Infomotions' Musings on Information and Librarianship
This is a collection of the things I've written -- my musings. It includes pre-edited as well as formally published articles, travel logs, descriptions of software applications, and the hand-outs of workshops and presentations. Here is a randomly selected item, and it will change when you reload the page:
- Open Source Software in Libraries: Opportunities and Expenses
- Description: Open source software (OSS) is not a panacea; it will not cure all problems computer. On the other hand, it does provide the library profession with enumerable opportunities as long as we are willing to pay a few expenses. This essay elaborates on these ideas by: 1) outlining what open source software is, 2) describing how its principles are similar to the principles of librarianship, and 3) enumerating a number of open source software applications. By the end it is hoped you will be have a better understanding of what open source can and cannot do for libraries. You will be better able to discuss topics related to open source software with "techies". Finally, and probably most importantly, you will have learned the definition of "free" in the context of open source.
- Date: 2008-12-01
- Source: This presentation was never formally published, but is was written for the MLNC Speaker Series in St. Louis Missouri
- Subject(s): MLNC Speakers Series; presentations; open source software; librarianship;
- URL: http://infomotions.com/musings/oss4mlnc/
My day job resides in an academic environment, and I believe it is my responsibility to act academically. A lot of the time, this means thinking, studying, writing, sharing, and repeating the process. The exciting thing about writing, and while it may sound corny, is it transcends both space and time. It is entirely possible for someone to write something down and have those written words to be communicated to other people on the other side of the world days, weeks, or even years later.
I believe it is important to share one's ideas freely. That is why I have never completely signed away my copyrights and retained the rights to post my articles on my own website. This collection is a manifestation of that idea. I have been practicing "green" open access publishing for more than a dozen years.
To these ends I am sharing the texts in this collection with you. Feel free to use the items in this collection as you see fit, but please don't call the works your own. Place the blame and/or credit where the blame and/or credit is due.
Creator: Eric Lease Morgan <eric_morgan@infomotions.com>
Date created: 2000-06-20
Date updated: 2010-05-01
URL: http://infomotions.com/musings/