I don't think the remedy to a lack of technology skills is to make
librarians into shade tree sysadmins.

*That's* the expense that gets swept under the rug in the open source
argument. Most advocates have systems administrators and infrastructure to
support implementing things themselves and grossly underestimate the cost
when that environment doesn't exist.

-Ross.

On Sunday, August 11, 2013, Cornel Darden Jr. wrote:

> Hi,
>
> Lack of technology skills seems to be a recurring theme here. 21st century
> Librarians shouldn't lack any technology skills. Those that do need to get
> them or look for another career.; or they are just hurting the patrons and
> institutions they serve.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Cornel Darden Jr.
> MSLIS
> Librarian
> Kennedy-King College
> City Colleges of Chicago
> Work 773-602-5449
> Cell 708-705-2945
>
> > On Aug 11, 2013, at 8:10 PM, stuart yeates <[log in to unmask]<javascript:;>>
> wrote:
> >
> >> On 12/08/13 12:20, Andrew Darby wrote:
> >> I don't get this argument at all.  Why is it "counter productive to try
> to
> >> look at open source alternatives" if the vendor's option is relatively
> >> cheap?  Why wouldn't you investigate all options?
> >
> > If you have no in-house technical capability, the cost of looking at an
> open source alternative can easily outweigh the multi-year licensing fee.
> >
> > cheers
> > stuart
> > --
> > Stuart Yeates
> > Library Technology Services http://www.victoria.ac.nz/library/
>