Hi Marcel, Nice to get your email, and thank you kindly for the encouraging words. I'm a non-techie librarian, but I'm forwarding your letter to our chief programmer, and the koha developers list, both of whom will have wise words on the problems you raise. Thanks again. Cheers, Rosalie On 4 Jun 2002, at 12:12, Marcel (Free Thinker at Large) Gagné wrote:
Hello from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada!
Quick intro for starters. I write a number of Linux articles for various publications including Linux Journal, InformIT, SysAdmin, Unix Review, and others. I'm also the author of the book, "Linux System Administration, A User's Guide". Anyhow, I'm always on the lookout for new and cool things to write about and I've been looking at a couple of library automation systems that might be fun to cover. Incidentally, I used to work for Dynix, a (at one time anyway) rather large library automation software company. But I digress . . .
I've been taking Koha out for a spin and it looks like an excellent library automation system. I would like to write about it and give it some press, but there are a few problems that I wonder if you could address for me. For starters, I'm curious as to how close you are to the next release as this might answer some of my other concerns. There are only really two big issues for me. The first has to do with installation which seems rather complex and demands multiple servers (or virtual servers). I was able to get around that myself but it's a bit much to ask others who might be a tad less technically oriented (even if I do a good job of explaining <insert appropriate smiley here>).
Second (and this is a big one), is there a means to modify that fields on screen. The BIG REASON for this question has to do with the "Ethnicity" question on your borrower page. As this sort of question is strictly forbidden in North America, I can't possibly recommend Koha to my readers if this cannot be changed. It's an instant show-stopper.
Whether or not I can go ahead with the article at this time, I will say that I am impressed with the work you've done so far. I wish you the best.
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Marcel (Writer and Free Thinker at Large) Gagné Note: This massagee wos nat speel or gramer-checkered. Mandatory home page reference - http://www.marcelgagne.com/ Author : Linux System Administration, A User's Guide (ISBN 0-201-71934-7. Available NOW from Addison-Wesley) Join the WFTL-LUG : http://www.salmar.com/marcel/wftllugform.html