If libraries can’t afford redundancies, how do we explain the redundancy in the proprietary ILS marketplace? Don’t “[w]e simply have more important things to do”? Why should we believe that redundancy is acceptable in the proprietary ILS world but Open Source competition is not? Not only is there redundancy between proprietary competitors (really how much difference is there between a SirsiDynix. III, or Ex Libris ILS? I’d hazard a guess a lot less than when one compares these to an Open Source ILS such as Koha or Evergreen), Ex Libris itself is doing redundant development with Voyager, Aleph, and now the URM.

If libraries can’t afford redundant development how can the customers of Ex Libris ILS offerings afford redundant development by Ex Libris? The answer is that redundant development is not an issue to be worried about. When it comes down to it, at least in my opinion, redundancy isn’t the issue at all, in fact I think it is a red herring. Return on investment is the issue that matters. For some places an ILS like Koha might provide the best return, while others might need a more full featured ILS like Voyager or Aleph. If an Open Source ILS is cheaper (either through a contract with a service provider or by self support) and provides the required functionality or the library can add it, investing in the “redundant development” is appropriate. Maybe it doesn’t move librarianship forward, but it does move the individual library forward by allowing them to re-invest in other areas and/or their staff. As I mentioned on a previous post on the SirsiDynix and Open Source Kerfuffle, each library should evaluate all the options available and invest in whichever one suits them best.

Having worked with both current Ex Libris ILSs, I can tell you for the most part they do the same thing and both are pretty good at doing what they do. They allow libraries to catalog books, circulate materials, budget expenses, etc. However they both have different strengths and weaknesses. While I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend either ILS to a library, it is clear that Voyager is better suited for some libraries and Aleph is better suited for others. This is why Ex Libris is still selling and supporting these “redundant” efforts. Depending on your library, one or the other may offer a better return on investment.

2) Cincinnati 8-0 (prev: 2) At least the pollsters put Cincy ahead of Southern Cal this week. I here people stay the pollsters have an East Coast bias, but really they have a big name bias.

3) Boise State 8-0 (prev: 4) There comfortable win over PAC-10 leading Oregon looks even more impresive after Oregon’s blow out of Southern Cal. This moves them up ahead of Alabama.

4) Texas 7-0 (prev: 6 ) A blow out win on the road at Oklahoma State moves the Longhorns up one spot.

5) Alabama 8-0 (prev: 3) Drops down despite an off week because their one good win (Va Tech) isn’t looking so good no more after Va Tech drops to 5-3.

6) Florida 8-0 (prev: 7) Georgia isn’t as good as they benn, but still a nice victory at the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail party combined with Iowa’s lack luster first half moves the Gators up one spot in my pole.

7) Iowa 9-0 (prev: 6)They may have been lackluster against Indiana in the first half, but they were on fire in the 4th quarter. If they play like that the rest of the season they may actually make it to the BCS title game. However, I have my doubts.

8 ) Oregon 7-1 (prev: 8 ) (Top ranked one lose team with only loss on the road at #4 Boise State and a quality win over Southern Cal)

9) Georgia Tech 7-1 (prev: 10) Moves up one place after Southern Cal losses to Oregon.

10) LSU 7-1 (prev: unranked) LSU moved into the top 10 following Southern Cal’s loss. LSU’s only loss so far came against Florida. We’ll see how good LSU is this coming weekend when they play on the road at Alabama.

Abrams tries to say that the US Military restricts the use of Open Source because it is insecure. The fact is, they not only use Open Source, they have also developed Open Source. Yes, they have an approval process, but that applies to all software. An Open Source ILS is not a terrorist threat. Abrams says “SirsiDynix has a long tradition of using open source in our solutions…” but if we are to believe his FUD, open source is a threat. So, If Open Source was such a threat, then why do they use it in their products? Abrams wants his cake and wants to eat it too.

A few other things that jump out to me from Abrams paper which are not directly related to Open Source. First Abram writes that “Open source software developers are spending the majority of their time and resources on getting the back room operations right, 30 years after we already completed the process.” If I were Abrams, I wouldn’t think this is a good thing to rest your laurels on. This is exactly one reason why OLE is being developed. Libraries need systems that weren’t based in the 1970’s. Ex Libris, one of SirsiDynix’s proprietary competitors, realizes this and this is why they are creating the URM. Libraries can no longer afford to operate on 30-year old technology.

