Re: [Koha] Koha Users of North America Email List
At 02:44 PM 12/16/2013 -0600, Nicole Engard wrote:
Can we also get this list added to the list of mailing lists on the Koha site?
No suggestion of a "fictional conspiracy theory", but a couple of days ago we were happy to see that Koha belongs to the international Koha community, and that [American] PTFS had lost in court. So why an "American" list? (and from another thread, "American" meeting?) I'm in Canada so the idea that "discussion will at times [be?] related to issues more important to users in North America" is tempting. But possibly divisive, or worse, discriminatory. Koha is open source *software*, and while translations, char sets that transcend UTF-8, whatever, may occasionally be nationalistic, why another list? Ms Blake -- could you please explain why I should sign up to your new list? And what might be "more important" to NA users that is not appropriate on this list? Thanks and best regards, Paul
Thanks a ton! Nicole
On Mon, Dec 16, 2013 at 11:58 AM, Nora Blake <Nblake@masslibsystem.org>wrote:
Greetings all,
A new Koha-related email list has been created. This list will facilitate discussion for Koha users based in North America. Everyone from anywhere is invited to join this list but please know that discussion will at times related to issues more important to users in North America.
Information about the email list, including instructions on joining can be found here:
http://lists.bywatersolutions.com/mailman/listinfo/kohana
Thank you,
Nora ________________________
Nora Blake MassCat Manager Massachusetts Library System P.O. Box 609 South Deerfield, MA 01373-0241 508-357-2121 x123 866-627-7228 Email: nblake@masslibsystem.org AIM: noraatmls
_______________________________________________ Koha mailing list http://koha-community.org Koha@lists.katipo.co.nz http://lists.katipo.co.nz/mailman/listinfo/koha
_______________________________________________ Koha mailing list http://koha-community.org Koha@lists.katipo.co.nz http://lists.katipo.co.nz/mailman/listinfo/koha
--- Maritime heritage and history, preservation and conservation, research and education through the written word and the arts. <http://NavalMarineArchive.com> and <http://UltraMarine.ca>
* Paul A (paul.a@navalmarinearchive.com) wrote:
At 02:44 PM 12/16/2013 -0600, Nicole Engard wrote:
Can we also get this list added to the list of mailing lists on the Koha site?
No suggestion of a "fictional conspiracy theory", but a couple of days ago we were happy to see that Koha belongs to the international Koha community, and that [American] PTFS had lost in court.
Tribunal, and it was an NZ Trademark. Speaking as one of the opponents to the mark, I do see this as a massive, massive reach. Regional user groups are totally fine, there is Kohala in France, Koha-OZ, we have an NZ Koha users group. The only problem is when any of the groups start trying to claim the are THE KOHA. This is what the issue with the TM was. It's scheduled at a time that won't conflict with Kohacon. Almost every other community has regional meetings, if nothing else it helps to cut down on carbon emissions. The mailing list will most likely be used to organise regional stuff. I can't see how any of this hurts us. It is no skin off my nose if geogrgaphically close Koha users get together to discuss/talk/build. Chris -- Chris Cormack Catalyst IT Ltd. +64 4 803 2238 PO Box 11-053, Manners St, Wellington 6142, New Zealand
Hi, On Mon, Dec 16, 2013 at 5:29 PM, Chris Cormack <chrisc@catalyst.net.nz>wrote:
It's scheduled at a time that won't conflict with Kohacon. Almost every other community has regional meetings, if nothing else it helps to cut down on carbon emissions.
And, of course, there's the omnipresent factor that it's the rare library that is in a financial position to send a staff member overseas for a KohaCon. For that matter, there are many libraries that are hard pressed to send somebody out of state for a conference. I personally have found it a great privilege to attend KohaCon and meet with my colleagues in person. We move KohaCon around the globe so that more people have a chance to enjoy that privilege, but we can do more -- and I hope that a North American conference will become a regular event to help spread the benefit of meeting other Koha users to more people -- and thereby to help strengthen the _global_ community. Regards, Galen -- Galen Charlton Manager of Implementation Equinox Software, Inc. / The Open Source Experts email: gmc@esilibrary.com direct: +1 770-709-5581 cell: +1 404-984-4366 skype: gmcharlt web: http://www.esilibrary.com/ Supporting Koha and Evergreen: http://koha-community.org & http://evergreen-ils.org
Hi, On Mon, Dec 16, 2013 at 5:14 PM, Paul A <paul.a@navalmarinearchive.com>wrote:
At 02:44 PM 12/16/2013 -0600, Nicole Engard wrote:
Can we also get this list added to the list of mailing lists on the Koha site?
