Scott McCord's Profile

Over the last few years, a number of libraries in the U.S. have made bold moves to migrate to open source ILS options. While open source ILS can't be ignored as an emerging trend, proprietary closed source systems continue to prevail as the dominant model. We can look at the libraries that have already implemented open source ILS as early adopters. Continued success by those breaking new ground in this movement may serve as a catalyst for much larger groups of libraries to adopt open source ILS in the future. I have little doubt that over the next few years, the ranks of libraries moving to open source automation systems will increase significantly. I can also see a few issues that I think currently limit the movement's ability to enter the mainstream. A key factor involves the need for a shift from embracing open source based on philosophical grounds to selecting open source systems primarily on the basis of sound business criteria.

As I look at the various libraries that have committed to implement an open source ILS in the last 2 years among public and academic libraries in the U.S. and Canada, it seems to me that almost all of these decisions have been made based on a philosophical perspective rather than through a competitive process. Many libraries, for good reasons, find themselves disenchanted with the status quo of licensing proprietary closed source automation systems from the ranks of the established ILS vendors.