As you know the Free/Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS) movement has created lot of
enthusiasm and opportunities in the domain of library services. Open source software
are available free of cost, support you to work at the system level and provide freedom
to customize software as per the requirements of your library. Koha is possibly the
most feature rich Library Management Software (LMS) from the open source domain.
It is Web-centric, modular, multilingual, and compliant with almost all the bibliographic
standards like ISO-2709, FRBR, Z 39.50, MARC 21/UNIMARC framework etc.
Moreover, it supports storing, processing and retrieving of Indic script based
documents. A commercial LMS with all these features may cost you anything in the range
of Rupees two to five lakhs apart from recurring payments for updation, maintenance
etc... Koha is free, supported by an international group of developers, and obviously
has a tremendous application possibility in automation of college libraries and
public libraries in India.
Department of Library and Information Science, University of Burdwan has developed
necessary skills and expertise in the application of Koha in Indian environment and
already installed and configured Koha for a few college libraries in West Bengal.
In response to wide-scale demand for training and consultancies in Koha, the department
is going to organize five-day national level workshop on Koha during the period from
December 03-07, 2007. This workshop will provide you software CDORM (containing Koha
and all other companion open source software), a handbook on Koha (first of its kind
in the world) and hands-on skills for installation, configuration and use of Koha in
library automation. As the department is planning an intensive training schedule,
total intake for the workshop will be limited to twenty only on the basis of first-cum-first.
The workshop brochure and registration form can also be downloaded from the University
homepage (http://www.buruniv.ac.in) or directly from http://www.buruniv.ac.in/Notices/UBUR_143_NOT_WEBPAGE.pdf.
Hope to see you at the workshop.
(Subal Chandra Biswas)
Professor and Head, Department of Library and Information Science, The University of Burdwan, Burdwan - 713104, WB, India
(Parthasarathi Mukhopadhyay),
Lecturer, Workshop Coordinator, Department of Library and Information Science, The University of Burdwan, Burdwan - 713104, WB, India