few months have been all about picking up a bunch of balls I dropped when I broke a bone last fall. I’ve handed off a big project and decided to drop a few clients. But since I’ve recovered I’ve been getting through several sites that have fallen by the wayside due to mutual “back burnering” on the part of both my clients and me. I’ve been learning SQL and Perl (and violin). So many options are opening up even as the economy is crumbling, so I’m pretty sure I’m doing the right thing.