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Feature: Open Source
Getting open source into public libraries
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I have been spending the last six months working to get the first open source or free software CDs available in libraries as lending CDs. I have now succeeded; 415 public libraries out of a possible 507 have accepted them in Scotland.
The first reaction from the open source community is usually "Great, I'll burn a whole set of CDs and donate them to my local library." This is completely and utterly the wrong thing to do. It is wrong because you will not be taking into account the responsibilities libraries have for their patrons. The CDs you burn will have to be thrown away. You will also be trying to force libraries to do what you want them to do, and nobody likes that.
How did I do it, then? I asked librarians, "Why can't you accept them?" Then I listened to what they said.
A matter of trust
Their first reason is, "They can't trust the public." I was insulted at first, but when someone at my local Linux User Group came up to me and said, "Wouldn't it be funny if I made a CD with a virus on it and donated it to the library?" I realized the libraries were absolutely correct. This idiot in my local group proved the case for them.
Librarians do not and should not have any liability for their patrons? computers, for damage or for technical support. I'm sure that most of you have installed some software on a friend?s computer, only to have him come back and ask you for more help later on. Librarians not only have no interest in doing this; they actively want to make sure that they do not need to do it. They have many more important things to do.
Open source projects can deliver new versions of software almost daily. It can cost a library a lot of money to catalogue items. If it were to cost a library $40 to catalogue each CD from a cover of a magazine, then they will quite rightly say, "Go and buy the magazine."
The last reason is that librarians don't know what the software is. How many times have you received a piece of software from a friend telling you that it is the best in the entire world, and you have not bothered to install it? Librarians have no interest in spending time analyzing software to find out if it has any worth. They don't read all the books they are given, but they judge if the books have long-term value and social worth. A book on household plants may be of more use to their patrons than one on virtual brain surgery.
Some libraries in San Francisco go to the effort of removing the CDs that come with books because of the reasons stated above.
Light at the end of library row
This sounds all very depressing, but it is not. All it is a problem to be solved, and we must help solve it with them. It has nothing to do with the software and everything to do with presentation and supply.
The librarians to whom I have talked are very enthusiastic about free software, but there are no solutions for their problems. I gave them my solutions, and they became very interested.
It's not the license. Or is it?
When I mention GPL (General Public License), their eyes glaze over. When I mention copyleft, they instantly understand and smile. When I tell them that I have not, and never had, the intention of getting this software installed on any library compute, they are relieved. That is their choice, not yours. When I mention that this is a major release of the software and that they will not need to consider it further for a long time, they accept it has long-term value. When I tell or show them how good the software is, they can understand its value. Not because of the software itself, but what it can enable their patrons to do.
When I point out that the big liability statement on the back of the DVD cover, they know that they are not responsible for any technical support and that the library cannot be sued by anyone, solving another problem.
The fact that it is in a DVD cover means that they do not need to buy special furniture to hold normal CD cases. Did you know that librarians hate normal CD Jewel cases? (Why? They break all the time and need to be replaced). A DVD box can be placed on a shelf. There are also a lot of libraries that do not have a computerized catalogue and can then put a bit of paper on the inside of the cover to be rubber-stamped. The cover can be in exactly the same format as a normal book -- displaying what it is, the author, ISBN number, and -- most importantly -- licenses and the liability statement. The CD itself should not have a printed paper label (that can be made or written on by the public) but, like a music CD, have a unique look that is easily identifiable.
This is what I offered the libraries of Scotland. They accepted it in droves.
You will probably say it is easier to download it. The lending CD is for those people who cannot get access to the Internet, cannot afford it, don't know how to do it. In Scotland, approximately 85% of people are still on dialup; it will be a long time before they can afford to pay for or get access to broadband. This makes it very difficult to download 60MB of OpenOffice.org 1.1, let alone 180MB for the source code. Everyone has access to their local library.
So libraries are happy, but free software/open source CD vendors are not. They believe it may destroy their market. The answer to this is, "No, it will not."
In Edinburgh, there are 26 libraries for 500,000 people. Libraries will only be able to hold a copy of the software, which is valid for a year and is a major version release. The appearance of a library doesn't make all the bookshops disappear. People want their own copy -- and one that hasn't been handled by lots of other people. Libraries will need replacements in the special format that they need. This is a unique market, and a big one.
