[Please excuse the cross-posting as well as the self-promotion. ELM] Getting Started With Open Source Software An Infopeople online learning course February 24, 2004-March 23, 2004 http://infopeople.org/WS/workshop/Workshop/157 One of the most significant trends in today's world of computers is the rise of open source software. Open source software is often described as free software; however, it is not free as in "free lunch," but free as in "free kitten." Open source software is not simply shareware. It is a disciplined, empowering approach to technology, embracing collaboration, open access, open standards, and freedom of information. Libraries that take advantage of open source software report that it enables them to drive the technology as opposed to being driven by it. Open source software is not just for the technically sophisticated. * If you have sets of MARC records that you wish you could batch edit, or * If you have sets of data that you would like to index and make field searchable, or * If you are overwhelmed by the email coming from mailing lists and wish there was some way to capture this information more effectively, or * If you just want to make your existing computer systems do the things you think they should do, then this course is for you. Workshop Description This four-week online course introduces the world of open source software from a library perspective. Students will have opportunities to work with several open source software programs. Reading assignments will provide a strong background in the ideas behind open source software and will demonstrate how it is a natural fit with the principles of librarianship. Exercises will give students an opportunity to download, install and configure several open source products that have proven useful in libraries. Online discussions and live chats will provide students the support they need to accomplish the assignments and opportunities to share ideas with other people using open source software in their libraries. Students will be expected to download open source software and accompanying documentation and will learn how to uncompress software distributions, configure an application for building, compile an application, install it, configure it, and finally use it. Applications used during these hands-on activities include: Apache, CVS, Hypermail, MARC::Record, MySQL, Perl, swish-e, xsltproc, and YAZ. Koha and MyLibrary will also be discussed. Exercises are complete with sample data, configuration files, and sample scripts to get the student up and going quickly. Preliminary Course Outline Using your web browser and your Internet connection, you will log in to the Infopeople Blackboard online learning site and complete the following learning modules: * Module One: Using Open Source Software in Libraries o Affordable and customizable o Many library-specific applications o Using Perl * Module Two: Databases o Why everyone loves Google o Databases in libraries o Using MySQL and swish-e * Module Three: Access o Structuring data to increase usefulness o Creating knowledge o Using CGI and Hypermail * Module Four: Open Source and Librarianship o Empowers users o Advantages and disadvantages o Using MARC::Record Workshop Instructor - Eric Lease Morgan Fee Because of grant funding, California residents can take this course for the subsidized fee of $75.00. The out-of-state fee is $275.00 Online Learning Details This four-week course will be taught online using the web. When you register, you will receive a registration confirmation which will include the URL to get to the course, as well as a username and password. Getting Started with Open Source Software will start on February 24, 2004 and end on March 23, 2004. The workshop consists of four one-and-a-half to two-hour learning modules. You can work on each module at your own pace, at any hour of the day or night. However, you will be expected to log in to the course each week to do that week's assignment. We ask that you log in sometime during the first week of the course to begin the course work. The materials will remain available to work on for two additional weeks following the official end date, but you will be expected to accomplish the majority of the course in synchronization with your peers during the first four weeks. Who Should Take This Course Anyone from the library community with an interest in using open source software is encouraged to attend. Prerequisites This course is taught over the web. You must: * Have an Internet connection and Internet Explorer 5 or higher (some of the quiz functions do not work properly in Netscape). * Be able to edit and save plain text documents using a text editor such as Textpad, pico, vi, or NotesPad. * Be able to upload files using FTP. * Be able to save files and install computer programs on your local Windows or Unix computer(s). * Be able to use a command-line interface to your local computer (or be willing to learn how). If you are not comfortable with any of the above, please consider taking this course with a colleague who does meet these requirements. -- Eric Lease Morgan Head, Digital Access and Information Architecture Department University Libraries of Notre Dame (574) 631-8604