PTFS Europe and

the reality of Open SourceNick Dimant – Managing Director

AgendaReview of the library automation marketplace

What does going open source really mean?

The role of PTFS Europe

It is not just the software

Implementation services

Conclusion

Current state of the Library Management System market

• A few main vendors• SirsiDynix and Ex Libris owned by private equity

companies • Confusion over product direction– Discontinuation of systems

Current state of the Library Management System market

• OSS very much in vogue in the library world because of recent developments- Leading-edge tools for libraries- Impressive functionality- Freedom

Current Frustrations• Slow pace of development (low ROI)– Patch and mend– Little new development

• Functionality lag– Lack of Web 2.0 capability

• Ageing technologies– Some have 30 year old technology

• Declining levels of customer service• Increasing costs• Powerlessness

Is open source the answer?

What is Open Source Software (OSS)?

• The software is free• Source code included or freely obtainable.• Redistribution of modifications allowed• Quality, not profit drives open source developers• Open source software may be ‘free’, but a developer or

distributor may charge for services, including development, installation, training, and technical support

Benefits of open source software

• Gain support of vibrant and active world-wide support and development community

• Freed from lock-in of proprietary systems• Benefit from other users' customisations and contributions• Remove dependence on a single supplier

Benefits of open source software

• Obtain better value for money from investment being made in the library service

• The availability of the source code means that a user can modify and enhance the software

• There are minimal contractual restrictions on how the software is used

• If you don’t like your supplier, find another one or do it yourself

Kittens are Free

Open Source is Free?

There is a cost of ownership

• Staff time• Support costs• Infrastructure

So, it’s not free, but ....

• Lower implementation cost• Cheaper on-going costs• Freedom to move between vendor• Freedom to develop what you want to

develop• Freedom to collaborate and share• Freedom to move quickly

But no one uses open source?Application Originally Released Fact

Apache Web Server 1995 serves 49.12% of all websites – June 2008

Linux Operating System 1991 Market share of new and used PCs running Linux is expected to grow from 3% in 2003 to 7% in 2008

Mozilla Firefox 2004 19.46% market share – September 2008

OpenOffice 1999 98 million downloads as of September 2007 – maybe 20% of business market

MySQL 1995 25% market share, 50,000 downloads per day

Java 1995 Today's six million Java developers are one of the largest communities of software developers

Market share

• OSS LMS is now the largest single source of new name installations in North America – outstripping the proprietary vendors

• Good presence in Indian market• Major presence in France• Minimal presence so far in UK

Where is OSS successful?

Where there are capable local support bases:– USA– Canada– India– France– Australia and NZ

The leading provider of digital archiving solutions in North America

• Formed in 1995 - desktop imaging, integrated library systems and custom search systems

• First release of ArchivalWare digital archiving solution - 2000

• ArchivalWare 4.2 released October 2008• June 2008 – Support of open source library

management software

PTFS Customers – Partial listLibraries – Public• Whittier Public Library• Independence Township LibraryLibraries - Government• National Library of Medicine• U.S. Geological Survey• Federal Communications Commission (FCC)• Naval Research Laboratory• Department of Justice• U.S. Marine Corps (16 locations World Wide)• U.S. Air Force• U.S. Army• U.S. Attorney’s Office• Department of State• Library of Congress• Administrative Office of U.S. Court• U.S. Customs Service• International Trade Commission Library• Army Heritage Education Center (AHEC)• Department of LaborAssociations• International Monetary Fund (IMF)• American Chemical Society

Libraries – Academic• Southern Oregon University• National Defense University• George Washington UniversityGovernment Institutions – non-library• National Archives and Records Administration• Department of Interior (Labatt)• Department of Defense (Joint Chiefs)• National Security Agency• National Institutes of Health• Office Secretary of Defense (OSD)• National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA)Museums• Smithsonian Institution• Museum of African American HistorySirsiDynixUSA: Public and Academic Libraries,Government Institutions, CommercialInternational: (Canada, New Zealand, Chile,Greece)Commercial• National Geographic• Chicago Tribune

PTFS Europe

A company formed to distribute and support the software products of PTFS, Inc

• Local presence• Local expertise• Local training• Local support• Focused on European context• Backed up by major US presence

PTFS Europe – ArchivalWare Customers in 2008/9

• York St John University• Department for Communities and Local

Government/ Department of Transport• Planning Inspectorate• Council of Europe• Irish Parliament (currently preferred supplier status)• European Southern Observatory (Koha)

PTFS now Implement, Host & Support Open Source ILS software

Open Source ILS software

• Evergreen or Koha• SaaS or standalone• Significant cost savings• Fast development• Major benefits

Overcoming barriers

• No one championing open source?• Budget holders or corporate procurement do not see open

source as a viable alternative?• Financial constraints?• Everyone happy with their proprietary library system and ILS

supplier?