No suggestion of a "fictional conspiracy theory", but a couple of days ago we were happy to see that Koha belongs to the international Koha community, and that [American] PTFS had lost in court.
So why an "American" list? (and from another thread, "American" meeting?)
Distinctions matter. One US firm does not represent the entirety -- or any piece of, really -- the community of Koha libraries that happen to be located in North America.
I'm in Canada so the idea that "discussion will at times [be?] related to issues more important to users in North America" is tempting. But possibly divisive, or worse, discriminatory.
The mailing list in question is open to anybody to subscribe to and (once it accumulates traffic), its archives will be visible to anybody. To raise questions about discriminatory intent or outcomes before it fairly gets off the ground, is at best premature. I will presume that you are raising this concern in good faith, but request and expect that you extend the same presumption of good faith in turn.
Koha is open source *software*, and while translations, char sets that transcend UTF-8, whatever, may occasionally be nationalistic, why another list?
My general view on proposals for new mailing lists is that if a group of people want one, they should be allowed to start it and announce it. A new list might not generate much, or any traffic -- but in that case, it's no great loss of time to have set it up. A new list might generate a lot of traffic -- in which case it signals that there was pent-up demand for conversation that for whatever reason the existing lists did not serve. Or in this case, it might simply be a quiet list devoted to organizing a conference -- which would be fine. But as long as the lists are open and publicly archived, I say let a thousand flowers bloom. Regards, Galen -- Galen Charlton Manager of Implementation Equinox Software, Inc. / The Open Source Experts email: gmc@esilibrary.com direct: +1 770-709-5581 cell: +1 404-984-4366 skype: gmcharlt web: http://www.esilibrary.com/ Supporting Koha and Evergreen: http://koha-community.org & http://evergreen-ils.org
Salvete!
The mailing list in question is open to anybody to subscribe to and (once it accumulates traffic), its archives will be visible to anybody. To raise questions about discriminatory intent or outcomes before it fairly gets off the ground, is at best premature. I will presume that you are raising this concern in good faith, but request and expect that you extend the same presumption of good faith in turn.
In especial in this case. Nora has been a solid Community member for many years at this point. The consortium she represents is one of our singular best test cases anywhere at all, since it is massive AND divers. Frankly, if it weren't for her, we'd be a much smaller lot of users and much further away from discussing a regionally specific listserv. So thank you, Nora. :) I have no desire to see things become insular, either. However, as a Community on the whole now, we're much larger than we were a decade ago. As Johnson points out, big is different. In this case, I think people are just trying to keep some noise off of the big list. Though one of my favourite things will remain Koha listserv messages in languages other than English. :) My 2 beads worth, Brooke
I'm ambivalent about the usefulness of a North American mailing list, except that I suppose it might help enhance a sense of community over what is a rather wide swath of landmass. But I also fear that it will dilute the usefulness of this list which has proven invaluable to so many. However, I think a regional meeting would be a grand thing. As someone who has to pay for any travel to Koha meetings, I was thrilled the last one was within easy striking distance of home (not in London, as the sig file might suggest, but the west coast of North America). It was a huge learning experience for me, and Koha has benefitted as well because my other half - the computer expert part of the team, has been inspired to contribute patches. The more people we can get involved on a local(ish) level, the better I'd say. Elaine On Tue, Dec 17, 2013 at 9:23 AM, BWS Johnson <abesottedphoenix@yahoo.com>wrote:
Salvete!
The mailing list in question is open to anybody to subscribe to and (once it accumulates traffic), its archives will be visible to anybody. To
questions about discriminatory intent or outcomes before it fairly gets off the ground, is at best premature. I will presume that you are raising
raise this
concern in good faith, but request and expect that you extend the same presumption of good faith in turn.
