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THE POWER OF REGIONAL KOHA GROUPS

MOLLIE MYERS (EULESS PUBLIC LIBRARY)

WALLY DESCHAMPS (PROSPER COMMUNITY LIBRARY)

Presented by :

Slide 01

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

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WELCOME TO OPEN SOURCE - TEXAS STYLE

INTRODUCTION

Hi, I’m Mollie

Euless Public Library

Suburb city right next to the DFW Airport

Library Staff Member by Leaps

Library Circulation Supervisor by day

Wife and mother of 2 by night

Slide 02

Hi, I’m Wally

Prosper Community Library

And we’re going to walk you through how to create, maintain, and utilize a regional group as well as SIGS

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DFW LIBRARIES

ONE METRO, MANY SYSTEMS

DFW Metroplex

Size: 9,286 square miles

Cities: 200 incorporated cities

Population: over 7 million

Economy: diverse with strong sectors in tech, finance, healthcare & transportation

DFW Libraries

Public: at least 64

Academic: at least 6 major universities

Specialty: Multiple: public system special collections, university rare collections, law libraries, archives like Fort Worth History Center

Slide 03

Causeiq.com, Wikipedia, arcgis.com

www.dfwspartans.org

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KOHA-US NTX

HOW IT WAS BORN

Began as an idea in 2019 from McKinney Library.

COVID gave it a rough start.

Started to really gain momentum in 2023 and now brings together over 20 DFW libraries quarterly for Koha-related chit-chats!

Slide 04

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Slide 05

THE SPARK

IF YOU CAN DO IT - I CAN DO IT

Similarities:

Shared geography
Same ILS

Differences

Different communities and cultures
Different leadership overseeing change
Different positions leading the Koha charge inside their library
Different skill and knowledge levels

The beauty of this group is that it coaxes out the wonder and discovery of the Koha system.

The customizability, the dare-to-try, and the freedom to think about it differently. And seeing that you have support. You are not alone.

This is where I get a little foo-fooey.

When you make a connection with someone and you peer pressure them into "checking out one meeting to see what it's like" and then you spend that time dampening fears they had before coming, you find this beautiful moment where they go "oh, well if you can do it then I can, too." And then they go back to their libraries, test, fail, post on Mattermost for some assistance, the group responds and you find your people.

Wally is going to talk about this in a minute, but Koha does a fantastic job at this already but having a group like this instills confidence in those that find the US or, heaven-forbide, international Koha support systems a little overwhelming. The "man, I don't want to look like an idiot who doesn't know what they're doing." Oh, Mollie's up here flaunting her idiocy and no one is batting an eyelash. I can do this.

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OPEN

SOURCE

KOHA IS A GIFT

“With each meeting I gain a boost of knowledge and confidence that has made me more capable and ready to explore other tools Koha has to offer.”

“Every meeting I attend I walk away with multiple new tools and ideas that I have put into practice at my own library.”

Slide 06

“A KOHA IS A GIFT THAT COMES WITH OR FULFILS AN OBLIGATION. IT IMPLIES THAT THERE IS AN ONGOING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE GIFT GIVER AND THE GIFT RECEIVER AND THAT THIS WILL BE AN EXCHANGE AT VARIOUS STAGES DURING THE RELATIONSHIP.” - JOANN?

I'm the poster child for why this group should exist. I don't know anything. I don't know SQL. I don't know javascript. I didn't know what API was or a SIP connection. And if you're sitting in front of me right now, also not knowing what any of that is then buckle up but also relax. Koha's got you. ByWater's got you. Heck, I've got you. (contact info listed at the end)

I remember David getting up during one of my first Koha meetings and showing us how he used a Raspberry PI to create a test environment. Some real CIA stuff - I tell you.

I stared in fascination.

And then I said, "quick question: what do you do in a test environment. Why do you need that?"

Oh how young I was.

But this group isn't just for expert computer whizzes to share their knowledge. It allows front line staff to communicate with technology specialists to help them understand how they are using Koha on the floor and for supervisors to understand how librarians copy catalog and how funds should be tracked, how formatting should be changed, and all the million bajillion amazing ideas that come from communicating with one another. And then we take from the meeting what we wanted, what we liked, and we see if our folks at our library might benefit from it as well.

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Central Location
Hybrid Meeting Option
Email Group
Online Forum

Bring It In

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Slide 07

There is something one gains by meeting in person over a virtual setting. The conversations that happen during breaks, before and after the meeting, and the faces put to names give one so much more than just information from the agenda items and meeting topics.

