The document provides an overview of open source software (OSS) for library management systems (LMS) and digitization, highlighting its accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and customization options. It discusses the history of OSS, notable examples like Koha and Evergreen, and the growing adoption rates in libraries worldwide. The paper emphasizes the benefits of OSS, including no licensing fees and community support, while also noting challenges such as limited documentation and installation complexities.

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OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE : A STUDY
By
Iqbal Ahmad Ansari
Faculty Librarian, DEI, Dayalbagh, Agra
Contact No +91-9450427212, E-mail- Iqbal360@gmail.com

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INTRODUCTION
The article discusses the availability of information about
Open Source Software for LMS and digitization. The term
open source describes practices in production and
development that promote access to the end product's
source materials which is freely available throughout the
web.
The concept of open source and the free sharing of
technological information existed long before computers.
Now a day’s lot of open source software which is freely
available we can download and implement them for the
automation and digitations process.
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3. CONTD…
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Open source is an expression where it simply means that a
system is available to all who wish to work on it. A main
principle and practice of open-source software development
is peer production by bartering and collaboration, with the
end-product, source-material, and documentation available
at no cost to the public.
Many libraries, however, may not be able to afford
commercial products. Furthermore, some libraries may
have their own special requirements which may increase
the cost. As a result many institutes turn to open source
library management system software packages as their
alternatives.
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4. HISTORY
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1984 Richard Stallman formed Free
Software Foundation (FSF).
1991 Linus Torvalds developed Linux.
1994 Red Hat (Commercial Linux)
Company founded.
1998 Open Source Initiative (OSI) was
formed.
73% of free software register under GPL
Licence.
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WHAT IS OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE ?
Open source software is software for which the
source code is freely available. Open source
software is software that users have the ability to
run, distribute, study and modify for any purpose.
Open source refers to source code, the human-readable
computer code which is the origin, or
source, of the computer application.
Open source is a collaborative software-development
method that harnesses the power
of peer review and transparency of process to
develop code that is freely accessible.
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WHY NEED OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE ?
Cost of commercial software's is very high.
Commercial developers do not reveal the
source code of their programs.
Customization .
Easily available.
Not required any license.
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7. COST
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Spend some nominal cost for:
Staff Training
Software Development
Maintenance
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8. OSS YOU ARE ALREADY USING
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Firefox- a web browser
Wikipedia- an open encyclopedia
Linux an operating system
Apache a widely used web server software
MySql a datababe software
PhP/PERL used for scripting language
OpenOffice an Office suit like MS Office
Word Press a blogging platform
Drupal- a content management system
GIMP- an image Editor
Thunderbird a e-mail manager
Openproj a project management system
Songbird- a media player
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9. FEATURES
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Anybody can do anything with public domain work.
Free/Open Source software’s does not need the initial costs of
commercial software.
It enables libraries to have greater control over their computer
environment.
Free/Open Source ILMS have all the features of commercial
system available in the market.
Most of the free/open source ILMS are OS independent.
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SCOPE
Internationally accepted and implemented.
Librarytechnology.org does an annual survey of over 1,500 libraries.
2% noted in 2008 of those surveyed used open source ILS.
2009 the number increased to 8% and
12% of the libraries polled had adopted open source ILS 2010.
T oday more than 15% Library uses open source software.
Many open source library management software packages are available free of
cost on web.
Besides the availability of commercially indigenously designed and
developed software, a number of open source software like: Koha,
NewGenLib, Greenstone, DSpace, Evergreen, CDSInvenio,
PhpMyBibli, OpenBiblio etc.
Among the indigenously open source software Koha, NewGenLib, and
Evergreen are mostly used open source software for integrated library
management system and automation system and DSpace,
Greenstone, Eprints and Invenio are mostly used open software for
digitization of library.
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BLAKE CARVER’S MODIFICATION OF RANGANATHAN'S
LAWS FOR SOFTWARE:
Software is for use.
Every computer its users.
Every reader his source code.
Save the time of the user.
A system is a growing organism.
