[Isis-users] ABCD and corona... is there still a future ?

Fri Mar 27 15:03:20 CET 2020

Acuerdo, Ernesto… 

Eso de que somos los más frágiles, cada día se es más joven, por supuesto.

Abrazos!!!  pero igual, cuídate!

María Mercedes MacLean

mamemaclean en gmail.com

gaspyy60 en gmail.com

3m en proyectoleonardo.com.ar

3m en mamercedesmaclean.com.ar

Visite mi sitio Web

www.mamercedesmaclean.com.ar <http://www.mamercedesmaclean.com.ar/> 

  _____  

De: isis-users [mailto:isis-users-bounces+mamemaclean=gmail.com en iccisis.org] En nombre de Ernesto Spinak
Enviado el: viernes, 27 de marzo de 2020 09:32 a.m.
Para: Egbert De Smet; 'isis-users'
Asunto: Re: [Isis-users] ABCD and corona... is there still a future ?

Good points!

thanks Egbert

from my house, locked up for two weeks by the quarantine
They say that I am a population at risk, calumnia !!!

I am younger every day
greetings to all

Ernesto Spinak

  _____  

De: isis-users <isis-users-bounces+ernesto_luis_96=hotmail.com en iccisis.org> en nombre de Egbert De Smet <egbert.desmet en uantwerpen.be>
Enviado: viernes, 27 de marzo de 2020 8:55
Para: 'isis-users' <isis-users en iccisis.org>
Asunto: Re: [Isis-users] ABCD and corona... is there still a future ? 

Dear colleagues (sorry, English only this time, but : translate.google.com or deepl. com, excellent tools !) ,

Questions about ABCD and its future have been asked a few times now on this list, out of serious concerns and under pressure from higher institutional authorities to consider changing to other software.

To really reply to such challenges we would need to write a full book... but let me try to put some basic elements here. The 'Unique Selling Points' (USP's) - meaning they mostly lack with the 'competition' - of ABCD which I see are the following (you decide on the order of importance) : 

1. ABCD is more than a library system, it can as well manage your repositories, scientific abstract-databases, factual databases, documentation centers, archives, musea... and with the 'meta-search' multi-database integrated search capability (which will also be preserved in the new OPAC) this provides a more practical solution to end-users who don't have to (learn to) search all these different databases for which different softwares exist. For end-users the 'books' functions of libraries no longer are that important, so being capable of other functions is crux. Also from the perspective of the library management this has advantages : instead of needing experts on all separate solutions (koha, dSpace, Calibre...) one expertise can do - this is important in case of being a smaller library which has to be self-reliant.

2. ABCD is based on a long-standing expertise of the ISIS-community in librarianship (co-ordinated at that time by UNESCO, somehow also by FAO and WHO), allowing high professional standards without compromising like most commercial solutions do. Also without being 'married' (=internally technically bound) to MARC, which as a standard is criticized and disappearing, but providing other standards like CEPAL, DC, ISADG, the future of ABCD does not depend on the future of one standard. 

3. ABCD is all about flexibility : as a librarian/system-manager you can fully adjust it to your needs without real programming skills. Many ABCD-users have done so to a degree which would not have been possible with other softwares unless major software-development efforts had been involved.

4. ABCD is still a fully 'non-profit' community, respecting the needs of the poorest in the library world. This is at the same time its main weakness : no commercial (e.g exLibris) or semi-commercial (PMB, koha) support companies exist.

There are other advantages but less 'unique' : FOSS, high performance (speed of retrieval e.g.). Speed is no longer an issue as it seems, unless one has to deal with older hardware. Being FOSS only really has an advantage when one invests in local technical capacity rather than buying it in - and the desirability for this depends on your local conditions.  

Probably not a USP but worth to mention : ABCD is still maintained and runs on both Linux and Windows-servers. This has become less and less obvious but e.g. Windows is still considered important by also smaller libraries without much ICT-expertise.

Being depending on external, mostly Western software companies or communities is not seen as a problem by most managers who prefer 'prestigious' names, we know. But that is not our (or my) view on international co-operation and emancipation. 

Functions-wise and technically ABCD is not deprived, most meaningful functions even if advanced, are there. We don't consider this anymore as a deciding criterion.

It has become more and more difficult in almost any library environment, it seems, to defend a policy based on the above arguments. It can only work when one is very strongly convinced that these are indeed positive and important. But librarians also need to take a bit of a distance from their own old-style fashions and professional beliefs (books on shelves, cataloging rules, circulation systems with sophisticated rules...) even if these are not disregarded in ABCD - to the contrary -, : they simply are becoming less important. 

One last word : I think some of us - even if we are few - have proved that still ABCD software development is continued even if users-community support and appreciation has become less obvious and clear. From that perspective ABCD is still quite alive. 