The same goes for distributions. There is a big fixed market in libraries for distributions that come with books, yet people will still want their own copy.
A distribution such as Debian may give certain CD vendors a preferred status. They only get a preferred status if they follow the rules of the distribution and donate part of their profit back to the project.
Having free software CDs in libraries will not be a threat to business models. It can easily take six weeks to catalogue and deliver a CD to library shelves. Compare that to Bittorent, and you will see what I mean. However, it does get to places and to groups of people who would normally not know about the software.
Looking ahead
Going into the future, I see the huge amount of power that magazines with CDs on their covers now have. With a slight change of cover design, they have the ability to supply the entire library system of the UK with one donation through their readers.
They must, of course, ask libraries what they want. Normal CDs on magazines are useless to libraries because they don't have a specific purpose. A CD like TheOpenCD or Freeduc 1.4.1, which is sponsored by UNESCO and UNICEF, does.
Would magazines donate more than one CD a year? Unlikely, because that is not what their readers want. Would the magazines club together and donate different CDs at the same time? Yes, they could, because it would be beneficial to all of them.
Should I be angry at San Francisco libraries not allowing CDs in their library? No. Forcing anyone to do something they don't want to do just breeds resentment. The problem facing the libraries is one of money. They cannot afford to spend resources on maintaining all the CDs. If I donated to them a computer not connected to any network, with a very simple, easy-to-use interface such as TIVO, the only purpose of which is to copy specific CD content which the library has control, it may be a solution.
They may still resist copying software, but it would allow them to give out copies of free documents at minor expense.
On the CD I donated, I also included the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It states, in Article 26, "Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free at least in the elementary and fundamental stages ..."
It also says, in Article 27, "Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits ..."
The reason I added the document is because it changes the social value of the CD. It proves that by adding a good free program with a valuable document, it combines the value of both the documents and the software.
It is difficult to sell free software CDs in computer shops. It is much easier to give librarians the choice and ability to lend them out in libraries. This can be beneficial to them and us.
After working on this project, I have gained respect for librarians. Supplying information in an unbiased manner is extremely difficult. They have also been sharing information for thousands of years before the birth of free software. Libraries are presently helping in a myriad of different ways in many more areas than just computers.
If you are in a library, find the computer section and view the proportion of computer books there are compared to other subjects. The free software movement is still learning to do what libraries have done for years, so be polite. Listen to them.
If you're nearby, please see the Edinburgh or West Lothian online catalog for copies of OpenOffice (1.1).
One final note: I applaud and welcome donations of computers and software from large companies such as Microsoft to the libraries of the world. The social value of these donations is important and should not be frowned upon.
I hope those companies will treat our donations with the same respect. I hope, too, that they will also understand and acknowledge the importance of impartiality of libraries, and of keeping a balanced and unbiased presentation of knowledge and resources.
Comments
on Getting open source into public librariesNote: Comments are owned by the poster. We are not responsible for their content.
The regional councils that accepted the CD's are as follows
Aberdeen, Angus, Argyll and Bute<nobr> <wbr></nobr>,Dundee<nobr> <wbr></nobr>,East Dumbartonshire<nobr> <wbr></nobr>,East lothian<nobr> <wbr></nobr>,East Renfrewshire<nobr> <wbr></nobr>,Edinburgh
Fife<nobr> <wbr></nobr>,Glasgow<nobr> <wbr></nobr>,Inverclyde,Highland,Inverclyde
Midlothian<nobr> <wbr></nobr>,Orkney, Renfrewshire<nobr> <wbr></nobr>,Scottish Borders
Shetland<nobr> <wbr></nobr>,West Dumbartonshire, West Lothian,Western Isles
If there name is not on the above list they did not want the CD's. There may be lots of very sensible reasons why they did not. I don't know what they are. I think it demonstrates well the independent nature and the impartiality of Libraries that some accepted and others didn't
Cheers
Bob
A quick question to the author: in the UK, is there any body or organisation that oversees the public libraries? As I understand it, they are funded by the local councils, but if there was a central "point of contact", then maybe if we could contact them and demonstrate the case for open source CD's, then propogation could be made even better.
Anyway, congratulations, and again, an excellent article.
