KohaCon2016 discusses using free and open source software (FOSS) in libraries. It notes that FOSS involves tremendous community effort and expertise over many years, providing a sustainable development model well-suited for knowledge organizations like libraries. It outlines the Koha software ecosystem and legal freedoms of FOSS licensing. Developing an effective FOSS strategy involves defining roles, releasing code openly, linking with university departments, and developing policies and procedures to support a sustainable FOSS community. FOSS should be seen not just as cost reduction but as a way to develop expertise, link to research, and support open science and data policies.
9. Software is not just about code
* Collective
* Knowledge intensive
* Learning Experience
* Infrastructure dependent
* Institution building
10. FOSS encompasses tremendous amount of value
* years of man-effort
* organic community development
* global expertise - local knowledge
* sustainable development model
* ideal for knowledge intensive organisations
17. Key FOSS Freedoms
the freedom to use the software for any purpose,
the freedom to change the software to suit your needs,
the freedom to share the software with your friends and neighbors,
and
the freedom to share the changes you make.
20. Developing a FOSS strategy I
* People and Roles
* Developer(s)
* Community Management
• Find other communities
• In your country and elsewhere
• Organise meetings
• Organise conferences
• Procurement
•Buy man-hours not products
•
21. Developing a FOSS strategy II
• Releases
• Release from day-one
• Understand what you are developing
• Have a set of goals for the duration of the project
•Share
• Experience
• Expertise
• Resources
22. Developing a FOSS strategy III
• Link
• To your University departments
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Information Science (Librarians)
• Students
• Research
•Policy Makers
•Second level organisations (HEAL-link)
23. Developing a FOSS strategy IV
• Develop:
•policies (including IPR protection policy)
•Public Relations policy (community driven)
•standard procedures
•events
•knowledge base
•business ecosystem around your software
25. Thinking of FOSS in libraries:
* part of a broader FOSS strategy
* not just cost reduction
* development of sustainable expertise
* linking to research and development
* related to open science and open data policies
* knowledge instrument