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Acquisition (ordering, receiving, and invoicing
materials)
Cataloguing (classifying and indexing materials)
Circulation (lending materials to patrons and receiving
them back)
Serial Management (tracking magazine and newspaper holdings)
OPAC (public interface for users)
Article Indexing
Inter Library Loan (ILL)
Electronic Material Management
Digital Media
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13. REVIEW METHODOLOGY
TABLE-1
GIVES THE LIST OF AVAILABLE SOFTWARE PACKAGES AND THEIR SOURCE ADDRESS FROM WHICH WE
CAN DOWNLOAD FREE OF COST.
OSS Open Source Software
Koha http://www.koha.org/
originated in
NewGenLib http://www.verussolutions.biz/
originated in
Evergreen http://www.open-ils.org/
originated in
Greenstone http://www.greenstone.org/
originated in
Dspace http://www.dspace.org/
originated in USA
Eprints http://www.eprints.org/
originated in UK
OpenBiblio http://obiblio.sourceforge.net/
originated in
OPALS http://www.mediaflex.net/
Open-source Automation Library System originated in
PMB PhpMyBibli http://www.pmbservices.fr/nouveau_site/ documentation.html
originated in French
Emilda http://www.emilda.org/
originated in Finland
Invenio http://invenio-software.org/
originated in
LearningAccess
ILS (LA ILS)
http://www.learningaccess.org/ils-system/
originated in
iVia http://ivia.ucr.edu/
originated in USA
BiblioteQ http://biblioteq.sourceforge.net/
MicroLCS http://www.avantilibrarysystems.com/ microlcs.html
originated in
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14. TABLE-2
GIVES FEATURE AVAILABLE FOR LIBRARY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FUNCTION AND SERVICES
OSS Acquisition Cataloguing Circulation OPAC Serial Control
Koha Y Y Y Y Y
NewGenLib Y Y Y Y Y
Evergreen limited Y Y Y limited
Greenstone Y Y
Dspace Y
OpenBiblio limited Y Y Y limited
OPALS Y Y Y Y
PMB Y Y Y Y Y
Emilda limited Y Y X
LA ILS Y Y Y X
iVia Y Y
BiblioteQ X Y Y X
MicroLCS Y developing Y
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TABLE-3
GIVES THE AVAILABILITY ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT SUPPORT
OSS Fully Support Partially Support Not Support
Koha √
NewGenLib √
Evergreen √
Greenstone √
Dspace √
Eprints √
OpenBiblio √
OPALS √
PMB √
Emilda √
Invenio √
LA ILS √
iVia √
BiblioteQ √
MicroLCS √
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16. TABLE-4
GIVES THE FEATURE OF INTER LIBRARY LOAN MANAGEMENT CAPABILITY
OSS Inter Library Loan Management Capability
Koha support MARC21, UNIMARC, import/export bibliographic records, allow third-party
add-ons, web- services, has option can-reserve-from-other-branches.
NewGenLib MARC21 support, Z39.50 support
Evergreen support search/retrieve via URL and Z39.50 servers.
OpenBiblio MARC support.
OPALS MARC support, Z39.50 support, interlibrary loan features among affiliation locations such
as requesting responding and tracking are supported.
PMB UNIMARC support, ability to import full bibliographic records.
Emilda MARC support, Z39.50 support
LA ILS MARC21 support, Z39.50 support, integrates and controls access to third-party databases
and Web-based resources.
BiblioteQ Z39.50 support.
MicroLCS None
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TABLE-5
GIVES THE ENVIRONMENT, REQUIRED DATABASES, LANGUAGES AND SUPPORTS
FOR OSS
OSS Environment Required databases Languages Supports
Koha OS independent Apache, MySQL Perl an active online community, a list of pay-for-support
companies.
NewGenLib OS independent PostgreSQL, JBoss
Application Server
JAVA an active online community including Forums
and documentation
Evergreen Linux PostgreSQL C, Perl, Python an active online community including FAQs,
Documentation, a supporting company.
Greenstone OS independent C++, Perl an active online community including related
information such as FAQs, consulting
company
Dspace UNIX-type OS JAVA an active online community including Forums
and Documentation
Eprints UNIX-type OS, Windows XP,
Vista, OS-X
Perl an active online community.
