OpenBiblio in Georgia

1
OpenBiblio in Georgia

• Irakli Garibashvili
• Georgian Library Association

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Pre-FOSS situation (before 2005)

• Almost no Georgian library had ILS
• Those having OPACs, had commercial systems with
  problems with Georgian language/script
• Main obstacle for having ILS was
• Price libraries in Georgia still are very
  poorly supported
• Local needs scripts (most of Georgian libraries
  have materials at least in 3 scripts Georgian,
  Cyrillic, Latin
• Librarians mostly were not aware of MARC
  standards and online tools.

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OpenBiblio advantages

• Easy to learn almost all functions could be
  learnt in practice (even beginners do this in 1-2
  days)
• Easy to install we make installations on
• Websites of libraries PHP/MySQL support needed
• Free hosting servers most of them provide
  environment sufficient for OpenBiblio work
• Local computers (for libraries with just several
  PCs an no Internet connectivity) Windows or
  UNIX platforms

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OpenBiblio advantages (cont.)

• Easy interface translation procedure
• Openness free to modify/design PHP code

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OpenBiblio - disadvantages

• Too simple lack of functionality (e.g. no
  support for URLs in fields, no user
  interactivity, no MARC export, no field
  indicators, not full MARC21, no support for
  UNIMARC)
• New versions add functionality!

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Windows platform

• We use additionally a simple PHP/MySQL server
  Uniserver. All pack is pre-installed on a Flash
  stick and can be just copied to PC.
• Many libraries prefer to start with this option
  (PC intranet on LAN) and later move database to
  online server.
• This overcomes connectivity problem, but OPAC is
  just accessible inside a library (or school)

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Online installation

• Apache/MySQL is a standard for majority of modern
  hosts makes installation very straightforward
  (just need to follow instruction file)
• For libraries which do not have websites yet
  variety of free hosting solutions a possible.
• Makes OPAC visible for users everywhere, but
  needs good connectivity. Offline circulation
  introduced recently!!

8
Training

• During a training we
• Make final setup together with library staff
  (names, opening hours, language, landing rules,
  fees, types of materials, collections, etc.)
• Teach all functions (administration permissions
  are given to local administrators)
• Make entries together with staff and teaching
  some good practices
• Provide ID/Passwords and permissions to staff
  members
• Give contact/support data

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Samples
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Samples OPAC switched to Georgian
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Samples search results
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Samples librarians interface
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Addons SRU search/download from LOC
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Sample SRU search
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Results click Use This
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Advanced Reports module
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Georgian Library Association supports OpenBiblio
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100 countrywide installations listed on
Association site
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OpenBiblio manual in Georgian
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Openbiblio is used in our training center for
introduction into e-cataloguing
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Current situation (since a launch of FOSS
program)

• OpenBiblio is installed in more than 100
  libraries (schools, colleges, academic, public,)
• KOHA is installed in 5 libraries
• Evergreen 2 installations (joint OPAC of 20
  libraries)
• More than 400 librarians received training

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Links

• Georgian Library Association www.gela.org.ge
• OpenBiblio page - http//www.gela.org.ge/foss/open
  biblio
• User Manual (Georgian)