Koha: 25 Years of Progress in Supporting Libraries
Marshall Breeding has been tracking the progress of Koha since its development and initial deployment for the Horowhenua Library Trust through its current status as the library management system with the most implementations globally. This keynote will highlight the major milestones along the way of its impressive journey and will include data and trends from Library Technology Guides and other resources that document the contributions to the library community.
Marshall Breeding (Library Technology Guides)
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM (ET)
Break
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM (ET)
Decoding Koha
Koha basics that will cover some of the history of Koha, some of the key jargon, and information about how the koha-US community and larger international Koha community work.
Bob Bennhoff (Colorado Library Consortium) Jessie Zairo (ByWater Solutions)
11:45 AM – 1:15 PM (ET)
Lunch: On your own
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM (ET)
The Power of Regional Koha Groups: Strength in Numbers
Learn how forming a regional Koha user group can supercharge your skills, simplify your workflows, and build a support system you can rely on. This session shares the success of Koha NTX, a 21-library collective transforming how members use Koha—together.
Mollie Myers (Euless Public Library) Wally DesChamps (Prosper Community Library)
2:15 PM – 3:15 PM (ET)
It’s Getting Hot in Here! Using XML in Authorized Values for Heat Zone Usage Analysis
Bring a fan! Sue and Steve are going to turn up the heat on using data on collection use to maximize library space.
Stephen Spohn (Ocean State Libraries) Sue Rousseau (Brownell Library, Home of the Little Compton Free Public Library)
In this session, I’ll go over some customizations I’ve made to help staff with their daily workflows.
Juliet Heltibridle (Rapid City Public Library)
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (ET)
UX, Bugs, Etc.
A brief overview of user experience design principles, followed by some examples of local Koha customizations and bugs that bring user experience woes out of the dark and into the light.
Jason Robb (Southeast Kansas Library System)
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM (ET)
Break
10:45 AM – 11:45 AM (ET)
SIGS: Cataloging and Web Development
11:45 AM – 1:15 PM (ET)
Lunch: On your own
1:15 PM – 3:15 PM (ET)
Working Session
Open time to discuss, test, and practice the tools and concepts we’ve been discussing. We’ll split into informal topic-based groups for hands-on work with topics such as system configuration, SQL, jQuery/CSS customization, and more.
SUE-duh-NIM-ih-ZAY-shun: Find it behind the pharmacy counter! Side effects may include awesome Koha reports and happy library directors.
Valerie Burnett (ByWater Solutions) Stephen Spohn (Ocean State Libraries)
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (ET)
Book it!: Using the Koha Bookings Module
There won’t be personal pan pizzas, but we will be discussing the relatively new-to-Koha Booking module.
Kristi Krueger (Cuyahoga County Public Library) Martin Renvoize (Open Fifth)
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM (ET)
Break
10:45 AM – 11:45 AM (ET)
SIGs: Circulation and Baby Devs
11:45 AM – 1:15 PM (ET)
Lunch: On your own
1:15 PM – 1:30 PM (ET)
Group Photo
1:30 PM – 3:15 PM (ET)
Working Session
Open time to discuss, test, and practice the tools and concepts we’ve been discussing. We’ll split into informal topic-based groups for hands-on work with topics such as system configuration, SQL, jQuery/CSS customization, and more.
3:15 PM – 3:30 PM (ET)
Break
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM (ET)
Boutique Customer Service with Purchase Suggestions
Looking for a way to please your customers and boost circulation? Consider using Koha’s integrated Suggestion module for purchase suggestions. With a dedicated hold for the the customer and a streamlined acquisitions workflow, purchase suggestion are a win win. Come hear how Cuyahoga County Public Library configured and is using the module.
An Overview of the Acquisitions module and how it can streamline your acquisitions workflow.
Rhonda Kuiper (Round Rock Public Library) Jessie Zairo (ByWater Solutions)
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM (ET)
Lunch: On your own
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM (ET)
Seamless Cataloging with BTCat Integration in Koha
For Koha users, the BTCat Integration will allow a seamless integration from retrieving records from BTCat and bringing them right over to Koha through an API. Listen as the team from ByWater, CCPL, OSL, and B&T discuss how they worked together to make this cataloging integration a success.
Jessie Zairo (ByWater Solutions) Miranda Nero (Ocean State Libraries) Lori Ann Thorrat (Cuyahoga County Public Library) Travis Kelly (Baker & Taylor) Nick Clemens (ByWater Solutions)
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM (ET)
The Impact of AI on Libraries
Representatives from ByWater Solutions and Equinox discuss how generative AI has led to new challenges for web-based library software and how they’ve worked to mitigate these disruptions.
Brian Pichman (ByWater Solutions) Galen Charlton (Equinox)
2:30 PM – 3:00 PM (ET)
Wrap Up
Conference Registration
Conference registration has closed. Thanks you!
Venue & Travel Info
Venue
Providence Public Library 150 Empire Street Providence, RI 02903 Phone: 401-455-8000
Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport (PVD)
Only 10 minutes from downtown Providence, Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport is easily accessible to Boston, Cape Cod and Southeastern New England. Located in nearby Warwick, RI, the airport is a popular alternative to Boston’s Logan Airport.
Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport offers an average of 100 nonstop daily flights daily via major carriers, with convenient connecting options to the rest of the world. This award-winning airport was named one of the Top Ten Domestic Airports in Travel + Leisure’s 2023 “World’s Best Awards.”
The InterLink transportation system offers scheduled rail service from the airport to Providence and Boston. For more information, visit flyri.com or call 888-268-7222.
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Boston Logan International Airport features nonstop air service from more than 100 worldwide destinations. Located less than 50 miles from Providence, Logan offers convenient transportation options from Boston, including bus service pick-up within steps of all five of its airport terminals. Peter Pan’s 10 daily departures leave directly from Logan to downtown Providence, and Amtrak and commuter rail service is readily available from Boston.
Train Service
Providence is located on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor between Washington, D.C., New York City and Boston. High-speed Acela Express train service transports passengers from New York City to Providence in about two and a half hours. For tickets call 800-USA-RAIL or visit amtrak.com.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) runs lowcost commuter trains to Providence from Boston and other points in Massachusetts. Call 800-392-6100 or visit MBTA.com for schedules and fares.
Bus Service
Peter Pan Bus (888-751-8800 or peterpanbus.com) and Greyhound (800-231-2222 or greyhound.com) have stations in Providence. Megabus (877-462-6342 or megabus.com) offers round-trip bus service between Providence and New York City. For local public transportation, the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) runs buses and trolleys statewide. Call 401-781-9400 or visit ripta.com.
Driving Directions
Located at the intersection of I-95 and I-195, Providence is 50 miles from Boston (about a one-hour car ride) and 185 miles from New York City (about three hours by car).
Airlines
Allegiant Airlines 702-505-8888 allegiantair.com American Airlines 800-433-7300 aa.com Breeze Airways flybreeze.com Delta Air Lines 800-221-1212 delta.com JetBlue 800-538-2583 jetblue.com Southwest Airlines 800-435-9792 southwest.com United Airlines 800-241-6522 united.com
Car/Shuttle Services & Limousines
Airport Taxi & Limo 401-737-2868 airporttaxiri.com All Occasion Transportation 401-312-0945 alloccasionlimo.com Arrow Prestige Limousine 401-383-5600 arrowprestigelimo.com DATTCO Coach & Tour 800-229-4879 dattco.com Lyft lyft.com Moe’s Limousine 401-428-0882 moeslimori.com Peter Pan Bus Lines 401-751-8800 peterpanbus.com RI Public Transit Authority 401-781-9400 ripta.com Sentinel Limousine 401-434-2700 sentinellimo.com Uber 617-297-8184 uber.com Zipcar 866-494-7227 zipcar.com
Graduate by Hilton – 0.3 mile Graduate by Hilton Providence 401-421-0700 11 Dorrance St Providence, RI Built in 1922, this is the oldest hotel in Providence. Originally known as The Biltmore Hotel, it is rumored to be a haunted hotel.
Omni Providence – 0.3 mile Omni Providence Hotel | Hotels in Providence, RI 401-598-8000 1 West Exchange St Providence, RI This hotel is attached by a bridge walkway to the Providence Place Mall as well as the RI Convention Center.
Neptune – 0.1 mile Accommodations | Neptune 122 Fountain St Providence, RI Built in 1912, 122 Fountain Street was used as a shelter run by the Episcopal church and also operated as several adult entertainment establishments known for their illegal actions including a strip club called the Sportsman’s Inn. Elements of the hotel’s design and decor reference the building’s origins. In 2014 the building was turned into the hotel that stands there today.
All delegates, speakers, sponsors and volunteers at any Koha event are required to agree with the following code of conduct. Organisers will enforce this code throughout the event.
The Quick Version
Koha event organisers are dedicated to providing a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, or religion. We do not tolerate harassment of event participants in any form. Sexual language and imagery is not appropriate for any event venue, including talks. Event participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the event without a refund at the discretion of the event organisers.
Harassment includes, but is not limited to:
Violent threats, intimidation or personal insults directed against another person
Verbal, graphic or written comments related to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race or religion
Posting sexually explicit or violent material
Stalking or following, including harassing photography or recording
Sustained disruption of talks or other presentations
Inappropriate physical contact or sexual attention
Posting (or threatening to post) other people’s personally identifying information
Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior
Repeated harassment of others. In general, if someone asks you to stop, then stop
The Less Quick Version
Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. Sponsors are also subject to the anti-harassment policy. In particular, sponsors should not use sexualized images, activities, or other material. Booth staff (including volunteers) should not use sexualized clothing/uniforms/costumes, or otherwise create a sexualized environment.
If a participant engages in harassing behavior, event organisers retain the right to take any actions to keep the event a welcoming environment for all participants. Event organisers may take action to redress anything designed to, or with the clear impact of, disrupting the event or making the environment hostile for any participants.
If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of event staff immediately. Event staff can be identified by a clearly marked “STAFF” badge, button or shirt.
Event staff will be happy to help participants contact hotel/venue security or local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of the event. We value your attendance.
We expect participants to follow these rules at all event venues and event-related social activities. We think people should follow these rules outside event activities too!
This code of conduct is borrowed, slightly modified, from the folks at Evergreen who borrowed it from the folks at GopherCon, who borrowed it from JSConf, with permission. A section is adapted from the OpenStack Summit Code of Conduct.
Contact Us
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