Just my 2-cents... well actually 0 cents since we are fully non-profit 😉 

Egbert de Smet
Universiteit Antwerpen

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From: isis-users <isis-users-bounces+egbert.desmet=ua.ac.be en iccisis.org> on behalf of Ma.Mercedes MacLean <gaspyy60 en gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, March 27, 2020 12:19 AM
To: 'Guilda Ascencio'; 'Alberto Katz'
Cc: 'isis-users'
Subject: Re: [Isis-users] ABCD and corona... 

Hola Guilda, Egbert y todos los demás colegas…

Espero sigan ahí, y que la pandemia y la cuarentena obligatoria, en algunos lados, los toque ni un poquito.

Yo, por mi lado, no sé si será el CoronVIDA  quien me mate o será el encierro en el que me tienen. 

Mi terapia es caminar… y aunque haga un 8 en el living por 40 minutos, no es lo mismo.

Espero que pase… que para todos sea un “ya pasó”

Pasemos el ABCD.

Acá Guilda nos dice que  “tenemos ahora dos versiones: la 2.0 y la 1.6, cada una con mejoras importantes 

En realidad por lo que leo y veo hay, en esta etapa, para aquellos que apostamos al ABCD, varias versiones 1.6  la a   1.6 b y así unas cuantas.

De hecho muchos hemos metido mano.

Yo agregué Tesauros a varias bases y también me sale bien, en una base, la relación con autores…

Y tengo a la fecha un temario de curso con esos agregados que tengo que pasarle a Guilda para que lo vea, y tengo unas 4 personas que me están pidiendo una capacitación. Un curso, como aclara Egbert.

Y los días pasan y hay que ganarle al tiempo y/o que pase como en Uruguay, que muchos pasaron al PMB, incluido hasta Estudios de abogados. Bibliotecas privadas y de Asociaciones chicas… pero con muchos volúmenes. Y que toman Bibliotecarios.

Por eso es que mi pregunta, duda o circunstancia es ¿Cómo seguimos? Y ¿Cuándo seguimos?

Si alguno comparte ese duda y /o esa circunstancia… que cuente que ha hecho con su propio ABCD.

Abrazos a todos y “calcetines arriba” que no nos pase nada a ninguno!!!!!

Ahora le hago un texto más prolijo en inglés para Egbert

María Mercedes MacLean

gaspyy60 en gmail.com

 <mailto:mamemaclean en gmail.com> mamemaclean en gmail.com

gaspyy2002 en yahoo.com.ar

Visite nuestros proyectos

www.proyectoleonardo.com.ar/proleon <https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.proyectoleonardo.com.ar%2Fproleon&data=02%7C01%7Cegbert.desmet%40uantwerpen.be%7C39f80c9de1aa427321df08d7d1dfc0e9%7C792e08fb2d544a8eaf72202548136ef6%7C0%7C0%7C637208631257828532&sdata=MaSzqe%2FHmGPmxnw9Qubg5RVC60tzUqDmlSHTIvW1IS0%3D&reserved=0> 

 Hello Guilda, Egbert and all the other colleagues…  

I wait they continue there, and that the pandemic and the obligatory quarantine, in some sides, the touch neither a little bit.  

I, for my side, don't know if it will be the CoronVIDA who kills me or it will be the confinement in which have me.   

My therapy is to walk… and although makes a 8 in the living for 40 minutes, it is not the same thing.  

I hope it happens… that is a for all "it already happened"  

Let us pass the ABCD.  

Here Guilda tells us that " tenemos ahora dos versiones: la 2.0 y la 1.6, cada una con mejoras importantes "  

In fact for what I read and I see there is, in this stage, for those that we bet to the ABCD, several versions 1.6 a .. 1.6 b and this way some how many.  

In fact many have put hand.  

I added Thesauruses to several bases and it also leaves well me, in a base, the relationship with authors…  

And I have to the date a course temario with those attachés that I have to pass Guilda so that  sees it, and I have some 4 people that are requesting me a training. A course, like Egbert clarifies.  

And the days pass and it is necessary to win at the time y/o that it happens like in Uruguay that many passed the PMB, included until lawyers' Studies. Private libraries and of small Associations… but with many volumes. And that Librarians take.  

For that reason it is that my question, doubts or is circumstance How continue? And When continue?  

If some shares that doubt y/o that circumstance… that it counts that has made with their own ABCD.  

Hugs to all and "socks up" that doesn't pass us anything to none!!!!!

  _____  

De: isis-users [mailto:isis-users-bounces+gaspyy60=gmail.com en iccisis.org] En nombre de Guilda Ascencio
Enviado el: jueves, 26 de marzo de 2020 06:57 p.m.
Para: Alberto Katz
CC: isis-users
Asunto: Re: [Isis-users] ABCD and corona...

Holla Alberto. 

