The Project

     Koha@Buffalo is a project which allows MLS practicum students to experience a real world systems implementation. The Koha library software employs the increasingly popular LAMP architecture - the Linux operating system, Apache Web server, MySQL database, and the Perl. programming language. It offers an automation solution for small corporate, departmental, not for profit, libraries and information centers, or for institutions in nations with emerging economies.

     In this phase of the project, four practicum students and an MLS candidate Systems Administrator, are using Koha to describe the collections of multi-lingual books, photography, and archaeological field notes in the Goetz Library of the UB Classics Department. This material is typical of the sort of unique, locally originated material not usually contained in large national databases. A second phase will incorporate staff development materials at the UB Center for Teaching and Learning.

     Practicum participants gain systems implementation experience and facility in dealing with a variety of data. As well, "lessons learned" and software enhancement requests are fed back to the Koha software development team, made up of volunteers from around the world..