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ERIC Number: EJ684074
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005-May
Pages: 3
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1041-7915
EISSN: N/A
There's No Need to Fear Open Source
Balas, Janet
Computers in Libraries, v25 n5 p36-38 May 2005
The last time this author wrote about open source (OS) software was in last September's 2004 issue of Computers in Libraries, which was devoted to making the most of what you have and do-it-yourself solutions. After the column appeared, she received an e-mail from David Dorman of Index Data, who believed that she had done OS products a disservice by discussing them with do-it-yourself projects. He felt it implied that products based on open source were unsupported and required technical expertise that not every librarian might have. The author's points in that article were that using OS products can open up specific customization and development possibilities without ignoring standards, and that librarians should be open to trying something new. While that "something" can be a homegrown solution with only in-house support, it can also be software from an established vendor with a proven support channel. Librarians do not need to be afraid that choosing open source software will mean that they are totally on their own.
Information Today, Inc., 143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055-8750. Tel: 609-654-6266; Fax: 609-654-4309.
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Adult Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A