Open Source Library Automation Systems

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Open Source Library Automation Systems

• Internet Librarian 2004
• Monterey, CA
• November 16, 2004
• Session B201
• Edward M. Corrado
• Rider University Libraries
• ecorrado_at_library.rider.edu

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Definitions Open Source Software

• Open Source Software (OSS)
• A specific set of software licenses.
• Open Source doesn't just mean access to the
  source code. That is an important part of it, but
  not all of it.

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Definitions Free Software

• Free Software is software that comes with
  permission for anyone to use, copy, and
  distribute, either verbatim or with
  modifications, either gratis or for a fee. In
  particular, this means that source code must be
  available.

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Definitions/Examples of Free/Open Source Software

• Linux
• Apache
• MySQL
• Perl /PHP
• LAMP
• Library Automation System / Library Management
  System (LMS)

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Why Do People Release Their LMS as Open Source
Software?

• Don't want to be in the business of
  marketing/selling/supporting a LMS
• Future proofed against company going out of
  business
• The more librarians and programmers around that
  work on/with your LMS, the better it becomes
• The justification to that question is quite
  simple Open Source has vision, both to project
  itself and to the customer

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How is this different from the Home Grown LMS
of the past

• Programmers can lend programming material
• Commodity software libraries and compilers are
  available at no cost
• Many building blocks are already completed and
  waiting to be used
• Because it is Open Source, many eyes from
  around the world can work to improve the software

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Koha

• http//www.koha.org
• First Open Source LMS
• Developed originally by the Horowhenua Library
  Trust and Katipo Communications
• Currently has developers around the world
• Translations made (or being made) into Polish,
  French, Chinese, and more.
• Koha is used around the world
• Under active development (ver. 2.0 just released)

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Emilda

• http//www.emilda.org
• Developed in Finland by Realnode
• Uses mainly PHP, MySQL, XML, Zebra, Yaz, Perl
• Released under GNU GPL
• 100 MARC compatible using Zebra
• Customizable template based layout

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PhpMyLibrary

• http//phpmylibrary.sourceforge.net/
• Developed in the Philippines
• Strictly follows US MARC standard
• Test installs with up to 500,000 items

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OpenBiblio

• http//obiblio.sourceforge.net/
• OpenBiblio is an easy to use, open source,
  automated library system
• Requires PHP, mySQL, and a web server (Apache)
• Runs on Windows and Linux
• OPAC, circulation, cataloging, reporting, and
  staff administration functionality

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Avanti MicroLCS

• http//www.avantilibrarysystems.com
• Developed by Peter Schlumpf (starting in 1998)
• Release 1.0 just around the corner (coding done,
  just working on packaging and documentation)
• 100 pure Java
• Goal is a system that requires minimal expertise
  to install and manage

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Other OSS LMS

• PMB phpmybibli
• Gnuteca A Brazilian OSS LMS
• OPALS-NA Open Source Library Automation System
  North America
• LearningAccess ILS - Open Source Integrated
  Library System
• There are also OSS digital library projects such
  as Greenstone and one designed just for data
  called Virtual Data Center.

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Support for your Open Source Library Management
System

• Commercial support is available
• Developer support
• Community support
• E-mail lists
• IRC channels
• Self support

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Differences between OSS and Proprietary LMS

• Hard to generalize, but.....
• OSS LMS are not as complex
• OSS LMS modules are mostly web based
• OSS LMS are easier to evaluate

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Differences between OSS and Proprietary LMS

• OSS LMS are easier to customize (including
  reports)
• Proprietary LMS normally has more features
• Costs
• OSS LMS have more flexible support options

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Open Source Library Automation Systems Q A

• Edward M. Corrado
• Rider University Libraries
• ecorrado_at_library.rider.edu
• http//library.rider.edu/scholarly/ecorrado/il2004
  /