Roy Tennant has posted a Library Software Manifesto which was adapted from a talk he recently gave. It outlines the rights and responsibilities customers have in the relationship between libraries and vendors and libraries and patrons. This and John Blyberg’s ILS Customer Bill of Rights are two important documents that outline what we all should expect from our vendors, though Roy’s document also goes over what our responsibilities are in our dealings with the vendor and, more importantly, what our responsibilities are to our patrons. “I have a responsibility to put the needs of my users before my own” is an important point and if libraries had always taken that to heart, we probably wouldn’t be in the mess we’re in with our ILS.
Roy says the Library Software Manifesto is a living document, so if you want your 2 cents reflected in it, drop him a line with your suggestions.
