[Koha] Serials and Koha

[Pat Eyler]

We've long known that Koha[1] needs solid support for serials[2], but up to
this point haven't been willing to commit the resources to work on it
for fear of gettin it wrong.  We're ready to change that.  Koha now
sports a group of nearly 30 developers, many of whom are quite
active.  There's also a large group of libraries around the world who
are using Koha, along with many others who are looking seriously at it.

We'd like to combine the strengths of these groups to develop between
two and five serials modules for Koha.  These modules should provide
serials support ranging from very simple for small libraries (public
schools and the like) up to very complete solutions for large
libraries.

My plan at this point is as follows:
   through 31 Jan 2003 -- hold an open discussion at
   koha2010 at kohalabs.com[3] about the functional needs of a serials
   module.  This discussion can (should) include dividing
   functionality among the various modules, but should not be a
   technical discussion about how to implement the functionality

   1 Feb 2003 through 28 Feb 2003 -- create a series of design specs
   for the modules.  This discussion will occur (mostly) on the
   koha-devel at lists.sourceforge.net[4] mailing list.  Periodic drafts
   will be posted to the koha at mail.katipo.co.nz[5] and
   koha2010 at kohalabs.com mailing list for feedback.

   1 Mar 2003 on -- work on developing the modules.  The simplest
   module will be the first target, with others folowing based on
   interest from the developer and user communities.  If one or more
   libraries would like to sponsor the development of a specific
   module out of sequence, or a developer or company would like to
   develop one of the modules, that would be fine -- we'd ask that any
   development be done 'in the open' with CVS access provided to the
   other Koha developers.

-pate

ps  Please feel free to redistribute this ... I'd like to get as broad a
discussion as possible.  If you're not interested in Koha, but are
interested in serials, please feel free to join the discussion and
implement the ideas in your own ILS of choice.

Pat Eyler
Kaitiaki/manager               migrant Linux sys admin
the Koha project               ruby, shell, and perl geek
http://www.koha.org            http://pate.eylerfamily.org


[1] Koha is a free ILS produced by the Koha project.  For more
information, please visit http://www.koha.org

[2] Serials are items published periodically (in serial), like
magazines, newspapers, etc.

[3] To subscribe, send an email to koha2010-subscribe at kohalabs.com and
follow the directions in the response you recieve.

[4] To subscribe, please go to
http://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/koha-devel and fill out
the form.

[5] To subscribe, please go to http://koha.org/mailing/ and fill out
the form provided.