The library community is a buzz about open source software. Open source usually refers to an application whose source code is made available for use or modification as users see fit. Make sense? Probably not! Would it help if you knew that open source is not just about programming, but about following a philosophy?

Still confused? Not surprising. What will open source mean to our libraries? More flexibility and freedom than software purchased with license restrictions. This is an important path for libraries to consider. Why open source? Because both the open source community and the library world live by the same rules and principles.

Nicole Engard, author of Practical Open Source Software for Libraries
(http://opensource.web2learning.net) will give you the facts and dispel myths about open source. This presentation will not only introduce librarians to what open source is and what it means for libraries, but also provide attendees with links to a toolbox full of freely available open source products to use in their libraries.

Takeaways:
• Define open source and be able to answer basic questions about
what open source is and what it can be used for
• List open source applications for the library, home and office
• Compare open source applications to traditional proprietary options

 Specific Location: Mid-County Regional Library - Charlotte Co.
in the Computer Lab
2050 Forrest Nelson Blvd
Port Charlotte, FL 33952-2128
(941) 764-1422

Below is a link to map directions:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=Mid+County+Regional+Library,+Port+Charlotte,+FL&ie=UTF8&hq=Mid+County+Regional+Library,&hnear=Port+Charlotte,+Charlotte,+Florida&z=13&iwloc=A