Actualmente estamos trabajando en eso. La situación que se nos presenta es que tenemos ahora dos versiones: la 2.0 y la 1.6, cada una con mejoras importantes.  Entonces, nuestro trabajo ahora es fusionar ambas versiones para obtener una única versión con todas las mejoras que se han ido impelementando a través de las sugerencias de los usuarios de ABCD..

También estamos trabajando en un nuevo OPAC pensamos que con muy buenas prestaciones. 

En cuanto tengamos listo  la versión Beta (muy pronto) se las haremos llegar.

Uno dice que quiere sacarle el provecho al tiempo de encierro pero es difícil.

Saludos

Guilda

Saludos

Guilda

On Wed, Mar 25, 2020 at 10:12 AM Alberto Katz <alkatz en mecon.gov.ar> wrote:

Hola Egbert ya estaría disponible la nueva versión? pregunto porque es un muy buen momento para poder hacer pruebas.

Saludos
Alberto

  _____  

De: "Egbert De Smet" <egbert.desmet en uantwerpen.be>
Para: "Natalia Salcedo" <nasalcedo en gmail.com>
CC: "isis-users" <isis-users en iccisis.org>
Enviados: Miércoles, 25 de Marzo 2020 11:46:12
Asunto: Re: [Isis-users] ABCD and corona...

Perdón, 

no era un 'curso' pero un taller verdadero (workshop) en locual algunos expertos trabajarían en el software. Se trata de un trabajo muy detallado y avanzado.

Después podrían ser organisados los cursos.

Egbert de Smet
Universiteit Antwerpen

  _____  

From: Natalia Salcedo <nasalcedo en gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2020 3:26 PM
To: Egbert De Smet
Cc: isis-users
Subject: Re: [Isis-users] ABCD and corona... 

Estimado Egbert:

Podría darse online el curso postergardo? Para que todos los que usamos el sistema podamos participar?

Saludos de Argentina.

El mié., 25 mar. 2020 a las 11:15, Egbert De Smet (<egbert.desmet en uantwerpen.be>) escribió:

Queridos usuarios de ABCD, [English below]

Saludos cordiales desde una Bélgica cerrada por corona, no diferente de la mayoría de sus situaciones como sabemos.
Tenemos algunas malas y buenas noticias sobre ABCD que me gustaría publicar aquí. 

En el momento de escribir esto, normalmente habríamos terminado un taller de participación limitada pero intensivo (en México) para preparar la nueva versión ABCD2.2. con el nuevo OPAC incluido y algunas otras buenas novedades. No es necesario informarles que este taller no se materializó por razones obvias y ahora estamos buscando formas de trabajo alternativas mientras que el típico "impulso" de un taller físico como este se pierde inevitablemente, muy desafortunadamente. 
Por lo tanto, disculpas por el retraso que va más allá de nosotros, como es obvio. 

Sin embargo, seguimos trabajando en algunos otros temas relacionados con el ABCD, entre otros: 
- un manual sobre cómo recuperar datos e información del exterior (por ejemplo, otros sistemas como los sistemas de registración de estudiantes)
- una configuración con todas las bases de datos relacionadas con 'Secs-Web' pero usando Central, preservando algunas características avanzadas muy utíles como la generación automática de registros de existencias (si todavía hay gente interesada en la gestión de series en ABCD ?)
- mejor/más poderoso scripts de importación e indexación de texto completo para repositorios, etc.

Deseándoles a todos una buena salud perdurable, física y mental!

============================ English below 

Dear ABCD-users,

warm regards from a corona-locked Belgium, not different from most of your situations as we know.

We have some bad and some good news on ABCD which I’d like to post here. 

At the time of writing this normally we would have finished a limited-participation but intensive workshop (in Mexico) to prepare the new version ABCD2.2. with the new OPAC included and some other nice novelties. Needless to inform you that this workshop did not materialize for obvious reasons, and we are now looking for alternative ways of working while the typical ‘momentum’ of such a physical workshop unavoidably is lost, most unfortunately. 

So, apologies for the delay which goes way beyond us, as goes without saying. 

However we kept and keep working on some other ABCD-related issues, among others : 

- a manual on how to retrieve data and information from outside (e.g. other systems like student registration systems)

- a setup with all ‘Secs-Web’ related databases but using Central, preserving some nice advanced features like the automatic generation of holdings-records (if there are still people interested in serials management in ABCD ?)

- better/more powerful full-text import- and indexing scripts for repositories etc.

Wishing you all enduring good physical and mental health !

Egbert de Smet

Universiteit Antwerpen

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-- 

Natalia Salcedo
Bibliotecaria - Documentalista
Área Editorial

Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo.

Universidad Nacional de La Plata
Dirección: Calle 47 no. 162 y 117 
B1900AMW LA PLATA, Argentina

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