Some of you around the state may have heard word of a group of libraries working together to create a customized “Vermont” version of the open source integrated library system (ILS) Koha.
It’s true, and the group is more than happy to welcome new members who are interested in the development phase of the project as well as those who might be interested in joining a consortium model ILS down the road. If you are unhappy with your current system, looking at a forced upgrade, or looking to automate, the Vermont Koha Project might be of interest to you.
The current group has about 15 libraries, all of whom are contributing funds to the Green Mountain Library Consortium (which also runs the Listen Up! Vermont program) to provide additional design and programming services to create a Vermont version of Koha. This version is expected to be in beta by the end of 2008 (available only to participants) and then released for free to other Vermont libraries in Summer 2009. The consortium model ILS is projected to be ready in the Fall of 2009.
For more information, take a look at the project’s fact sheet (a PDF file) at
http://www.stowelibrary.org/files/Koha_Fact_Sheet.pdf
and feel free to contact Stephanie Chase at the Stowe Free Library with general questions or an interest to participate, or Richard Pritsky at the Carpenter Carse Library with technical questions.