NATURAL PARTNERS: LIBRARIES AND OPEN
SOURCE INITIATIVES
Kerri G. Krist
Abstract
This paper examines
how open source software follows the ethical and philosophical resolves of
libraries and the role that libraries can play in open source resources and
initiatives. It examines whether
librarians feel ethically compelled to participate in the culture of sharing,
and, if libraries do commit to
Natural Partners: Libraries and Open
Source Initiatives
Open Source
resources share the ethical and philosophical resolves that libraries and their
advocates have espoused for decades. A
communitys investment in open source initiatives and libraries would propel
the success of both resources through mutual propagation. With their adoption of open source
technologies and resources, libraries can help to foster innovation within
libraries themselves, and, possibly, to the greater population of individuals. Library employees may feel called to help
advocate for open source initiatives to stand up for libraries as evolving
organizations ready for the challenges of the future (Jaffe, 2007, p.13). Additionally, both library personnel and open
source groundbreakers have demonstrated commitment to societal freedoms. Through the bond that open source resources
and libraries share, libraries can play a significant role in open source
resources and initiatives, both in their advocacy and their development.
Shared
Resolves
There
are many facets in which libraries and the open source community have
overlapping interests. Libraries may
turn to open source resources to create customized Integrated Library Systems,
software, or other resources that are affordable for libraries limited funding
as well as effective, modern, and user-friendly (Ransom, 2009, p. 4). While open source resources are not free,
they may have reduced costs and a greater return on their investments. Members of the open source community are
committed to providing materials free of charge or at little cost to their
users, just as libraries are nonprofit organizations that attempt only to
recoup operating costs by charging small fees for copies, overdue fines, hold
charges, etc.
Open
source resources also provide superior quality control and freedom for the
libraries that choose to utilize their programs, software, and materials with full
open and continuous access to the[ir own software] code (Jones, 2009, p. 23). Librarians are able to edit and access their
open source materials as well as share those materials with other institutions
bypassing the middlemen of proprietary corporations with their efforts to steer
the Integrated Library System market. This
focus on freedom echoes the importance that libraries have always placed on
accessibility for all library patronsthe freedom to access all
information. Libraries and open
standards have a common cause in that they share a commitment to openness
and accessibility (Jaffe, 2007, p. 1).
In
addition to the freedoms provided by both libraries and open source resources,
the two also share the desire and necessity of community partnership. Where would libraries, especially public
libraries, be without their communities, their users, and their funding? Libraries exist to connect people with
resources. Open source initiatives and
resources have the same investment with their community of users. In The Cathedral and the Bazaar, Eric
Raymond demonstrated how critical the open source community was to Linus
Torvalds success creating Linux.
Torvalds asked users to assist in the creation and revision of the
software he was designing, and they responded by participating (Raymond, 2000,
p. 1). Libraries and open source
resources rely on support to function.
Finally,
perhaps there is also idealism in the creation of open source materials and in libraries. Journalist and software chronicler Steven Levy
said of software developers, When you wrote a fine program, you were building
a community, not churning out a product (Bisson et. al., 2007, p. 5). Librarians are constantly working toward a
world where all people have access to the information they need. Libraries themselves are a historic symbol of
freedomfreedom for all people to access knowledge.
Ethical Responsibility
Do
these shared characteristics of libraries and open source demonstrate a
compulsion within the role of librarians to participate in the culture of
sharing? Librarians may feel ethically
bound to use open source materials and to forego commercial software companies
for the idealistic vision offered by open source materials (Jaffe, 2007, p. 3).
Drivers
of the open source movement and library employees have exhibited similar
philosophies in their efforts to make information, tools, and more available to
a large number of people without incurring huge profits. Additionally, open source creators and users have
shown camaraderie and passion for their software to be more important than how
to maximize their earnings. Their desire
to share materials and make materials available to a wide audience is evident
through the number of open licenses currently offered.
This
desire to make materials available to all peoples reveals an ethical aspiration
on the parts of both libraries and open source communities. While free and open software might not
express an identical sentiment, they are both alternatives to proprietary
software and include a philosophy, an understanding that software is an
important building block in the information society and that the control of
this infrastructure needs to remain accessible to all (Klang, 2005, p. 3). The importance of participation in the
creation of open source materials must not be underestimated because, according
to Rousseau, Members of such a society are free only to the extent that they
participate in the creation of society (Klang, 2005, p. 8). Librarians follow an ethical determination,
advocated by Ranganathans 2nd Law of Library Science that every
reader and every individual in the community has a right to the information the
library can provide (Cloonan, 2005).
