WALDO Consortium’s Koha Development Project John Garino Asst. Director of Library Systems St. John’s University, New York ALA - Chicago July 12, 2009

Westchester Academic Library Directors’ Organization (WALDO) Group of academic libraries in the New York City metropolitan area Share a hosted ILS contract –Independent operations –Independent ILS settings and data 2 systems since 1983 –MnSCU PALS ( ) –Voyager ( )

Westchester Academic Library Directors’ Organization (WALDO) Midway through Voyager contract –Corporate merger –Future of Voyager uncertain Other options? –No real differentiation between proprietary systems –Concern with legacy business models OSS library systems started to appear on the radar

Westchester Academic Library Directors’ Organization (WALDO) Evaluated Evergreen and Koha Required hosted solution Required independent control of ILS for each site Arranged for scoping study by LibLime – Spring ‘07 WALDO / LibLime partnership announced Jan. 2008

WALDO / LibLime Koha Development Project Objective: enhance the Koha software for academic libraries 60 librarians and staff from 15 libraries –Serve as subject matter experts –Inform design of features –Evaluate design specifications –Test software enhancements Identified 51 distinct development projects

WALDO / LibLime Koha Development Project Development projects identified for: Acquisitions –e.g. Purchase Orders, Budget Hierarchies Serials –e.g. Serials Binding, Improved Prediction Patterns Cataloging –e.g. Holdings Structure (3-tiered), Authorities Control Circulation –e.g. Offline Circulation, Proxy Patrons System Administration –e.g. Granular Permissions, Enhanced Reporting

WALDO / LibLime Koha Development Project WALDO is funding over $600,000 in enhancements Current focus on functionality for Go Live dates –7 WALDO libraries already migrated –7 WALDO libraries to migrate by end of July 2009 –1 WALDO library to migrate Jan More enhancements to come: –e.g. Browse Indexes, Course Reserves, EDI, Music Indexing, Union Catalog, ERM

Open Source – Beyond Technical Concerns Change Management Adjust old expectations Seek input from stakeholders Accept that workflows may change Similar to the introduction of Web 2.0 to libraries –New rules –Engagement

Open Source – Beyond Technical Concerns Knowledge Sharing Essential to open source WALDO / St. John’s communities –Standing committees –Professional development –Willingness to share Open Source community

Suggestions for Evaluating Open Source Systems Install the software – use it Ask questions Read everything –Documentation (may be lacking) –Library literature –Blogs –Discussion lists (and archives)

Open Source – Ways to Contribute Non-Programmers can contribute to an open source project Test for bugs Add to documentation Create tutorials Suggest enhancements Sponsor development

Further Information WALDO Contact Robert Karen, Director of Member Services (800) x1 LibLime ALA Exhibitor, Booth # Contact me at: (718)

WALDO / LibLime Koha Development Project Thank You.