Philanthropy Australia Brings Collection to the Web with Koha
Sep 11th, 14:15 UTC
Philanthropy Australia used Koha, an Open Source Integrated Library System, to implement a searchable Library catalogue and put it onto the World Wide Web.
Melbourne, Australia, Sep 11, 2002
When Philanthropy Australia needed to automate their library, they started talking to a business/management consultant. "She suggested Koha. We could spend our catalogue budget allocation on contributing to this open-source product, which can then be available for other libraries (including non-profits) to use. Now that was inspiring! Fits in nicely with our philosophy, within the spirit of philanthropy." says Louise Arkles, Resource Centre Librarian at Philanthropy Australia.
Arkles engaged the services of Katipo Communications, of New Zealand, to modify Koha for her needs and Strategic Data, of Australia, for local support. Katipo took on several projects to meet the needs of Philanthropy Australia and these new features have been added into the standard Koha package. Strategic Data is excited about Koha, and has taken an ongoing role in the development of the project as well.
Using free software is an exciting opportunity for Arkles, "I think this is a fantastic model, and it gives me buzz every time I read on the [koha mailing] list that a new library has decided to come on board. Being in philanthropy, and being aware to some extent of the struggles for funding by non-profit organizations, and the wastage of duplicated services, the concept of free open-source software is just so refreshing. There are many 'libraries', from local small non-profit organizations with grass-roots collections of resources, to collections of national significance in war-torn countries, for which purchasing a commercial application is simply not viable, whereas a
free open-source library product is a fantastic solution."
When asked when the public could see Koha in use at Philanthropy
Australia, Arkles said, "Right now!" The resource centre is online at
www.philanthropy.org.au/search/catalogue.html.
About Philanthropy Australia
Philanthropy Australia is the national membership body for the
philanthropic sector. It promotes and protects the interests of
family, private, corporate and community giving within
Australia. Philanthropy Australia has more than 130 members, with
total assets of more than $10 billion, who annually distribute tens of millions of dollars to the community, principally in the areas of education, the arts, welfare, health and medical research. Philanthropy Australia works to improve public understanding and recognition of the relationship between philanthropy and the wellbeing of the community. Their website is at www.philanthropy.org.au.
About Strategic Data
Based in Melbourne Australia, Strategic Data has lots of experience with open source software, and have installed Koha for a national NGO (Not for Profit / Non Governmental organisation). Happy to travel throughout Australia. For more information, please see
www.strategicdata.com.au.
About Katipo
The original developers of Koha, Katipo provide support to the Horowhenua Library Trust and other developers, and run the Koha mailing lists and website. Katipo are keen to work either with libraries directly, or with local contractors/developers. Please see www.katipo.co.nz for more details.
About Koha
The Koha project started in 1999 in New Zealand when the Horowhenua Library Trust commissioned Katipo Communications to write a new library system for them. The system went live in 2000, and was released as Free Software during that year. Since then it has been installed in numerous libraries and has sprouted an active developer community that encompasses more than nine countries on four continents. For more information about Koha, please see www.koha.org.
Contact: Please contact info@koha.org for more information.
(Submitted by Pat Eyler of koha)
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