Cheers
bob
The reason I ask is that although you disagree with my choice of document. I hope you see the importance of combining a document with this piece of software. It creates a CD that can focus everyones attention and discuss.
that followed (one about Bush, and the sarcastic
one about the importance of human rights) demonstrate the point.
By adding a socio-political aspect to what is
otherwise a neutral offering of technical
educational value, you can alienate people
who would otherwise support you.
Personally I have a problem with the inclusion
of anything from the UDHR because the UDHR is
crap, and gives real human rights a bad name.
Certainly that's just my opinion. And reasonable minds may differ on the issue. But the point is,
the centre of agreement here is the usefulness
of making open soure more widely available through
libraries, and not the nature of human rights
(or abortion, or the European Social Chapter,
or War in Iraw, or George Bush's sentence structures,<nobr> <wbr></nobr>...)
Does anyone have connections with the LA Public Library? Please contact Bob if you do, so that we can find ways to possibly hasten their acceptance of our donations! Thanks!
I forwarded the article to a professional librarian from a well known US institution. She had some words of wisdom that I'm sharing here:
(librarian)
This article is interesting. However, there are some aspects the author hasn't discovered about why libraries don't carry copies of Linux. First, most libraries, public, university or otherwise, have collection development policies (that's what I do). CD policies state what information a library will and will not acquire, which formats, etc. Many libraries chose not to purchase software of any kind for patron's consumption... for licensing and copyright reasons, but also for reasons of maintenance, renewability, etc. So, it's not that we don't know about it, it's that we've made a conscious decision not to acquire it.
His understanding of costs is good though underestimated. For every traditional book the library acquires, one can estimate it's value at $75 to $100 on average. Many dollars are invested in cataloging, maintenance, preservation, overhead, selection, etc. People are generally surprised to learn that a library spends 1/3 of it's budget on actually buying content and the other 2/3 on personnel and equipment. If we were to carry software, our investment would be much more than the $75 to $100 because of the frequency with which new versions come out - when superceded editions of content (be it in book format or any other), we have to acquire it, catalog it, monitor when new editions come out, if it doesn't come in on time, we have to claim it... etc., etc. The overhead is enormous.
I must admit the open source movement has in some ways missed the boat on libraries. The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation has firmly established itself in public and private libraries through the LSTA Act, supplying thousands of libraries with free computers and windows OS. Now libraries are stuck with all of that infrastructure and a shortage of IT maintenance people. What libraries could really use are thin client solutions and outreach technologies in the community, technical people to teach patrons to install Linux (installfests in libraries?), Linux compatible on-line catalogs with the big vendors (we call them OPACs), Linux compatible content databases (see any libraries' e-resources page for example databases) and for technical people to publish in open access journals rather than subscription based ones... but those are other topics...
(/librarian)
I also believe I have an understanding of the reasons that some of the policies that you talk about have been put in place. These have been formed after much discussion but also in a time when there was no viable choice. Taking OpenOffice.org as an example, was only released very recently. This now gives a new choice and some policies may need to be looked at once more.
You bring up a very valid point about the frequency that Open Source software is released. This makes it impossible for Libraries to keep up with the latest versions. With 30 % of the population still using Windows 98, another 30 % using Windows 2000 having a release of an Open Source Operating system on a yearly basis does start having a valid ring to it because it is more up-to-date than 60 % of what the general population have now. My recommendation would be that only major or yearly releases are worth your consideration to stock.
When I started this project, I was very clear in my mind that I never had any intention to have any Free software/Open source software installed on Library computers. It is an hugely expensive and difficult process. Only programs that fit and solve the needs of Libraries should be used. By donating these CD to libraries I am doing the same thing for members of the public. Most people use their home computers for emails, writing letters, a little drawing, home finance etc. I would really like to hear your opinion on TheOpenCD. This is a Compilation of Free software for use on Windows to see if you think it is appropriate.
The most advance users would like to be able to study how software works and these are the people that are going to be your technicians tommorow. If you give them the opportunity to study this today it could help you a great deal in the future. (note: some Linux distributions are getting very easy to install now, A good example would be ArkLinux. where you put in your name and then play tetris)
As I said in my article, I welcome the donations given by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. I hope that you will welcome other donations. If the fundamental unbiased nature of free choice of information without judgement is lost in libraries then it will be a sad day indeed. How are members of the public able to interact with these computers.
