Realizing the potential of open source software in libraries

  F.R.Sumer,  P.Hangsing,  A.R.D.Prasad

The potential of open source software are immense when it comes to implementing them in libraries. Libraries are realizing that such an environment promotes a sustainable software development cycle in which users, producers and service providers of such open source products have an important role to play to improve the products. While the cost involved when opting for open source alternatives are comparatively less compared to proprietary software products however what is more significant are the values that developers shared through their work that make Open Source Software (OSS) important for libraries functionally and economically. Implementation of such products in libraries are becoming popular due to the quality of the software at a lower cost alongwith the flexibility that they offer in the customization of the features as per the library requirement. The remote possibility of being locked-in with a single vendor for support along with the presence of a vibrant community for sharing of information further draws open source software development activity similar to librarianship. Adopting open source software have an effect on staffing in libraries though to the advantage of libraries. However, to realize the complete picture of adopting open source software to a library’s advantage, librarians need to be aware of the limitations that are involved with respect to usability of open source software to avoid unwanted consequences.

Keywords- Open source software, libraries, digital libraries, librarianship

Unique Identification Number - IJEDR1704110
Page Number(s) - 680-683
Pubished in - Volume 5 | Issue 4 | November 2017
DOI (Digital Object Identifier) -    http://doi.one/10.8/ijedr.17496
Publisher - IJEDR (ISSN - 2321-9939)

  F.R.Sumer,  P.Hangsing,  A.R.D.Prasad,   "Realizing the potential of open source software in libraries", International Journal of Engineering Development and Research (IJEDR), ISSN:2321-9939, Volume.5, Issue 4, pp.680-683, November 2017, Available at :http://www.ijedr.org/papers/IJEDR1704110.pdf