At Tue, 6 Nov 2007 10:07:45 -0800,
Roy Tennant wrote:
>
> I have a presentation coming up and I'm considering doing what I'm
> calling a "Library Software Manifesto". Some of the following may
> not be completely understandable on the face of it, and I would be
> explaining the meaning during the presentation, but this is what I
> have so far and I'd be interested in other ideas this group has or
> comments on this. Thanks, Roy

Hi Roy,

I’m coming from perhaps a different perspective (that of an advocate
for free software), but I couldn’t help noticing similarities between
your first two rights & the Free Software Foundation’s ‘four freedoms’
definition of free software.

> Consumer Rights
>
> - I have a right to use what I buy

| The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).

> - I have a right to the API if I've bought the product
> […]

| The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your
| needs (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for
| this. [1]

And for responsibilities, there is also some similarity with ‘freedom
3’:

| The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to
| the public, so that the whole community benefits (freedom 3). Access
| to the source code is a precondition for this.

These responsibilities, as well, fit in very well with the advice that
you will get on effective bug reporting for free software. See, for
example, [2].

I don’t know if this was intentional or not; but it was something very
striking to me.

(I should probably state clearly that I believe that library
organizations should see the use & advocacy of free software as an
very logical extension of their missions.)

best,
Erik

PS: Hope all is well at OCLC!

1. <http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html>
2. <http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/bugs.html>

;; Erik Hetzner, California Digital Library
;; gnupg key id: 1024D/01DB07E3