Open Source Software and Community Activism: The Radical Reference Model presented at NCOR, 2007.

1. Survey the room to see what the level of technical and library expertise is, and, if it's a small group, what people want to get out of the session.


2. Open source development and librarianship: perfect examples of organized resistance


3. Introduction to Radical Reference (mission and tactics)


4. InterActivist Network model


• Network of trust
  
• Build vs. steal (f/oss vs. piracy)
  
• Low maintenance
  
• Digital representation of real-world community
  
• association with other technology groups built through active collaboration on individual projects (tao, silc) (autonomedia, Info Exchange) (IAA, txtmob) (Mayfirst/Peoplelink, USSF)
  
• small scale (think of low-power FM vs. Democracy Now, both are valueble, one is easier for small groups to replicate)


5. F/OSS definition & history
   
   • what we mean by free
     
   • Licensing: protecting the public domain from capitalism
     
   • Google (when free is not free)
     
   • Community centric decision making
     
   • Open source development contrasted with organizing work
     
   • Openness, transparency
   
   
6. Privacy vs. openness in libraries and Rad Ref


7. Tools


• Drupal content management system
  
• LightningBug "activist mobilization toolkit"
  
• GAIM and Adium IM clients and SILC secure communications
  
• Wiki collaborative content
  
• Mantis bug tracker
  
• TXTMob cell phone distribution lists


8. Favorites from the group


• Amarok media player for Linux
  
• Audacity audio editor
  
• Blender 3D rendering

• Cinelerra media editing for Linux
• Firefox web browser
  
• GIMP graphic/image creation/manipulation (alternative to photoshop)

• Grass GIS
• Linux operating system
  • Ubuntu Linux (best for desktop use)

  • Debian Linux (favorite for servers)
  
  
• OpenOffice and NeoOffice Microsoft Office clones
  
• QGIS GIS
  
• Scribus desktop publishing

• Songbird media player
  
• SourceForge repository of f/oss tools

• VLC media player
9. Barriers to using open source tools


10. The Internet as a mass movement
    
    • Techies as activists
      
    • Getting help (search on your error messages)
      
    • Giving back (blog your experiences and problems)(participate in development community as a user)
    
    
11. Open discussion