This is how networking works and how support work friendships are developed.

However, the metroplex is huge, every library system is ran differently, so have a virtual option when one cannot attend in person provides that opportunity to not miss out and to stay a part of the great thing.

We remind folks and build rapport via the email group.

And we help to solve each other's problems and challenges on Mattermost, our online forum in between quarterly meetings.

I feel a comfort in ask my query of my NTX folks first. And then if we can't solve it I'll take to the States. I have yet to have a problem need international guidance so far. Whew.

Have someone from each system

Aspen, non supported, pos etc. Get to knots each other

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Quarterly Meetings

Lack of Agenda

An MC to lead the thing

The Meeting

WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS

Slide 08

At this time we've kept the meeting pretty loosy goosy.

No agenda.

Take your own notes.

Share what you promised to share in Mattermost or by email. :)

The most I do is send out a reminder email and post about the next meeting and I follow up and share any notes I happened to take when I was talking...which is rare. :)

As the host we book the room, set up the hybrid option.

Everyone else just come. Just attend. Just be there. Speak when you want to. Ask questions if you want to.

There is no pressure and if we don't have much to discuss then we'll end the meeting and go about our day. I mean, I haven't seen this happen yet.

We dedicate two hours for the meeting and we have yet to have one end in less than an hour.

And sometimes, the topics will shift away from Koha altogether and we'll learn more about each other's processes, procedures, communities, positions, philosophies and more!

What a successful meeting needs is really, I believe, is at least 3 things.

A space in which to have it.

Communication and promotion of it's existence.

And an in-person speaker to keep the conversation going.

And a conversation between friends can bringup history

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KOHA-HOOD

Engage with the community, by:

Attending KohaCon
Joining chat and mailing lists
Attending meetups

Support Koha development, by:

Testing and writing code
Sponsoring fixes through a vendor

Share knowledge, including:

Usage statistics
Library data
Documentation
Translations

Slide 09

IN ACTION

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LET’S TALK SIGS

WALLY TAKES THE WHEEL

Let’s segue into Special Interest Groups (SIGs) on a national level—what they are, why they matter, and how they connect to our regional experience.

Slide 10

Let's dive into Special Interest Groups, or SIGs, and why they're an integral part of our community. [Pause briefly to let the title sink in]

First, think of SIGs as national-level groups that hold a special place in the way we collaborate and grow. They bring together people with shared interests and expertise, allowing us to focus deeply on specific areas. [Pause for emphasis]

Now, why do SIGs matter? Well, they create a platform where we can connect our local experiences to a broader, national conversation. This bridge helps us both share our regional insights and learn from others across the country.

So, as I take the wheel, let's explore how these groups are shaping our community and enhancing our collective understanding and innovation. [Smile and prepare to transition to the next slide]

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SIGS

Put on your snorkles and goggles and let’s look at the world of SIGs, shall we?

A DEEPER DIVE

Slide 11

[Start with a brief pause, making eye contact with the audience.]

"Now that we've talked about the concept of SIGs, let's explore the current Special Interest Groups and their focus areas."

[Engage with the audience by gesturing toward the slide to draw attention.]

"These groups are vital as they provide a platform for in-depth discussions on various Koha modules. Each SIG has a unique focus area, allowing members to dive deeply into specific topics, share insights, and offer support to one another."

"What makes these groups so special is the community they foster. Whether you're a seasoned expert or just starting out, SIGs offer the chance to connect with peers who share your interests and challenges."

[Pause briefly to let this point resonate.]

"By creating these spaces, SIGs not only support individual learning but also contribute to the collective growth of our Koha community."

"So, put on your snorkles and goggles and let’s look at the fascinating and mysterious world of SIGs, shall we?"

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SIGS

Group leader: Rhonda Kuiper

Module Focus: Acquisitions

Meetings: 3rd Tuesday of the month @ 9:00 am PT / 10:00 am MT / 11:00 am CT / Noon ET

ACQUISITIONS

Slide 12

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SIGS

Group leader: Lisette Scheer

Module Focus: Setup and use of Koha Testing Docker, testing and signing off on bugs via KTD, and learning to develop in Koha.

Meetings: 2nd Thursday of the month @ 10:00 am PT / 11:00 am MT / 12:00pm CT / 1:00 pm ET

BABY DEVS

Slide 13

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SIGS

Group leader: Angela Berrett

Module Focus: Cataloging! Tricks of the trade, issues with imports, z39.50, MARCs, all things Cataloging

Meetings: 1st Thursday of the month @ 8:00 am PT / 9:00 am MT / 10:00am CT / 11:00 am ET

CATALOGING

Slide 14

[Start with a brief pause, making eye contact with the audience.]