In especial in this case. Nora has been a solid Community member for many years at this point. The consortium she represents is one of our singular best test cases anywhere at all, since it is massive AND divers. Frankly, if it weren't for her, we'd be a much smaller lot of users and much further away from discussing a regionally specific listserv. So thank you, Nora. :)
I have no desire to see things become insular, either. However, as a Community on the whole now, we're much larger than we were a decade ago. As Johnson points out, big is different. In this case, I think people are just trying to keep some noise off of the big list. Though one of my favourite things will remain Koha listserv messages in languages other than English. :)
My 2 beads worth, Brooke
_______________________________________________ Koha mailing list http://koha-community.org Koha@lists.katipo.co.nz http://lists.katipo.co.nz/mailman/listinfo/koha
-- Elaine Bradtke Data Wrangler VWML English Folk Dance and Song Society | http://www.efdss.org Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regent's Park Road, London NW1 7AY Tel +44 (0) 20 7485 2206 (This number is for the English Folk Dance and Song Society in London, England. If you wish to phone me personally, send an e-mail first. I work off site) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Registered Company No. 297142 Charity Registered in England and Wales No. 305999 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Writing about music is like dancing about architecture" --Elvis Costello (Musician magazine No. 60 (October 1983), p. 52)
I think that we should also, perhaps, meet, or divide, into regions of North America like Northeast Users of Koha (NUK or NEUK... :) , Southwest Users of Koha, etc..much like the old Codi groups did). And then have an annual meeting somewhere in North America. Notes, videos, etc., can be shared amongst the various regional groups after their meetings. Just my 2cents. Scott Kushner Middletown Library Middletown, NJ ________________________________________ From: koha-bounces@lists.katipo.co.nz [koha-bounces@lists.katipo.co.nz] on behalf of Elaine Bradtke [eb@efdss.org] Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2013 7:11 PM Cc: Koha list Subject: Re: [Koha] Koha Users of North America Email List I'm ambivalent about the usefulness of a North American mailing list, except that I suppose it might help enhance a sense of community over what is a rather wide swath of landmass. But I also fear that it will dilute the usefulness of this list which has proven invaluable to so many. However, I think a regional meeting would be a grand thing. As someone who has to pay for any travel to Koha meetings, I was thrilled the last one was within easy striking distance of home (not in London, as the sig file might suggest, but the west coast of North America). It was a huge learning experience for me, and Koha has benefitted as well because my other half - the computer expert part of the team, has been inspired to contribute patches. The more people we can get involved on a local(ish) level, the better I'd say. Elaine On Tue, Dec 17, 2013 at 9:23 AM, BWS Johnson <abesottedphoenix@yahoo.com>wrote:
Salvete!
The mailing list in question is open to anybody to subscribe to and (once it accumulates traffic), its archives will be visible to anybody. To
questions about discriminatory intent or outcomes before it fairly gets off the ground, is at best premature. I will presume that you are raising
raise this
concern in good faith, but request and expect that you extend the same presumption of good faith in turn.
In especial in this case. Nora has been a solid Community member for many years at this point. The consortium she represents is one of our singular best test cases anywhere at all, since it is massive AND divers. Frankly, if it weren't for her, we'd be a much smaller lot of users and much further away from discussing a regionally specific listserv. So thank you, Nora. :)
I have no desire to see things become insular, either. However, as a Community on the whole now, we're much larger than we were a decade ago. As Johnson points out, big is different. In this case, I think people are just trying to keep some noise off of the big list. Though one of my favourite things will remain Koha listserv messages in languages other than English. :)
My 2 beads worth, Brooke
_______________________________________________ Koha mailing list http://koha-community.org Koha@lists.katipo.co.nz http://lists.katipo.co.nz/mailman/listinfo/koha
-- Elaine Bradtke Data Wrangler VWML English Folk Dance and Song Society | http://www.efdss.org Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regent's Park Road, London NW1 7AY Tel +44 (0) 20 7485 2206 (This number is for the English Folk Dance and Song Society in London, England. If you wish to phone me personally, send an e-mail first. I work off site) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Registered Company No. 297142 Charity Registered in England and Wales No. 305999 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Writing about music is like dancing about architecture" --Elvis Costello (Musician magazine No. 60 (October 1983), p. 52) _______________________________________________ Koha mailing list http://koha-community.org Koha@lists.katipo.co.nz http://lists.katipo.co.nz/mailman/listinfo/koha
Hi, On Tue, Dec 17, 2013 at 6:20 PM, Scott Kushner <skushner@mplmain.mtpl.org>wrote:
I think that we should also, perhaps, meet, or divide, into regions of North America like Northeast Users of Koha (NUK or NEUK... :) , Southwest Users of Koha, etc..much like the old Codi groups did). And then have an annual meeting somewhere in North America.
