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Open Source Software and Libraries

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 369

Open Source Software and Libraries

Sukhwinder Randhawa*

Abstract:
Open source software is, software that users have the ability to run, copy, distribute, study, change, share and
improve for any purpose. Open source library software’s does not need the initial cost of commercial software and
enables libraries to have greater control over their working environment. Library professionals should be aware of
the advantages of open source software and should involve in their development. They should have basic knowledge
about the selection, installation and maintenance. Open source software requires a greater degree of computing
responsibility than commercial software. Library professionals do not think seriously about the advantages of open
source software for automation and hence are reluctant to use it. They do not have the expertise to support open
source software. Paper highlights major open source library software.

Keywords: Open Source Software, Open Source Movement, Library technology, Information Technology

Introduction

Open source software is computer software whose source code is available under a license (or
arrangement such as the public domain) that permits users to study, change, and improve the software,
and to redistribute it in modified or unmodified firm. It is often developed in a public, collaborative
manner. It is the most prominent example of open source development and often compared to user
generated content.

For many libraries, organizing their books and other media can be daunting task, especially as the
library grows with more material. Years age we had crude card catalogue systems (remember the Dewey
Decimal System) that kept things organized, but were difficult to maintain. With today’s computing
technology, organizing our libraries has never been easier or more efficient. Gone is the card catalogue
and in some libraries, it’s much easier to locate a book through and internet connection and picking it up
upon your arrival, rather then wasting the time scouring the aisles looking for your next read. Now just
because the world has been blessed with wonderful software solutions that make everything easier to do,
doesn’t mean that every library in the universe is using these solutions. Many Libraries do not have huge
amounts of money to burn, and any that they do get usually goes to purchasing additional resources.

Because of this need for software (and the installation and training costs associated with any), and
the lack of money available to spend on it, many libraries are left to fend for themselves when it comes
to staying up to date with the latest technology. Unless, of course, they embrace the open source
movement and use some of the countless software solutions available to help out. Most software that
we all use everyday is known as "proprietary", which in a nutshell means that it costs money and that
the actual code of the software is restricted, in that the code of the software cannot be modified, copied,
or changed from its original construction. The code is "unreadable" and pretty much is what it is. Open
source software, on the other hand, is quite the opposite. The open source mentality revolves around

* Assistant Librarian, Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID), Chandigarh, Email: [email protected]
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sharing and collaboration, and these two important elements describe open source software perfectly.
First and foremost, open source software is free for anyone to have; more importantly, not only is the
software free, but it is also free for anyone to copy, hack, modify, etc. This increases the possibilities of
a software program's potential because of this free-thinking model. Many large groups of programmers
have customized basic open source programs into whatever they deemed necessary, and have in turn
given these modifications back to the open source community for free where others can continue to build
on their work. There are many different kinds of open source software solutions out there today that
could be embraced by the library. There's basic operating system, document processing programs,
Library Management Software (LMS) and Digital Library software.

1. Open Source Movement

In 1998, a group of individuals advocated that the term free software be replaced by open source software
(OSS) as an expression which is less ambiguous and more comfortable for the corporate world. Software
developers may want to publish their software with an open source software license, so that anybody may
also develop the same software or understand how it works. Open source software generally allows
anybody to make a new version of the software, port it to new operating systems and processor
architectures, share it with others or market it. The aim of open source is to let the product be more
understandable, modifiable, duplicatable, reliable or simply accessible, while it is still marketable.
The Open Source Definition, notably, presents an open-source philosophy, and further defines a
boundary on the usage, modification and redistribution of open-source software. Software licenses grant
rights to users which would otherwise be prohibited by copyright. These include rights on usage,
modification and redistribution. Several open-source software licenses have qualified within the
boundary of the Open Source Definition. The most prominent example is the popular GNU General
Public License (GPL). While open source presents a way to broadly make the sources of a product
publicly accessible, the open-source licenses allow the authors to fine tune such access.
The "open source" label came out of a strategy session held in Palo Alto in reaction to Netscape's January
1998 announcement of a source code release for Navigator (as Mozilla). A group of individuals at the
session included Todd Anderson, Larry Augustin, John Hall, Sam Ockman, Christine Peterson and Eric
S. Raymond. They used the opportunity before the release of Navigator's source code to clarify a
potential confusion caused by the ambiguity of the word "free" in English. The 'open source' movement
is generally thought to have begun with this strategy session. Many people, nevertheless, claimed that the
birth of the Internet, since 1969, started the open source movement, while others do not distinguish
between open source and free software movements.
The Free Software Foundation (FSF), started in 1985, intended the word 'free' to mean "free as in free
speech" and not "free as in free beer." Since a great deal of free software already was (and still is) free of
charge, such free software became associated with zero cost, which seemed anti-commercial.