"Let's talking Cataloging. Those in the cataloging world are truly their own breed, aren't they?"

"Once Acquisitons has done their thing, the catalogers are the ones to make sure those items become part of the library's system so that both staff and patrons can work with and within the collection in a standardized, uniform, and organized way."

"Heather Hernandez was the previous leader of this group and had to step away (hopefully temporarily) for personal reasons. She is known for her enthusiastic love of all things library, especially Cataloging, and is the queen of the Thumbs Up signal and clutching of pearls.

"Effective cataloging is at the heart of our mission to provide not only staff with accurate and vital information about our collections, but also the system's source of all things about our collection, from importing practices, MARCs standards and customizations, to specific library designations such as 'Award Winners," Topics, genre, hardback, paperback, and anything that can help staff and patrons find their next excellent read or resource."

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SIGS

Group leader: Jon Fredrick & Georgette Rogers

Module Focus: Online Patron Access Catalog (OPAC), Circulation, Patrons, User Services.

Meetings: 4th Wednesday of the month @ 10:30 am PT / 11:30 am MT / 12:30 pm CT / 1:30 pm ET

CIRCULATION

Slide 15

[Start with a brief pause, making eye contact with the audience.]

"Now that we've talked about the concept of SIGs, let's explore the current Special Interest Groups and their focus areas."

*If Jon and/or Georgette is willing, allow them to tell a little about Circulation.

"No only is the native Koha OPAC discussed, discovery system catalogs like Aspen are discussed."

"The Circulation SIG encourages ILS users, in this case, Koha users, to think through HOW they want their library to operate with regard to its collection."

"Every library operates differently; everything from lending periods, to who can borrow what and how much they can borrow [at a time], to determining type and categories that define what a library has to offer and how their items can be best utilized and made available to their patrons."

"The Circulation SIG not only considers staff needs but also the needs of the patrons we serve and developments and implements systems in Koha that can meet those needs both effectively and efficiently."

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SIGS

Group leader: George Williams

Module Focus: Multi-branch installation...and all things concortium related.

Meetings: 4th Thursday of the month @ 9:00 am PT / 10:00 am MT / 11:00 am CT / 12:00 pm ET

CONSORTIA

Slide 16

"Next we muddy the water with King George III trying to make sure his subjects in the Mother Country and the colonists are all on the same page."

"Well you know that outcome of his efforts, lets see if the library world can be more like the individual colonies, not states, who want to be their own individual entities while still wanting the full resources and operating privileges of the whole."

*If George is willing, allow him to tell a little about Consortia and the trials and tribulations that they present.

[Engage with the audience by gesturing toward the slide to draw attention.]

"These groups are vital as they provide a platform for in-depth discussions on various Koha modules. Each SIG has a unique focus area, allowing members to dive deeply into specific topics, share insights, and offer support to one another."

[Emphasize the significance with a slight pause.]

"What makes these groups so special is the community they foster. Whether you're a seasoned expert or just starting out, SIGs offer the chance to connect with peers who share your interests and challenges."

[Pause briefly to let this point resonate.]

"By creating these spaces, SIGs not only support individual learning but also contribute to the collective growth of our Koha community."

[Conclude with a warm smile, inviting any questions or thoughts from the audience.]

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SIGS

Group leader: TBD (If you are interested in leading the group, please email us at info@koha-us.org)

Module Focus: Configuring, populating, and maintaining the koha-US demonstration site; exploring uses for the demonstration site.

Meetings: TBD

DEMONSTRATION

Slide 17

[Start with a brief pause, making eye contact with the audience.]

"As you know, anything you do in Koha is LIVE. So, trying new stuff without causing panic, uprisings and coups, there is a place where you can go 'where everybody knows your name.'"

"No, seriously, koha-US offers a demonstration site that you can go do to get help to try new things, or to see how the system reacts when you do 'X', or simply see what others are thinking about to make the user experience better."

"This group is currently leader-less and is very sad about this. This SIG has been somewhat dormant, but hopefully like the various sleeping volcanos in the Pacific ring of fire, it will wake up and return to a hulking yet beautiful presence in the koha-US user resource world."

*If Andrew is willing, allow him to tell a little about the demonstration site and how it can be of value to the community.

