Comments on: Library data http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/2008/11/library-data/ The inside track since 2003 Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:18:02 +0100 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Libraries, Cooperatives, OCLC and TTLLP | Software Cooperative News http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/2008/11/library-data/comment-page-1/#comment-60302 Libraries, Cooperatives, OCLC and TTLLP | Software Cooperative News Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:35:48 +0000 http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/?p=2866#comment-60302 [...] commenter on Tom Watson: Library data asks: “Why would libraries play this game?” Well, the road to hell is paved with good [...] [...] commenter on Tom Watson: Library data asks: “Why would libraries play this game?” Well, the road to hell is paved with good [...]

]]> By: MJ Ray http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/2008/11/library-data/comment-page-1/#comment-60183 MJ Ray Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:22:04 +0000 http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/?p=2866#comment-60183 Why would libraries play this game? Well, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. OCLC is essentially a good idea - libraries cooperating to act as a counter-weight to the large library service companies. However, I believe OCLC predates certain recent company rule innovations (asset locks) and data licensing innovations (Share-Alike and Fiduciary Licensing), so there's nothing to stop them trying to privatise the assets (library data) that the libraries have given to OCLC and it was only a matter of time before someone tried. I'm having a similar, uh, discussion with another organisation that has been given data by its members and is now apparently about to exploit them for the organisation's private benefit, to the detriment of the community. In time, hopefully, asset locks and more awareness of data licensing will eliminate these problems, but there's going to be a lot more people getting burnt first. Finally, a quick shout-out to the Open Library Environment as a possible emerging alternative to OCLC for practical services. I'll blog more about this on my work blog soon (linked from my website). Let me know if there's a particular aspect you think I should cover. Why would libraries play this game? Well, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. OCLC is essentially a good idea – libraries cooperating to act as a counter-weight to the large library service companies. However, I believe OCLC predates certain recent company rule innovations (asset locks) and data licensing innovations (Share-Alike and Fiduciary Licensing), so there’s nothing to stop them trying to privatise the assets (library data) that the libraries have given to OCLC and it was only a matter of time before someone tried.

I’m having a similar, uh, discussion with another organisation that has been given data by its members and is now apparently about to exploit them for the organisation’s private benefit, to the detriment of the community.

In time, hopefully, asset locks and more awareness of data licensing will eliminate these problems, but there’s going to be a lot more people getting burnt first.

Finally, a quick shout-out to the Open Library Environment as a possible emerging alternative to OCLC for practical services.

I’ll blog more about this on my work blog soon (linked from my website). Let me know if there’s a particular aspect you think I should cover.

]]> By: saminus http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/2008/11/library-data/comment-page-1/#comment-60128 saminus Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:40:07 +0000 http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/?p=2866#comment-60128 That sounds pretty awful - why would libraries (and indeed Local Authorities and the DCMS) play the OCLCs game? That sounds pretty awful – why would libraries (and indeed Local Authorities and the DCMS) play the OCLCs game?

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