Transcript Free/Open Source Integrated Library Management System

Vimal kumar V
Asst. Librarian
Asian School of Business
Technopark,Trivandrum
Need for Open Source software
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Cost of commercial ILMS is very high
Commercial developers do not reveal the source code
Library have no control over the software
Investing in commercial ILMS is never ending process
Popular commercial ILMS
Name
Appoximate
Price
Libsuite
Rs. 4,50,000
LibSys
Rs. 4,50,000
SOUL
Rs. 50,000
Alice for WINDOWS
Rs. 3,50,000
What is Free/Open Source Software?
Free/Open Source software is a computer software
whose source code is available under a license that
permits users to use, change, and improve the
software, and to redistribute it in modified or
unmodified form. It is often developed in a public,
collaborative manner.
(Wikipedia)
Features of Free Software
• the freedom to run the program, for any purpose
• the freedom to study how the program works,
and adapt it to local needs
• the freedom to redistribute copies so others can
benefit from the software
• the freedom to improve the program, and
release the improved version to the public,
so that the community can benefit
(The Free Software Foundation)
Proprietary cakes can restrict your freedom
Open Licenses
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GNU General Public License (GPL)
Mozilla Public License
Creative Commons
BSD License
Apache Software License
GNU Free Documentation License
History of Free/Open Source Software
• 1984 Richard Stallman formed Free Software
Foundation (FSF).
• 1991 Linus Torvalds developed Linux
• 1994 Red Hat (commercial Linux) company founded.
• 1998 “Open Source Initiative” was formed
OSS: Disadvantages
• Inadequate technical support
Documentation tends to be limited and aimed at
developers. Technical support is usually limited,
especially for users of the software.
• Customization
Many features in ILS are generalist and must be
customised before use.
OSS: Disadvantages
• Unanticipated efforts
A library may find that it needs to do a great deal more
work than anticipated to adapt the software to local
needs.
• Lack of coordination
The decentralized development of open source
software means that progress can be chaotic and there
may be delays in addressing bugs.
Integrated Library Management System
(ILMS)
“an automated library system that is capable of
managing the operations of more than one basic
library functions”
-UNESCO
Modules of library processes in an ILMS
• Acquisition
• Cataloguing
• Serial Management
• Circulation
• OPAC
Free/Open Source ILMS
• Avanthi Circulation
System
• Emilda
• FireFly
• Koha
• PhpMylibrary
• OpenBiblio
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Senayan
OpenILS
PhpMyBibli
GNUTECA
PMB
Learning Access ILS
NewGenLib
Why Koha?
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Full-featured ILS
Library standards compliant
Web based interfaces
Free software
No Vendor Lock in
Active development process
Community decides what they want
Frequent software releases
History
• Began in 1999 when the Horowhenua Library Trust (HLT)
in New Zealand, was looking for a Y2K compliant
replacement for their library system
• Katipo Communications proposed a new system, using
open source tools to be released under the GPL
• Koha (the Maori word for ‘gift’ or ‘donation’) went
live at HLT in January 2000, and was the world’s first
open source integrated library automation package
• Distributed under GNU GPL licence
• It is currently maintained by a dedicated team of
software providers and library technology staff from around
the globe.
License: The GNU General Public
License
Developer: Horowhenua Library
Trust, New
Zealand
Operating System: Linux,
Windows, Mac
Functional Modules: Acquisition
Cataloguing, Circulation,
Serial Control, OPAC.
Home Page: www.koha.org
Koha features
web-based OPAC,
circulation and management
interfaces,
MARC21 and UNIMARC
support,
Z39.50 server,
Online
Reservations& Renewals,
E-mail Overdue
Notifications.
Virtual Shelves
Technical Requirements
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OS- Linux, Windows, Mac OS
Programming Language- Perl
Database- MySQL
Webserver- Apache
CPAN modules
Zebra
Yaz
How Koha Works?
MySQL
Database
Library
Network
Perl
Script
Server
Koha Librarian Interface
Koha Support
Koha documentation
Discussion forums
Wiki
Chat
Blogs
Commercial support
-data migration
-hosting
-customization
-development
www.koha.org
Koha in India
Koha 3.0 features
Web 2.0 features: RSS feed, user tagging, user
suggestion, user/patron login facility, patron reviews and ranking
Zebra plugin- relevance ranking, field weighting, truncation, stemming,
language-specific indexing, sorting, etc.
Online reservations and renewals
RDBMS- MySQL 5
Amazon.com integration
spellchecking queries based on database entries
patron reviews and ranking
highlight search terms in results pages
Search history
Reserves : send a mail or a SMS when a reserve is available
Serials Enhancements
RFID and self check out
Overdue Notices and more…
What is your commitment?
Find bugs
Find usability problems
Suggest new features
Review and inspect source code
Submit source code
Writing Documentation
responding to other users’ questions
Thank you
http://vimalkumar.oksociety.in
[email protected]