2. Advantages of Open Source Software

• Lower software costs: Open source solutions generally require no licensing fees. The logical
extension is no maintenance fees. The only expenditures are for media, documentation, and
support, if required.

• Simplified license management: Obtain the software once and install it as many times and in as
many locations as you need. There’s no need to count, track, or monitor for license compliance.
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• Lower hardware costs: In general, Linux and open source solutions are elegantly compact and
portable, and as a result require less hardware power to accomplish the same tasks as on
conventional servers (Windows, Solaris) or workstations. The result is you can get by with less
expensive or older hardware.
• Scaling/consolidation potential: Again, Linux and open source applications and services can
often scale considerably. Multiple options for load balancing, clustering, and open source
applications, such as database and email, give organizations the ability to scale up for new
growth or consolidate to do more with less.
• Support: Support is available for open source—often superior to proprietary solutions. First,
open source support is freely available and accessible through the online community via the
Internet. And second, many tech companies are now supporting open source with free online and
multiple levels of paid support. For example Liblime.
• Escape vendor lock-in: Frustration with vendor lock-in is a reality for all IT managers. In
addition to ongoing license fees, there is lack of portability and the inability to customize
software to meet specific needs. Open source exists as a declaration of freedom of choice.
• Unified management: Specific open source technologies such as CIM (Common Information
Model) and WBEM (Web Based Enterprise Management) provide the capability to integrate or
consolidate server, service, application, and workstation management for powerful
administration.
• Quality software: Evidence and research indicate that open source software is good stuff. The
peer review process and community standards, plus the fact that source code is out there for the
world to see, tend to drive excellence in design and efficiency in coding.

3. Open Source Software for Libraries:

3.1. Library Automation:
3.1.1. Koha: Integrated Library System
Koha is a promising full featured open source ILS (integrated library system)
currently being used by libraries all over the world. For those of you out there
unfamiliar of what an ILS is, well, it is a system of keeping track of the
operations of a library - payroll, expenses, purchases, and most importantly, keeping track of the various
media being checked out by the librarians patrons. Many smaller libraries cannot afford to purchase,
install, and maintain an ILS, and Koha is a perfect alternative. Koha is built using library ILS standards
and uses the OPAC (open public access catalog) interface. In addition, Koha has no vendor-lock in, so
libraries can receive tech support from any party they choose.

3.1.2. NewGenLib

NewGenLib (New Generation Library) is an Integrated Library Automation and

Networking Solution Developed by Verus Solutions Pvt Ltd and The Kesavan Institute
of Information and Knowledge Management, India. In March 2005, NewGenLib version
1.0 was released and versions 2.0 and 2.1 have come up later. On 9th January 2008, NewGenLib has
been declared Open Source Software under GNU GPL Licence by the Verus Solutions Pvt Ltd,
Hyderabad, India.
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3.1.3. Evergreen
Evergreen ILS is another option when researching open source ILS
options. Developed by Equinox Software, Evergreen is a robust,
enterprise level ILS solution developed to be capable of supporting
the workload of large libraries in a fault-tolerant system. It too is standards compliant and uses the OPAC
interface, and offers many features including flexible administration, work-flow customization, adaptable
programming interfaces, and because its open source, cannot be locked away and can benefit from any
community contributions.

