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[Teun Spaans]

The real value of library software is not the software, but the data
in their databases. One of the major players on the Dutch market
charges for this software is OCLC. They maintain their near monopoly
because of the data in their databases.

On 1/1/07, GerardM <gerard.meijssen at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hoi,
> I have learned from some organisations who also do things that can be
> considered as charitable. They told me that as a consequence of the Gates
> Foundation and its activities many things are no longer accepted because
> this notion of giving away and consequently forcing people to buy into
> upgrade schemes etc is not accepted any more in the same way as it used to
> be.
>
> As to libraries and their software, I just read the other day of another
> great open source project that targets the administration of libraries and
> is really efficient at this. I forgot its name ..
>
> Thanks,
>     GerardM
>
> On 1/1/07, Anthony <wikilegal at inbox.org> wrote:
> >
> > On 12/31/06, Ray Saintonge <saintonge at telus.net> wrote:
> > > Anthony wrote:
> > >
> > > >Interesting...  They're donating computers pre-loaded with Windows and
> > > >providing technical support and training.  Would they still donate the
> > > >computers if the library told them they intended to install Linux on
> > > >them?  Maybe.  But would they still provide the free technical support
> > > >and training for those libraries?  Somehow I doubt it (although it
> > > >would be really cool if they did).
> > > >
> > > Why would those libraries _want_ to install Linux?  The primary reason
> > > for free software evaporates when they are spared the costs of
> > > proprietary licences.
> > >
> > I'm sure entire books have been written on why one should use free
> > software rather than no-cost software.  If you really have trouble
> > finding information on this let me know and I'll do a better search
> > for some resources.  Or maybe someone else can provide us with some?
> >
> > But for the purposes of this discussion, it's enough for me to merely
> > point out that the software license being given to the libraries does
> > not entitle that library to free upgrades.  That alone should be
> > enough reason to prefer Linux, if all other things were equal.  the
> > clear strategy here of Microsoft, if not the Gates Foundation, is to
> > give it away for free, get 'em hooked, and then start charging.
> >
> > Of course, all other things aren't equal.  If the library gets free
> > support from the Gates Foundation with Windows, and doesn't get free
> > support with Linux (which tends to be more costly to support in the
> > first place), then it's going to be really hard for them to choose
> > Linux.
> >
> > If the Gates Foundation really wants to help the libraries, then they
> > should help the libraries free themselves from relying on the
> > continued charity of Microsoft.
> >
> > Anthony
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> >
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