The
Open-ILS.org website, which offers the Evergreen Integrated Library System,
describes the philosophical link between the two communities: The open source community is a natural ally
of the library community. Both try to
enrich their members through sharing and disseminating knowledge, and both are
open to everyone, private or public, commercial or non-commercial (Jaffe, 2007,
p. 5). Both libraries and open source
resources are known for breaking down barriers to information access[ibility]
(Jaffe, 2007, p.5).
The Ripple
Effect
Libraries can
and should be leaders in the technology movement by being both users and
providers of new and effective technology. Libraries can use open source software for their
Integrated Library Systems or online public access catalogs as one avenue to
stay on top of emerging technology. Librarian
and open source advocate Carl Grant says that open source makes sense when a
software product reaches commodity or infrastructure statusMost of us in the
library automation business would argue that ILS systems have reached that
status (Grant, 2008, p. 227). Having a
hand in the creation of the software may help library employees to better
handle software management issues, questions, or problems that arise. This increased knowledge and familiarity with
their software will allow library employees to provide assistance to other
libraries and to utilize anothers skills.
Library employees can spread their open source expertise from library to
library.
Libraries
should also be a venue where the population can use cutting edge software to
access up-to-date materials. Libraries
have historically offered commercially available software due both to grants
like the Gates Foundation Library grants and the ubiquity of software like
Microsoft Office (Bisson et. al., 2007, p. 35).
Librarians may believe that patrons want Microsofts software and
programs because that is what is commonly available for personal use. But library users may not be aware of the
alternatives. Because of the digital
divide, many library usersboth in the
Open source
resources may also spur innovation due to its high visibility in which many
people can see one anothers work, ideas, etc., and provide inspiration,
critiques, feedback, or derivatives.
Such a high degree of peer review creates a more reliable product
because some of the advantages of the open source path is that a much larger
community of users and developers are involved than in using a proprietary
system (Grant, 2008, p. 228). Library
employees can generate more choices and better products using open source systemswith
their continuous improvementsand eventually develop a new customized program
that best meets their particular librarys needs. The use of open source may also cultivate open
source or software proficiency not only in the library world, but also for the
users who are affected by the exposure to various libraries software and
programming.
Effects of
Open Source
The
marriage of open source technologies and libraries will allow library employees
to make more services and information available to users online, such as
historical photo digitization or historic obituaries, which permit community
members to provide additional facts, comments, or other information (Bisson et.
al., 2007, p. 36). Online services draw
considerable Internet traffic to the library, a sign of the success the library
is having in making the information available (Bisson et. al., 2007, p. 38). Open source requires the efforts of a
community of users, and libraries can be a part of that community. Libraries have a long history of
cooperation and should always be making connections in their user populations
as well as connections from library-to-library (Jaffe, 2007, p. 9). Open source materials may play a role in
bringing it all together.
The next
generation of library users will be looking for cutting-edge technologies,
including open source technology, and will likely be more familiar with those
technologies than the outdated ones that might be found in dusty libraries. This brand identification can attract and
retain young patrons. If libraries fail
to follow these trends, then they will become increasingly marginal (Jaffe, 2007,
p. 1). Open source technologies can help
libraries to keep the focus of their services on user-centered technologies. As Shifted Librarian blogger, Jenny Levine
says If we keep our content locked up on our own web sites and don't get it
out there for people to use as they want to use it, then our content will fall
by the wayside" (Casey, 2006, p. 41).
If
libraries are committed to using open source technologies, along with or in
place of their current resources, open source resources may eventually provide
superior products than proprietary systems.
This implementation of open source resources may help to repair the
belief that libraries dependence on commercial interests is stifling the very
innovation [they] need to remain relevant in the information age (Jaffe, 2007,
p. 13). With library personnel becoming
more knowledgeable about open source Integrated Library Systems and online
public access catalogs and sharing ideas with one another, the only conclusion
is a consistently superior product.
Using open source resources instead of traditional, vendor-sourced
library catalogue software will allow librariansthose who are best trained to
effectively meet the communitys needsto provide the best materials for
their users (Trainor, 2009, p. 288).
Open
source products are offering libraries that were previously unable to afford
such products, the opportunity to provide high-quality software for their
communities. Faster implementation of
open source materials means that users will get the information they desire in
a more timely manner and with better resultsone of the critical arguments for
libraries and open source initiatives because a commitment to open source
materials is about an approach to customer needs with regard to costs and with
regard to the future direction of the products [libraries] use (Grant, 2007, p.