Notes, videos, etc., can be shared amongst the various regional groups after their meetings.
One thing to consider is that it doesn't have to take much to host a one-day or even half-day local Koha event. If you're located in an area where there's at least one other Koha library within reasonable driving distance, all you really need to host an unconference [1] is time, a meeting room, and the desire to promote the event. Everything else, including internet access and even coffee and snacks, is optional. This can scale up. There are certainly larger geographic areas in North America where there's a high enough concentration of Koha users to support a regional event. And if somebody wants to run such an event... go for it: speak up, say what you want to do, and gather some like-minded people to help. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unconference Regards, Galen -- Galen Charlton Manager of Implementation Equinox Software, Inc. / The Open Source Experts email: gmc@esilibrary.com direct: +1 770-709-5581 cell: +1 404-984-4366 skype: gmcharlt web: http://www.esilibrary.com/ Supporting Koha and Evergreen: http://koha-community.org & http://evergreen-ils.org
Salvete!
One thing to consider is that it doesn't have to take much to host a one-day or even half-day local Koha event. If you're located in an area where there's at least one other Koha library within reasonable driving distance, all you really need to host an unconference [1] is time, a meeting room, and the desire to promote the event. Everything else, including internet access and even coffee and snacks, is optional.
This can scale up. There are certainly larger geographic areas in North America where there's a high enough concentration of Koha users to support a regional event. And if somebody wants to run such an event... go for it: speak up, say what you want to do, and gather some like-minded people to help.
Once again, my arm can be twisted to host at whatever level. Doesn't even require that much twisting, I just don't want to throw a party and have no one show. :) All I ask is that y'all let me pick dates, or let me in on the voting so that I can express whether they are inconvenient to me or no. #justsayin Cheers, Brooke
Hi Brooke and all, Once we have proposals in hand, we intend to allow voting on which proposal and dates appeal to the most people. At that point we will move the conversation to the kohana email list and extend an invitation for voting there. So make sure you sign up for the kohana email list if you'd like to vote on dates and location of a Koha North America meeting. Thanks, Nora ________________________ Nora Blake MassCat Manager Massachusetts Library System P.O. Box 609 South Deerfield, MA 01373-0241 508-357-2121 x123 866-627-7228 Email: nblake@masslibsystem.org AIM: noraatmls -----Original Message----- From: koha-bounces@lists.katipo.co.nz [mailto:koha-bounces@lists.katipo.co.nz] On Behalf Of BWS Johnson Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2013 11:17 AM To: Galen Charlton; Scott Kushner Cc: Koha list Subject: Re: [Koha] Koha Users of North America Email List Salvete!
One thing to consider is that it doesn't have to take much to host a one-day or even half-day local Koha event. If you're located in an area where there's at least one other Koha library within reasonable driving distance, all you really need to host an unconference [1] is time, a meeting room, and the desire to promote the event. Everything else, including internet access and even coffee and snacks, is optional.
This can scale up. There are certainly larger geographic areas in North America where there's a high enough concentration of Koha users to support a regional event. And if somebody wants to run such an event... go for it: speak up, say what you want to do, and gather some like-minded people to help.
Once again, my arm can be twisted to host at whatever level. Doesn't even require that much twisting, I just don't want to throw a party and have no one show. :) All I ask is that y'all let me pick dates, or let me in on the voting so that I can express whether they are inconvenient to me or no. #justsayin Cheers, Brooke _______________________________________________ Koha mailing list http://koha-community.org Koha@lists.katipo.co.nz http://lists.katipo.co.nz/mailman/listinfo/koha
participants (7)
-
BWS Johnson -
Chris Cormack -
Elaine Bradtke -
Galen Charlton -
Nora Blake -
Paul A -
Scott Kushner