[Koha] From The Kaitiaki

[Pat Eyler]

                                                   19 July, 2002
To the Koha community;

Bon Dia,
Well, I've heard a little bit of feedback on modules, and it seems
that most of you are leaning toward the idea of using more existing
Perl modules and needing fewer Koha specific functions.  If you still
want to toss in your thoughts, please do -- we need to come to closure
on this pretty soon though, so don't delay.

I'd still like to hear from people who are using Koha.  If you've got
a success story (or non-success story), please send it to me
(<kaitiaki at koha.org>).  I'd like to be able to use some of your
stories to help publicize Koha.  (And if you've had problems, perhaps
we can find a way to fix them.)

To help get a bit more data about Koha users (how many of you are
there, where are you located, etc).  We're starting to put together a
survey.  It will be hosted on the web, and I'll be sure to announce it here.


   Documentation
   The librarian specific manual has been written (thanks to Rosalie
   and her band of merry librarians).  Nick has given it a first
   review, and it is now in the hands of another reviewer (Brig McCoy,
   who's a new contributor).  With this, the manual is basically
   complete.  It's not done though.  Look for more information to be
   included as we go along.  If you think we've missed something in
   our efforts so far, please lend a hand.

   Translations
   The French translations are continuing apace.  The manual has gone
   through a first draft and is being reviewed.  The French Koha
   website is nearing completion, and the 'From the Kaitiaki' notes
   are being translated regularly.

   A second librarian has contacted me about a Spanish translation.
   Cristian and Enrique have been meeting together and have
   volunteered to start translating Koha and providing support to
   Latin American (especially Chilean) libraries interested in using
   Koha.  Let's wish them well.

   Community
   One of the most exciting things happening in the world of Koha is
   the increasing amount of visibility we're getting.  I've recently
   had email from New Zealand and New Caladonea about articles being
   written about Koha.  I've heard from people interested in seeing
   Koha translated into Arabic.  We've also seen some evidence that
   Koha is now in use on five continents.  We're also starting to get
   some notice outside the library world, most recently we were
   mentioned in the Linux Weekly News (in their 'Development
   Section').  Wow!  The future is looking bright.


Thanks again to everyone who has been putting time and energy into
making Koha into such a great application.

Obrigado
-pate


Pat Eyler
Kaitiaki of the Koha Project