Open Fifth

This week we welcomed over 50 of our customers from libraries across the UK and beyond to London for a packed day of #opensource library updates, shared learning and networking. Every year the event makes us so proud of the library community we get to be a part of with our customers!

Lauren (@purton.bsky.social) and Helen are kicking off Green Libraries Week at the CILIP Green Libraries Conference 🌱 A fantastic event filled with insightful talks and practical workshops for positive change.

@cilip.bsky.social

AI Wars - The Libraries Fight Back Open Fifth explains how library management systems are fending off the AI bot attacks… for now.

Check out Jonathan Field's CILIP (@cilip.bsky.social) article 'AI Wars - The Libraries Fight Back' for an update on our battle with AI bots, insights into why library catalogues are so highly targeted, and the role of open source and open data in an #AI future.
www.cilip.org.uk/news/news.as...

We had an amazing time in Nashville for AspenCon 2025! There are many things to take away from the conference, but the power of Aspen Discovery as a tool to promote your library, extending the in-person #library experience into online environments, is one that cannot be emphasised enough!

Next month we'll be participating in a HELibTech webinar with Ken Chad on the topic 'Open by default: The role of open source software in building flexible, future-ready higher education libraries'. Join Jonathan, Sam and Andrew on Monday 13th October, 14:00-15:00
www.helibtech.com/helibtech-we...

WOOSH Our September 2025 film, book and TV reviews WOOSH is Open Fifth's team 'what's on our shelves' post, where we review what we've been reading, watching and doing throughout the month

Check out the Open Fifth team's film, book and TV reviews for September! This month's edition features sharks, aliens, nonnas and a sales-beetle, with an unintended but very strong sci-fi theme 🪲

openfifth.co.uk/whats-on-our...

We have a packed agenda this year and are thrilled to welcome Jane Secker to deliver a keynote talk on 'Open Practices, Copyright and the Rise of GenerativeAI: exploring the challenges and opportunities for libraries'.

More info and the agenda available on the event page.

Open Fifth Customer Day 2025 - Open Fifth Customer Days are annual events held by Open Fifth where we invite all customers to join us for a day of networking, sharing practices, workshops and talks

📢 Calling all Open Fifth customers! Registration is open for Customer Day 2025.
We invite our customers to join us for a day of networking, sharing practices, workshops and talks.
📍 Friends House, London, NW1 2BJ
🗓️ 5 November 2025
🕙 10:15 – 16:30
openfifth.co.uk/event/open-f...

Fiona and Lauren standing behind an 'Open Fifth' branded table with 'The Library is Open' banner in background. Against a wall backdrop of old stone.

Fiona @fionaborthwick.bsky.social and Lauren @purton.bsky.social had a great time last week at the London Libraries Conference in the beautiful Guildhall building. We spoke with libraries from across London about open source, Koha, Aspen Discovery - and how our notebooks and stickers are the best 📔

"Poster over a duo-tone image of London. "Open Fifth We're attending the London Libraries Conference. Visit Fiona and Lauren at the Open Fifth stand to talk about open source libraries, demo products, or just to say "hi!" London Libraries Conference 2025, Guildhall, London September"

The London Libraries Conference is next Friday, 19 September! Catch up with Fiona (@fionaborthwick.bsky.social) and Lauren (@purton.bsky.social) at the Open Fifth stand 👋

WOOSH Our August 2025 film, event and game reviews WOOSH is Open Fifth's team 'what's on our shelves' post, where we review what we've been reading, watching and doing throughout the month

The Fantastic Four, a Royal Family weekend, Belgian beer and well written women in horror… It's time to find out what's on the shelves* of the Open Fifth team this August. Read our film, game, and event reviews from the month.
*or screens, bar tabs, schedules...
openfifth.co.uk/whats-on-our...

Koha development - From idea to implementation In this week's WOOM, Martin takes a look at the Koha development community process and how you can all get involved.

"As someone who’s spent years working within the Koha community, I can tell you that being a #Koha library means you’re part of something truly special – a vibrant global community that genuinely shapes the future of library management systems." openfifth.co.uk/whats-on-our...

I think "frogs" is a go-to here! 🐸
-Lauren

Chair, UK Wide LGBTQ+ Chair Role Description Purpose of role: To act as one of the leading officers for the CILIP LGBTQ+ Network. Inform the decisions made to raise awareness and advise Library, Knowledge, and Infor...

The CILIP LGBTQ+ Network is seeking a new Chair!
This key role is your chance to lead, coordinate, connect and represent. Details & how to apply: informationprofessionaljobs.com/jobs/chair-u...
Any questions or fancy an informal chat? Reach out to Dr Beth @drbeth.bsky.social - email in link

Text: Join Open Fifth at AspenCon 2025 | October 8-10 Nashville, TN Registration deadline 15 September

AspenCon25 is landing in Nashville this October! Join in-person or virtually for a packed schedule of presentations, talks and workshops all about Aspen Discovery, the #opensource #library discovery layer. Registration closes 15/Sept. community.aspendiscovery.org/AspenCon2025 #AspenCon25

Open Fifth team recognised for Payroll Giving Open Fifth introduced Payroll Giving, providing all UK-based team members with a new way to make monthly charitable donations.