3.2. Digital Library:

3.2.1. Greenstone Digital Library Software
The Greenstone digital library software is an open-source system for the
construction and presentation of information collections. It builds collections with
effective full-text searching and metadata-based browsing facilities that are
attractive and easy to use. Moreover, they are easily maintained and can be
augmented and rebuilt entirely automatically. The system is extensible: software “plugins” accommodate
different document and metadata types. The aim of the Greenstone software is to empower users,
particularly in universities, libraries, and other public service institutions, to build their own digital
libraries.

3.2.2. DSpace
Dspace is a groundbreaking digital institutional repository that captures,
stores, indexes, preserves, and redistributes the intellectual output of a
university’s research faculty in digital formats. It manages and distributes
digital items, made up of digital files and allows for the creation, indexing,
and searching of associated metadata to locate and retrieve the items. DSpace design and developed by
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Libraries and Hewlett-Packard (HP). DSpace was designed
as an open source application that institutions and organizations could run with relatively few resources.
It is to support the long-term preservation of the digital material stored in the repository. It is also
designed to make submission easy. DSpace supports submission, management, and access of digital
content.

3.2.3. EPrints
Eprints is an open source software package for building open access
repositories that are compliant with the Open Archives Initiative Protocol for
Metadata Harvesting. It shares many of the features commonly seen in
Document Management systems, but is primarily used for institutional
repositories and scientific journals. EPrints has been developed at the University of Southampton School
of Electronics and Computer Science and released under a GPL license.
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3.2.4. Fedora
Fedora open source software gives organizations a flexible service-oriented
architecture for managing and delivering their digital content. At its core is a
powerful digital object model that supports multiple views of each digital object and
the relationships among digital objects. Digital objects can encapsulate locally-
managed content or make reference to remote content. Dynamic views are possible by associating web
services with objects. Digital objects exist within a repository architecture that supports a variety of
management functions. All functions of Fedora, both at the object and repository level, are exposed as
web services. These functions can be protected with fine-grained access control policies. This unique
combination of features makes Fedora an attractive solution in a variety of domains. Some examples of
applications that are built upon Fedora include library collections management, multimedia authoring
systems, archival repositories, institutional repositories, and digital libraries for education.

3.3. Web Publishing:

3.3.1. Wordpress
Wordpress started out as a quick, free, open-source solution blogging solution just a few
years ago; today it is a perfect alternative to building a web site from scratch. In addition
to being free to use (and easy to install), the Wordpress community has exploded, with
thousands of users and programmers creating custom themes and plug-ins to completely
change the way the software looks and operates. The most important aspect of the software is it's easy-to-
use interface and content management system. With it's visual rich editor, anyone can publish text and
photos to the web site. Other options include multiple authors (with separate log-ins), built in RSS (Real
Simple Syndication) technology to keep subscribers updated, and a comment system that allows readers
to interact with the sites content. A fantastic way to communicate with patrons, staff, etc.

3.3.2. Drupal
Drupal is another open source web publishing option that allows an individual or a
community of users to easily publish, manage and organize a wide variety of content on a
website. Tens of thousands of people and organizations have used Drupal to power scores
of different web sites, including Community web portals, Discussion sites, Corporate web
sites, Intranet applications, Personal web sites or blogs, E-commerce applications, Resource directories,
Social Networking sites.

3.4. Other Computer Programs:

3.4.1. Ubuntu
Ubuntu the most popular player in the Linux based operating system game. (Linux
is the open-source answer to Microsoft's Windows operating system; Ubuntu is a
modification of Linux). Ubuntu is a perfect solution for libraries who need to
upgrade their older computers using outdated Windows or for bulk computer purchases requiring a new
operating system. Many libraries feature computers for users to gain access to the internet, and that being
the only function those computers serve. Why pay for all the unwanted things on Windows when you just
need to get online? You might be a little scared at first of a new operating system, but just like anything
else, the hardest part is getting started. Plus, there's plenty of Ubuntu installations help out there to give
you a hand.
 374

3.4.2. Open Office

OpenOffice.org is a multiplatform and multilingual office productivity suite and
an open-source project. Compatible with all other major office suites, the
product is free to download, use, and distribute. It includes the key desktop
applications, such as a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation manager, and drawing program, with a
user interface and feature set similar to other office suites. Sophisticated and flexible, OpenOffice.org
also works transparently with a variety of file formats, including those of Microsoft Office, and the
vendor-neutral OpenDocument standard from OASIS.