The second quote that jumped out is that using Open Source might involve “hiring an expensive consultant.” I can just as easily say that getting an ILS from SirsiDynix might mean signing an expensive contract. When it comes down to it an Open Source product is neither bad or good for a particular organization just because it is Open Source. Yes, I believe that the Open Source method can, and often does, make better software, often has a lower TCO, and that it has many benefits over proprietary methods both in practice and in theory. I also believe Open Source is a good fit for libraries because the philosophies complement each other (both librarians and Open Source supporters, want to give information away to make the world a better place). That said, each software acquisition decision needs to be evaluated on its own merits. There may be different things involved in the evaluation and different conclusions based on the type of library, the staffing of the library, the budget of the library, etc. What works for my library may not work for yours. Where I work we have a wide range of products we use. Some are locally hosted Open Source; some are local hosted proprietary products; some are hosted proprietary products. Each one of these methods works for us in our situation and we are happy with our choices (well, as happy as one can ever be). We considered the options with an open mind and depending on the project, staffing available, the financials, etc. we have come to different conclusions for different applications. If you are considering any significant software acquisition I’d encourage you to evaluate all the viable options and let the best solution win. Sometimes it will be proprietary. Sometimes it will be Open Source. My guess is that in the future the decisions will increasingly become to go with an Open Source solution, but time will tell.

Abrams says that he would like “a Respectful Discussion” but that is not what his white paper offered. Using the “T” word (terrorist) and quotes calling the creation of an Open Source ILS stupid are not ways to begin a successful dialogue on Open Source in Libraries. Let us hope we can move forward from here with a respectful, and truthful, dialogue.

I must say even though it probably won’t be around much longer, the xkcd comic commemorative theme today was pure genius and even brought back more memories.

1) TCU (7-0) (prev: 2) Nice win on the road this week against BYU and still the most impressive out of conference wins of the undefeated.

2) Cincinnati 7-0 (prev: 3) How can some of these polls put Cincy behind Southern Cal when they are undefeated and easily beat Oregon State on the road while Southern Cal only beat them by 6 at home? The pollsters should be ashamed of themselves!

3) Alabama 8-0 (prev: 1) (Drops down after barely beating a Tennessee team that isn’t very good).

4) Boise State 7-0 (prev: 4) (Still ranked high based on win against PAC-10 leading Oregon)

5) Texas 7-0 (prev: 6 ) (Blew out Missouri which may have been impressive a few weeks ago, but it looks like Missouri has mailed it in. Still, they jump Iowa which barely bit Michigan State).

6) Iowa 8-0 (prev: 5 ) (Tough game against Michigan State but they got the win to stay undefeated)

7) Florida 7-0 (prev: 7) (Florida got a few “questionable” calls for a second week in a row to help them win. Should the SEC officiating being investigated?)

8 ) Oregon 6-1 (prev: 8 ) (Top ranked one lose team with only loss on the road at #4 Boise State. Big game coming up against Southern Cal)

9) Southern California 6-1 (prev: 9) (Their one loss was a bad showing but give the Trojans some credit for playing and beating Ohio State and Notre Dame on the road out of conference).

10) Georgia Tech 7-1 (prev: 10) (Only loss on the road to Miami (FL) - it was a tough choice for this spot between the two and the Big East’s West Virginia Mountaineers)

1) Alabama 7-0 (prev: 1) (Nice win in conference against South Carolina)
2) TCU 6-0 (prev: 2) (A dominate wn against Colorado state along with the previous out of conference road wins keep TCU in the #2 position)
3) Cincinnati 6-0 (prev: 3) (A nice win against previously unbeaten South Florida)
4) Boise State 6-0 (prev: 5) (An unimpressive win against Tulsa mid-week but still ranked high based on win against PAC-10 leading Oregon)
5) Iowa 7-0 (prev: 5 ) (Nice in-conference win at Wisconsin)
6) Texas 6-0 (prev: 8 ) (Texas triumphed in the Red River Shootout this past week to jump back above Florida).
7) Florida 5-0 (prev: 7) (Florida got a few “questionable” calls to barely defeat Arkansas)
8 ) Oregon 5-1 (prev: unranked) (Top ranked one lose team with only loss on the road at #4 Boise State)
9) Southern California 5-1 (prev: unranked) (Their one loss was a bad showing but give the Trogans some credit for playing and beating Ohio State and Notre Dame on the road out of conference).
10) Georgia Tech 6-1 (prev: unranked) (Only loss on the road to Miami (FL) - it was a tough choice for this spot between the two and the Big East’s West Virginia Mountaineers)