Overcoming barriers:How PTFS Europe can help

• PTFS is a centre of excellence for open source LMS software• PTFS staff have a wealth of experience in library automation• PTFS is a commercial organisation with a proven track record• PTFS Europe can do a project for no more than your current

annual maintenance

Disadvantages of Open Source Disadvantages of Open Source SoftwareSoftware

• Unanticipated Efforts• Lack of coordination• Inadequate technical support• Installation can be hard• Weak documentation• Customisation needed• Reduced functionality in some areas?

Addressing Disadvantages of Open Addressing Disadvantages of Open Source Software with PTFSSource Software with PTFS

PTFS can help plan implementation & set expectations

PTFS contribute to the worldwide code base

PTFS already has international support organisation

PTFS can carry out developments on your behalf

PTFS can introduce functionality on your behalf

PTFS can implement and support the system for you

It is not just the softwareIt is not just the software• A new kind of business environment• A new kind of business model• Collaboration between OSS suppliers• Partnership between supplier and customer

PTFS: a business for the 21PTFS: a business for the 21stst century century• Virtual office

– IM, Skype and web conferencing– Virtual switchboard– Virtual infrastructure– Outsourced accounts and finance

• Very low non-salary costs• No commuting overhead• Relies on having high quality staff• Major price advantage over the 20th century companies

Collaboration between OSS suppliers

PTFS Europe is working with:• Equinox (Evergreen)• PTFS Inc (Koha)• Koha community• Index Data• Relais• Ken Chad Consulting /PTFS Europe – OpenLibraries

Partnership with customers• The staff at PTFS Europe have outstanding experience in

implementing and supporting library management systems• The most successful OSS projects are often based on a

partnership approach between supplier and customer

Share the work Share the developmentReduce the riskReduce the costReduce the workloadRetain autonomy

Implementation and Support Services

from PTFS Europe

Offerings

• Implementation• Ongoing support• Hosting (SaaS)• Consultancy• Partnership

Implementation package• Project Management• Installation and configuration of LMS• Data conversion and loading into LMS• Implementation workshop• Training

Ongoing support

• Web based:– Open calls– Update calls– Review calls– Close calls

• Phone for critical calls

Hosting• We manage the server for you• You still manage and control your LMS• We upgrade the LMS• High class data centre– Secure– Resilient– 365 days a year, 24/7

• Annual fee

Optional consultancy and services• Review of library service– Strategy– Functionality– Technology

• Installation & Configuration• Data extraction• Data conversion and loading• Training• Project Management• Custom reports• Custom programming• Advanced configuration

Partnership?For a site or consortium with technical skills to contribute to the project we can build a partnership

Share the work Share the developmentReduce the riskReduce the costReduce the workloadRetain autonomy

Can we help with the Virtual Academic Project?

• A survey November-December 2008• Carried out by Ian Haydock, Keele University

The use of Open Source software by UK Higher Education libraries

• We are unaware of what software is available (9)• We need software which is not currently available via Open

Source (4)• We don't have time or staffing to set up these applications

(19)• We don't have time or staffing to maintain these applications

(23)• Paid-for systems offer better support in a crisis (8)• Our institution restricts use of Open Source software (4)

Why doesn't your Library make more use of Open Source software?

• We are unaware of what software is available (9)• We need software which is not currently available via Open

Source (4)• We don't have time or staffing to set up these applications

(19)• We don't have time or staffing to maintain these

applications (23)• Paid-for systems offer better support in a crisis (8)• Our institution restricts use of Open Source software (4)

Why doesn't your Library make more use of Open Source software?

ConclusionThe advantages of working with PTFS Europe

• Gain the advantages of open source software• Benefit from high quality implementation and

support services• Reduced cost• Increased autonomy• Low risk• Next generation technologies

• The best of both worlds

PTFS Europe and

open source software