234). Conversion to open source will
also force libraries to eliminate their reliance on commercial support and
create on-site IT departments, which will in turn provide a higher level of
support for both library employees and library users.
The
potential ease of modifications, especially with a dedicated IT department and active
peer community, will also provide libraries with the opportunity to seek user
feedback and change the service accordingly (Trainor, 2009, p. 290). Libraries will no longer be stuck with
ineffective materials that fail to meet their users needs. Instead, they will be armed with tools, which
are interoperable, usercentric, and collaborative (Bisson et. al., 2007, p.
26). As long as library staff are
trained and willing to work together with other libraries, the librarys open source
materialsILS, OPAC, etc.can be updated and refined continuously.
Open
Ideology and Libraries
Among its policies, the American Library Associations Bill
of Rights states that libraries are charged with the following duties:
Books
and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information,
and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves.
Libraries
should provide materials and information presenting all points of view
on current and historical issues.
Libraries
should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to
provide information and enlightenment
(i.e., all materials should be accessible).
Libraries
should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting
abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.
A
persons right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of
origin, age, background, or views
(i.e., all people have a right to use the library) (American Library
Association, 1996).
The
overwhelming message is that it is the mission of libraries to free all
information, materials, etc., for all people. Just as the Free Software Foundation, founded
by open source software pioneer Richard Stallman, acknowledged the following software
freedoms:
The
freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).
The
freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs (freedom 1).
Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
The
freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor (freedom 2).
The
freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so
that the whole community benefits (freedom 3). Access to the source code is a
precondition for this
(Bisson et. al., 2007, p. 9).
Similar
to the American Library Association, the Free Software Foundations most
significant characteristics are the supplement of freedoms. Open source advocates and library personnel both
have a vision of freedom and accessibility for a successful and cooperative society.
Libraries
could be deemed the original open movement.
They fought for the free dissemination of information for everyone, not
just for wealthy individualsthose persons who could be said to have greater
access to data and resourcesor the privileged few. Libraries should serve as models for the
other institutions as well as the general public to help pave the way not only for
current technologies but also future movements.
These efforts will keep savvy library users engaged and ensure their
buy-in as well as guarantee that all individuals have access to the greatest
number and highest quality of materials.
Libraries
are in the business of breaking down barriers to information access, and the
adoption of basic open source tools may be a key point of access for user
populations (Jaffe, 2007, pp. 5-8). Libraries,
working together, can provide support and sustainability as well as knowledge
to one another and future users by coordinating efforts and communication. Libraries and open source resources lend sustainability
to one another. When libraries use open
source materials, those materials can carry greater weight and receive more
public exposure. Libraries have societal
influence with the large numbers of patrons who use their services and because
of their esteemed roles as well as the educational and community
responsibilities they bear. Open source
materials will be more sustainable because of the clout that libraries
hold. Conversely, by utilizing open
source software and resources, libraries are building frameworks for their
futures. Libraries are places where
trained professionals help people to gain knowledge, make informed decisions,
participate ethically in a democratic society, and pursue personal growth, in
other words, obtaining and using 21st century skills (Henry, 2009, p. 30).
Open licenses are one of the tools
that support the ideology of both libraries and the open movement. Open licenses serve a similar role to
libraries in the dissemination of software and other works to the greater
public for use, which give individuals the freedom to become developers, users,
modifiers, or publicizers of those works.
Licenses, such as the GNU General Public License, attempt to perpetuate
knowledge and information to which libraries have long been committed. The licenses provide a general structure for
works to be distributed. Although not
completely permissive, Richard Stallmans GNU General Public License is just
one example of removing restrictions to make knowledge more accessible to many
people (Wikipedia, 2009).
With their intertwined
agendas, libraries and open source initiatives can work together to advance the
freedoms which they both advocate. The
Darien Library in
The
path of the open movement, open source software, open education, etc., will
help libraries make a global impact and reach the larger community of the
worlds populations. Those in critical
need of resources, information, and knowledge will benefit from the natural
partnership of libraries and open source initiatives. Both libraries and open source resources can
benefit from their mutual commitment to freedoms and transparencies in
society. Libraries need to keep current
policies, current software, and current resources because Its really about
free and forever, and libraries proved were the best at those things decades,
maybe even centuries, ago. In fact, weve been so far out in front of these
issues and ideas for so long that weve become invisible. We can change that. Libraries should lead,
because they already do, and do it well (Ottaviani, 2009, p. 20).
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