3.4.3. Firefox
Firefox is the Mozzila organizations answer to Microsoft's Internet Explorer web
browser, and has taken the web by storm over the past few years as the biggest
competitor to IE in quite some time. Firefox offers a much more secure browsing
experience compared to IE (mostly because the majority if the population uses IE and
that's who the bad guys are targeting). The biggest draw, however, is the modifications that can be made
to Firefox through its many plug-ins, which can make using the net more constructive. Firefox runs on
various versions of Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.

3.4.4. Thunderbird
Thunderbird Firefox's little brother program, Thunderbird, is the Mozilla foundations open-
source alternative to Microsoft's Outlook Express. The program works exactly like
Outlook, providing you with a secure and safe desktop email solution. And just like
Firefox, the open source programming community has created free add-ons to make the Thunderbird
email client customized to your liking. If you absolutely need a desktop email client (as opposed to a
web-based email client like the recommended Gmail), then Thunderbird is the open source program you
need.

3.4.5. GIMPshop
GIMPshop is a modification of the free/open source graphics program GNU Image
Manipulation Program (GIMP), intended to replicate the feel of Adobe Photoshop. Its
primary purpose is to make users of Photoshop feel comfortable using GIMP. It shares
GIMP's feature list, customisability, and availability on multiple platforms, while
addressing some common criticisms regarding the program's interface: GIMPshop modifies the menu
structure to more closely resemble Photoshop and adjusts the program's terminology to match Adobe's. In
the Windows version, GIMPshop uses a plugin called 'Deweirdifyer' to combine the application's
numerous windows in a similar manner to the MDI system used by most Windows graphics packages.
Since March 2006, it supports Photoshop plugins, through a host plugin that can run on Microsoft
Windows or Linux. All of GIMP's own plugins (filters, brushes, etc.) remain available.

3.4.6. NVU
Nvu ("N-view") is a discontinued WYSIWYG HTML editor, based on the
Composer component of Mozilla Application Suite and Gecko 1.7. It is a
common WYSIWYG editor for Linux and is intended to be an open source
equivalent to proprietary software like Microsoft FrontPage and Macromedia Dreamweaver. As a
 375

WYSIWYG editor, it is designed to be easy for novice users and does not require any knowledge of
HTML or CSS to use. The project was started by and sponsored by Linspire. Linspire hired Daniel
Glazman, former Netscape Communications Corporation employee and CEO/Founder of Disruptive
Innovations, to be lead developer. Nvu is available for Linux, Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows, and it
can be built successfully on any platform with the Netscape Portable Runtime.

3.4.7. PDF Creator

The PDF ("portable document format") file is an industry standard format that
everybody uses everyday. The purpose of creating a PDF file is usually to
provide an important document for display that cannot be modified by the
reader (unless permission is given). Many programs exist that will enable you to create your own PDF
files, but they require you to spend money, which is not in our budget. Instead, we're going to use the
open-source PDF creator to take our Open Office files and convert them into professional PDF
documents.

4. Selection criteria of open source software

Evaluation of open source software is different from proprietary programs. A key difference for
evaluation is that the information available for open source programs is usually different than for
proprietary programs; source code, analysis by others of the program design, discussion between users
and developers on how well it is working, and so on. Often proprietary programs always hide all
information from users and only allow running the software. Following criteria’s can be adopted for open
source software selection:

