Daredevil: Brad LaJeunesse: Georgia Public Library Service, Atlanta.(Rebels)(Brief Article)

It's gutsy. No matter how you look at it, the decision by the PINES (Public Information Network for Electronic Services) Consortium to develop its own integrated library system (ILS) with open source software is daring. But Brad LaJeunesse, system administrator for the 251 public libraries (in 44 different systems) that comprise PINES, is quick to turn the question around. Is it any more daring than "installing a closed source proprietary software that you are not confident can handle the massive load and you are positive doesn't have the functionality that the PINES libraries require?"

Ultimately, LaJeunesse says, "When you get past the vendor blame game ... there is …