1) Alabama 6-0 (prev: 1) (Nice win in conference on the road at Ole Miss)
2) TCU 5-0 (prev: 2) (A close win against Air Force, but still ranked #2 based on out of conference road wins)
3) Cincinnati 5-0 (prev: 4) (An out of conference win against Miami (OH) isn’t too impressive, but at least it was on the road.)
4) Boise State 5-0 (prev: 5) (An unimpressive win against UC Davis but still ranked high based on win against PAC-10 leading Oregon)
5) South Florida 5-0 (prev: 6) (USF isn’t get much respect from national pollsters despite a great road win against Florida State/ More evidence of pollsters big name bias. Will have to see which Big East team falls from the undefeated next week as USF takes on Cincy)
6) Iowa 6-0 (prev: 8 ) (Nice in-conference win against Michigan. Will they stay undefeated until Ohio State plays a visit on 11/14?)
7) Florida 5-0 (prev: 10) (Despite win over previous #2 LSU, I still need to see more, like maybe a win on the road out of conference, out of state to someone decent?)
8 ) Texas 5-0 (prev: 7) (Texas finally gets a tough game next week in the Red River Shootout, which might give them a chance top climb back up a couple spots).
9) Kansas 5-0 (prev: unranked) (Kansas hasn’t played anyone to speak of, but they remain undefeated)
10) Virgina Tech 5-1 (prev: unranked) (Only loss on the road at my #1, Alabama. Also beat a good, out of conference Nebraska team and in-conference Miami (FL) team at home)

1. Alabama (5-0) (yea, wins over FIU and North Texas isn’t impressive, but Va Tech is)
2. LSU (5-0) (a cup-cake against Louisiana-Lafayette, but a good win over Washington on the road)
3. TCU (4-0) (Two quality wins on the road at ACC schools)
4. Cincinnati (5-0) (A nice road win against Oregon State - does Florida even know where Oregon is?)
5. Boise State (5-0) (A nice win against Oregon)
6. South Florida (5-0) (A nice win on the road at Florida State without their first string QB)
7. Texas (4-0) (Schedule not impressive but at least they went on the road to play Wyoming)
8. Iowa (5-0) (A nice in-conference road win in Happy Valley)
9. Auburn (5-0) (A nice win against West Virginia, but not much else to speak of)
10. Florida (4-0) (King of the cupcakes!)

That said, I think librarians need to go mobile now. We can’t, or at least we shouldn’t, wait for mobile devices to catch-up with our, often poorly designed, Web sites and associated Web applications (e.g. OPACs, Federated Search engines, etc.). We need to be rolling out services now that will provide mobile users the services they need until mobile technology catches up. If not, I whole four year class (in Academic institutions) will be missing out. We shouldn’t allow that.

Last night I went to the Wyoming County International Raceway in Perry, NY. This is the only permanent paved oval “National Speedway Directory-quality” facility in New York I haven’t been to (well, until Albany-Saratoga Speedway finishes removing the dirt that covers the pavement in a few weeks). That, and it being my 200′th “TrackChaser countable” track led me to head there to see the “Fall Shoot Out at the BullRing!” instead of heading to Fulton Speedway for the 200 lap DIRT big block event.

Racing started pretty much on time at 4:00pm in front of what I thought was a sparse crowd for a season ending race. The admission was a reasonable $18 for a special four division show (Mini-cups, TQ midgets, 4cyl stocks, SST Super Stocks, and SST Modifieds. The heats were ran off rather quickly with minimal cautions and I was thinking I might get out of there by 9:00 which could mean stopping in Corning for a nice late-night burger. After an intermission that was a little long, but not unbareable, the national anthems of Canada and the United States were played. One thing I like about the Northern NY tracks is that they usually play the Canadian and US anthems. Then the 4 features started. While all the divisions except for mini-cups (about had a full field, none needed a consolation rates (another reason for expecting an early exit). The 4cyl had the largest field with 30, the Modifieds had 26, and the TQ midgets and Stocks had 19 or 20. The minicup race went off without a hitch and it was time for the 4cyl stocks.

This is when a well-run show went south. Lots of cautions and a long red for a multi-car crash. You can’t really blame the track for the red, or even the number of cautions but they did take longer than needed to get back to racing. In the 50 lap SST Super Stock race I counted a 8 lap caution for a car that spun by itself and was moving before the leader even came around to pass him! The first half of the SST Super Stock wasn’t much better. The 100 lap SST Modified race was better, but still had a few too many yellows. Maybe it was the full moon? The breaks between races could have but cut down a little as well. Because of the yellows and long breaks, the races didn’t end until 10:30pm. Six hours for a four division show? Without a single consolation race? In October in cold northern New York? Hmmm… If this is typical is there any reason not to be surprised by the sparse crowd. All that said, when the green flag was flying, the racing was great and I hope it was just the full moon causing problems. I liked the track and I think if they schedule the Race of Champions Modified Tour next year, I’ll make a return visit.