The governments of China,Germany, India, Taiwan, Australia, the countries of South America are actively promoting Free software is this not important for the public to know about and try for themselves ?.
The discussion concerning Free software/Open source software can go in endless directions very quickly. The only thing that I really want to say to librarians in general is that The free software/ Open source communities would like to say we have information we would like to share with you.
I think that the only question that actually needs answered is are libraries willing to consider offering free information on CDs just like they do with Photocopies and paper.
Cheers
Bob
What about <A HREF="http://www.koha.org/" TITLE="koha.org">www.koha.org</a koha.org>? At least it looks interesting but I might did not understand the liberians whishes correctly.
Our library's consortium (I'm a trustee of a medium-sized US public library) is switching to it from DRA.
Note that the client is Java, and is known to run fine on Linux (the server runs on, I believe, Solaris).
Imagine running all the OPACs eseentially as dumb terminals; using a Knoppix-style diskless boot (or, LTSP/thin style) instead of the expensive-to-maintain/difficult-to-lock-down Windows clients.
It is interesting to note that Microsoft sells CALs in this educational market at dirt-cheap prices (under $10), so it makes it difficult to get anyone to contemplate such a change.
"We would no more ask our children to do research
with a paper encyclopedia than we would ask them to do their math with a slide rule."
Please note that while I appreciate and respect Melinda Gate's work, I really don't think she "gets it.". That statement was very telling.
One learns math with a slide rule, one learns math. One learns math with a calculator, one leans how to use a calculator. One learns research with encyclopedias, one learns research. One learns research with "Where do you want go today" one learns how to use Micrsoft Internet Explorer. Not the same thing. Not at all. Not even close.
As to a shortage of IT people. I am not alone when I said years ago, that I don't do windows. Libraries accepted a trojan horse, and they were told that they were accepting a trojan horse with the LSTA, and they did it anyway.
(My mother, a career librarian, and my uncle a double phd career librarian and I used to get in downright vicious fights over many of the provisions in the LSTA, I was completely against
it. I still am.)
Libraries accepted a trojan horse, and they were told that they were accepting a trojan horse with the LSTA, and they did it anyway.***
Could you be more explicit in what you mean here? I do not understand the analogy here. What was snuck into libraries - technology in general or Windows specifically?
From your post:***
(My mother, a career librarian, and my uncle a double phd career librarian and I used to get in downright vicious fights over many of the provisions in the LSTA, I was completely against
it. I still am.)***
What provisions specifically are you against in LSTA? What would be better solutions? I am not all that familiar with LSTA so any knowledge you can share would be great.
After talking to the people from Koha who are paid by libraries to install their free software I tried to go the paypal donation route. No dice.
I have a thin client solution, silent clients and servers but geting up to speed its very very hard. For the moement I am sticking to art center libraries where documentalists seem much more friendly, kind and understanding people...
The idea of a copying machine is a good one. Libraries are already comfortable with photocopiers. I only have two suggestions both involve making sure the system is closed. The blanks, like blank paper in a photocopier, form part of the system to guarrante quality. And, second, the images on the system are the only ones that can be copied. This avoids the potental of people using it to copy other peoples not-approved-for-copy material. I think this was what you were saying anyway I'm just stating it explicitly.
You are correct that I am using this CD as a bridge. I know there are many librarians who know about open Source software but out of the many libraries that I have visited there are still many that have not heard of Copy Left software. I hope that this can raise awareness that the benefit of the software is more for the public than for libraries. Though by benefiting the public you will indirectly be benefiting libraries.
I hope that the Free Software, Open Source communities can start talking to find a mutual beneficial solution. Like a standalone CD kiosk like the one above.
I use Apple computers though and would need a PPC Distro, is this possible.
How would I go about contacting the right people?
Jordan
studentwantsadistro@hotmail.com
If anyone could send me a distro that would work on Apple I would be thrilled.
Jordan
http://www.manlug.mcc.ac.uk/
I am sure there are people there that will help you out.
Cheers
Bob
Well Done!
Posted by: Anonymous Coward on December 15, 2003 11:38 PMAs I am resident in Scotland I'd be interested to know which libraries did not want to stock the CD's? I'll certainly be taking a look down at the local library more often.
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