"If you're interested in being the teacher that supervises the playground of koha-US Elemetary School, bite the bullet and take the lead to get this group back off the ground. This is one of the safe-spaces for those who want to try new things without blowing up the system nationwide!"

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SIGS

Group leader: Juliet Heltibridle

Module Focus: Administration, System Preferences, Reports

Meetings: 2nd Tuesday of the month @ 8:00 am PT / 9:00 am MT / 10:00 am CT / 11:00 am ET

SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION

Slide 18

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SIGS

Group leader: Lucas Gass

Module Focus: Koha UX/Interface design, HTML/jQuery/CSS/customization, Plugins

Meetings: 3rd Thursday of the month @ 10:00 am PT / 11:00 am MT / 12:00 pm CT / 1:00 pm ET

WEB DEVELOPMENT

Slide 19

Last but not least...

"Web Development is an area where we are allowed to be creative. This is where systems data and the patron & staff experiences are married."

"Each library has its own "brand" and style of presenting itself. This SIG is where the various tidbits of "how-to" is discussed."

Talk about my start up experience with Lucas and how it has led to more independence and ability to create and/or expand our library's presence through effective communication, presentation of information, and "curb appeal" of the library.

"This SIG is primarily focused on Koha based web-based communications. It deals with a lot of customizations to help with workflow to making the patron experience both via communications and in-house systems (i.e., OPACs) work for the users."

"This is not an Aspen group, but Lucas and many of the regular attendees are knowledgeable enough about Aspen that they can help you know "what" to talke to the Aspen gurus so that Aspen's "curb appeal" is effective and user friendly."

[TRANSITION]

"A goal of this conference was to encourage networking and knowledge sharing. To accomplish that, we established time for most of our SIGs to have time for folks to check them out. I strongly encourage you to visit these valuable resource groups...and we start today at 3:30 with Acquisitions & Consortia."

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REGIONAL GROUPS

VS. SIGS

COMPARE & CONTRAST

Break down the pros and cons of each.

Regional groups = local, all-the-things support.

SIGs = specific, Koha module-focused, and broader audience.

Slide 20

[Start with a warm, engaging tone to set the stage for comparison.]

Let's take a moment to explore the distinct roles and benefits of Regional Groups and SIGs within our community.

[Pause briefly to let the audience process this setup.]

Regional Groups are all about local engagement. They offer comprehensive support for a wide range of needs—think of them as your go-to for all-the-things support. If you're looking for a sense of community and face-to-face interaction with those nearby, Regional Groups are the way to go.

On the other hand, SIGs, or Special Interest Groups, dive deep into specific aspects of the Koha modules. They bring together a broader audience, united by a shared focus. If you have a particular interest in Koha’s elements, like UX or system preferences, SIGs offer a platform for specialized collaboration and innovation.

[Emphasize this point with a slight pause.]

Both formats have unique advantages. Whether you thrive on local community support or are driven by specialized, focused discussions, there’s a group that caters to your needs.

[End with an inclusive call to action.]

Consider what suits your style and professional goals best, and engage with the community that resonates with you.

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HOW TO START A

REGIONAL GROUP

Email directors/supervisors/current contacts from neighboring libraries
Decide on a meeting location and book it
Leave that first meeting with a call-to-action to bring a friend to the next meeting or spread the word
Find your inner circle and divide the work: location host, Mattermost creation, email group creation
Provide snacks. ;)

STEP BY STEP

Slide 21

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Slide 22

SIG STARTER PACK

Wally’s guide for SIG newbies: start by lurking, learn what’s possible, blow up your Koha (kidding… kind of), and find your people.

JUMP RIGHT IN

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GROWING

COMMUNITY

ONE CONNECTION AT A TIME

What naturally comes out of all of this is the social connections through lunch meetings, casual chats, and shared struggles.

We build trust and knowledge through human connection.

Slide 23

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ALL ARE WELCOME

SERIOUSLY

We encourage everyone—introverts, extroverts, newbies, and regulars—to get involved.

There's a place and a value-add for everyone.

Slide 24

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Open Source thrives on sharing and collaboration. You get out what you put in—and the more we connect, the better we all get.

OPEN SOURCE WORKS

IF WE WORK IT

Slide 25

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Slide Ta-Da!

THANK YOU SO MUCH

QUESTIONS?

MOLLIE MYERS (EULESS PUBLIC LIBRARY)

WALLY DESCHAMPS (PROSPER COMMUNITY LIBRARY)

Presented by :