We are celebrating the team behind Open Fifth for their generous giving: Your continued support makes a real and lasting difference to countless good causes 💚 Their generosity has been recognised by Charities Trust with the Gold APGO Payroll Giving Quality Mark - openfifth.co.uk/news/payroll...

QR code to subscribe to the Open Fifth mailing list: https://openfifth.us3.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=4223af8912173576012a5abe3&id=73a3f48235

Subscribe to the Open Fifth mailing list to stay up to date with us and our #opensource #library news and how-tos! Our next newsletter will land in subscriber inboxes on 19/August 🗞️

openfifth.us3.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=...

Helen Symington will show us around AToM, designed for scalability and flexibility, it supports multilingual content, hierarchical data structures, and highly customisable themes.

Want to learn more about AToM? Reach out to helen.symington@openfifth.co.uk.

Webinar - Introducing Archives: AToM Archival description & access software Free lunchtime, 30 minute bi-monthly webinars covering topics on open source, LMS and the community

📢 Archives - this one’s for you. Join us on 21 August for an intro to AtoM webinar. AToM (Access to Memory) is an open source, web-based app which allows institutions to provide and manage public access to their archival holdings.

21 August | 12:30 - 13:00

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/webinar-in...

Relationship counselling Public Libraries and Software Vendors: how to get the most out of the relationship.

Did you spot us in the most recent CILIP newsletter? 👀 Check out our article on how public #libraries and library vendors can work together to get the most out of their relationship, with tips and advice through procurement and beyond. www.cilip.org.uk/news/news.as...

Library Open Source Software Shared Practice and Experience Forum Open Fifth invites non-customers across all sectors to join us for an afternoon of learning and exchange

Library Open Source Software Shared Practice and Experience Forum
🗓️ Thursday 7 August 2025 | 14:00-16:30
📍 Friends House, 173-177 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BJ

Are you looking for new library software or to learn more about open source? Register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/1401230571...

🖥️ 8 July, 12:30–13:00 - Webinar: Accessibility in Koha LMS and Aspen Discovery: The essentials series.

🖥️ 17 July 12:30–13:00 - Webinar: Customising your library’s OPAC: What you can do with Koha...

Open Fifth Events These are events Open Fifth is running in the future.

This month we have free webinars on accessibility for Koha LMS and Aspen Discovery, as well an overview of how you can customise your library's Koha OPAC. Register via Eventbrite to attend.
www.eventbrite.com/cc/open-fift...

open source library software event Open Fifth invites non-customers across all sectors to join us for an afternoon of learning and exchange all about open source library software from our wonderful customer community.

Agenda and guest speakers announced for the Open Fifth 'Library Open Source Software Shared Practice and Experience Forum' on 7 August! Learn from the community about what open source library software can do for your library - openfifth.co.uk/event/7-augu...

We're so thrilled to welcome @heythroplib.bsky.social to the Koha community as an Open Fifth customer after their LMS launched last week. Check out their article about using Koha to modernise the management of their collection and improve access for users.

WOOSH Our June 2025 book, performance, TV and game reviews WOOSH is Open Fifth's team 'what's on our shelves' post, where we review what we've been reading, watching and doing throughout the month

The Open Fifth team have reviewed the books, TV shows, games and events that have been keeping us busy throughout June. This month's special 'What's on our shelves' edition is packed with works focused on LGBTQ+ creators, narratives and events - and much more openfifth.co.uk/whats-on-our...

Homosaurus, an LGBTQ+ linked data vocabulary, is now in Koha Pride has arrived in Koha this month through a new plugin, the Homosaurus - an international LGBTQ+ linked data vocabulary

Pride has arrived in Koha this month through a new plugin, the Homosaurus 🌈🦕 The Homosaurus is an inclusive vocabulary for describing LGBTQ+ resources in the collections of libraries, archives, museums, and other institutions. Read more about the dev & how to access: openfifth.co.uk/news/homosau...

Fighting the AI bots Since around March this year we have seen an increase in AI bots, with library catalogues an attractive source as they contain rich metadata

AI bots crawling websites are slowing down sites with unprecedented traffic, consuming resources, and affecting user experience. We have seen an increase in the amount of bots crawling our library sites, catalogues present an attractive source due to rich metadata
openfifth.co.uk/fighting-the...

How to get involved with the open source library community On 19 June 2025 we held the webinar 'How to get involved in the open source community?', watch the recording and read our summary here.

UN Open Source Week 2025 continues! On theme - our webinar today by @fionaborthwick.bsky.social was all about how you can get involved in the #opensource library community, as much or as little as you like. A recording and resources are available here: openfifth.co.uk/how-to-get-i...

YouTube video by Open Fifth Open source software: Developed with libraries, for libraries

Like libraries, #opensource is for everyone. The software is developed by communities for free use by all. Our flash film 'Open source software: Developed with libraries, for libraries' aired last week @librariesconnected.bsky.social. Learn more about our development process youtu.be/u781mTamXWk?...