[Linux-aus] cancelling membership of Linux Australia; NLA losing bookmarks when they migrated to FOLIO

[Brian May]

Dwight Walker via linux-aus <linux-aus at lists.linux.org.au> writes:

> I complained to NLA if it was open source library software they could have
> emailed CSV of bookmarks to each user using SQL query like in Koha open
> source library software can do but they wouldn't or didn't know how and
> everyone now had to just start with no bookmarks again and dredge them up
> again somehow or find others or the same ones again by search in the time
> ahead.

In addition to the excellent advice from Kethy Reid, I would say you
need to be very clear on (a) just what is it you are complaining about
and (b) what would the other party need to do to rectify the situation.

Point (a) it is not clear if your complaint is that NLA lost your
bookmarks, if your complaint is they were not using open source software
in the past, or if your main complaint is that they didn't pick your
preferred choice of software. Yes, maybe one thing led to the other, but
important to try to stick to the one point.

It can get very confusing otherwise, and could for example lead to NLA
becoming very defensive about their choice of software which may just be
a distraction from dealing with your actual complaint.

Point (b) What would NLA need to rectify the complaint? If they had
backups, would sending you an export of your bookmarks be sufficient? If
they don't have usable backups, would an apology be sufficient? etc.

It is easy to discount (b) as obvious, but often it is far from obvious
for the other party.

And assume good faith. Mistakes can happen, even with open source
software :-)
-- 
Brian May @ Linux Penguins