4.1. Open Source Softwares on the WWW

Most convenient option to identify particular software for your library need is to ask professional friends
who have experience in using open source softwares. You can directly contact other libraries in your
locality or post a message in any popular email discussion forum of librarians. Certain open source
softwares are highly popular among librarians community, for example Greenstone digital library
software is a favorite candidate for the libraries who make use it for the collection and organization of
digital materials. Librarians can select the software without much effort, if more popular software’s are
available for various library purposes. Websites which provide detailed listing of open source software
are:
• Free Software Foundations software directory (www.fsf.org)
• UNESCO Free & Open Source Software Portal (www.unesco.org)
• SourceForge (http://sourceforge.net/)

4.2. Open source licenses

Open source licenses are assure users freedom to use, copy, improve and distribution of software. GPL is
the most popular license for free and open source software and provides feasible terms of use. Using GPL
license, a user can modify the software without the permission of its creator. At the same time BSD
license impose certain restrictions on modification of software without the permission of its developer. If
you have decided to choose the software with non General Public License, check the license if it contains
any un-acceptable clauses.
 376

4.3. Functional modules

Certain features or modules essential for day to day work may not be available with the initial
development stages of open source softwares. In such cases, libraries have to purchase additional
modules from open source service providers or make use the in-house expertise to build the required
features. Functional modules essential for library management systems (ILS) are cataloguing, circulation,
OPAC, serial control and acquisition. It is essential to read release notes of latest version and software
roadmap to know which features are already available and are expected in future. Ensure the availability
of standards like MARC, Z39.50, and Dublin Core which are essential for exchange of bibliographic
information in library softwares.

4.4. Stable releases

Stable release of open source software shows its developer’s ability to fix and correct bugs along with
new features. Version history of open source software is often available from project websites or any
other project repositories like Source Forge (www.sourceforge.net), Savannah (savannah.net) and Free
Software Foundations software directory (www.fsf.org). These services help users to check the
information regarding software origin, releasing history, version numbering scheme, developers details
etc. Actively maintained open source projects mention even the releasing dates of forthcoming versions.

4.5. Developers and user community

The development and maintenance of open source software is a social collaborative activity. Open source
software is actively developed on a 24-hour basis by a large number of programmers from all over the
world. Depending on the success of a certain open source software project, this results in a development
process that out paces that of many competitors. Another aspect of open source software is that, many
different people and organisations look at the software from a different perspective. This leads to
invaluable discussions on what direction the development should be taken. Many IT experts claim that, it
is this multi-cultural and multi-organisational influence that, combined with the global spreading and fast
development pace, makes open source software more innovative than closed software. Active projects
usually have regularly updated web pages and busy development email lists. They usually encourage the
participation of those who use the software in its further development. If everything is quiet on the
development front, it might be that work has been suspended or even stopped.

4.6. User interface

Most of the open source library softwares are available with web interface. Software with web interface
is easier to learn and use. Graphical templates of open source softwares are possible to customize and
users can add new design. Through redesigning the templates and style sheets open source software can
easily integrate with library/institutional websites. Separate administrative and user interface is essential
for remote access and maintaining security.

4.7. Documentation
So users are mainly responsible for the deployment of open source software; detailed and up-to-date
documentation is a prerequisite for successful installation and maintenance. Open source software
documentation is available through project websites, wikis, blogs and email lists. They give information
of software installation in various operating systems, software architecture, database structure, history of
bug fixes, changes in new release, road map(wish list) of future releases etc. Installation details and
information for users are also available with installation package. Individual documentation for
developers, administrator and user is another advantage of open source software documentation.
Software community incessantly updates the online documentation and it is better to make use the online
wiki or email lists for error fixing and clearing doubts.
 377

Conclusion
So, it seems that there are some very powerful solutions available today that could be used to create a
much more resourceful library. By using open source software in the library, money that otherwise would
be spent on software solutions can be used for other important resources, such as purchasing additional
media resources (books, journals, etc.), or can be used to hire educated, technical support that provides
patrons with the know how to better use already existing resources. In addition, this free software is
constantly being updated, changed, and customized to meet the library's needs. While all of this is fine
and dandy, and sounds like the win-win solution for your library, there are still pitfalls and hurdles we'll
need to overcome. Hopefully this article provides some introductory information as to how to wean your
library off of traditional computing products and dive into the pool of open source resources available
today.

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