OpenBiblio Windows, Linux Apache, MySQL PHP an active online community including Forums,
Documentation, Add-ons, another active
community.
OPALS Red Hat, CentOS Apache, MySQL, Zebra Perl a supporting company.
PMB OS independent HTTP server, MySQL PHP a supporting company.
Emilda Windows with difficulties
Linux
A Web Server, SQL database
server, Zebra
PHP an online document and related information.
Invenio Unix-like OS Apache, MySQL Python an "as is" basis at [29], both free support via
community chartroom and paid supports are
available
iVia Linux Apache, MySQL C++, JAVA a site containing related information.
BiblioteQ OS independent PostgreSQL C++ a rather limited information web site.
MicroLCS UNIX, Windows a Web server JAVA an online document.
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COMMON AND ADITIONAL OSS SERVICES
Common library management system
services focused in this section
include
user/patron management, security,
statistical report generation
barcode management support.
remote access capability,
alert system,
RFID support,
multiple language support
and other supports.
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19. ADVANTAGES
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Not need any License- mostly issued under
an internationally accepted license access to
source code.
Ability and right to modify it.
Right redistribute modifications to benefit
wider community.
Free Excellent support networks Large and
enthusiastic user base.
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20. DISADVANTAGES
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Limited or no accountability Informal and
unaccountable support channels.
Installation is the most difficult part in
free/open source software.
Documentation is not sufficient for free/open
source library systems.
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21. CONCLUSION
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Many institutions may not be able to afford the cost of using
commercial products. Therefore, an alternative solution in such
situations would be open source software.
Today, many open source library management software packages
are available free of cost on web. Besides the availability of
commercially indigenously designed and developed software, a
number of open source software are available.
Among these open source software Koha, NewGenLib, Evergreen
and DSpace, Greenstone and Eprint with all the required models for
small to very large libraries and has been used for library
management systems and digitization project.
It is found that this automation and digitization projects will serve as
a model for any library. Being an open source, any Library wanted to
go for automation for their library housekeeping operations can
make use of this software.
This paper is focusing on reviewing open source library
management systems currently available and a sincere attempt has
been made towards focusing on the components, services,
capability and requirement of several open source software
packages.
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22. SUGGESTIONS
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Need for librarians to try with free/open
source softwares.
Need for constituting a committee consisting
of librarians and computer professionals.
Library professionals should be involved in
the free/open source ILMS development
projects
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23. REFERENCES
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24. CONTD…
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M. Breeding, Perceptions 2009: An International Survey of Library Automation, January 22, 2010, Retrieved January 30, 2011, [Available online:
http://www.librarytechnology.org/ perceptions2009.pl]
M. Breeding, Perceptions 2008: An International Survey of Library Automation, January 18, 2009, Retrieved January 30, 2011, [Available online:
http://www.librarytechnology.org/ perceptions2008.pl]
M. Breeding, Perceptions 2007: An International Survey of Library Automation, January 9, 2008, Retrieved January 30, 2011, [Available online:
http://www.librarytechnology.org/ perceptions2007.pl]
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Koha web site, http://www.koha.org
OpenBiblio web site, http://obiblio.sourceforge.net
Invenio main page, http://invenio-software.org/
Verus Solution main page, http://www.verussolutions.biz/index.php
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Tellico web site, http://tellico-project.org/
GCstar web site, http://www.gcstar.org/
MicroLCS web site, http://www.avantilibrarysystems.com/microlcs.html
OPALS functionality, http://help.opalsinfo.net/?page_id=486
Evergreen web site, http://www.open-ils.org/
Media Flex Inc, http://www.mediaflex.net/
Dspace main page, http://www.dspace.org/
Greenstone main page, http://www.greenstone.org/
iVia main page, http://ivia.ucr.edu/
Eprints main page, http://www.eprints.org/
BiblioteQ main page, http://biblioteq.sourceforge.net/
Open Bibliography working group page, http://openbiblio.net/
Equinox Software, http://esilibrary.com/
Emilda website, http://www.emilda.org/
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Koha supporting company, http://koha-community.org/support/paid- support/
LearningAccess ILS main page, http://www.learningaccess.org/ils- system/
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25. THANK YOU…
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