Use of Open Source Softwares in Indian Libraries
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Date
2014-09-25
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
INFLIBNET Centre, Gandhinagar
Abstract
Since last two decades, we have been witnessing a growing application of Open Source Softwares
(OSSs) in Indian libraries. The present study is an attempt to find out the impact of OSSs and how
they are driving the transformation of Indian libraries. The research was undertaken by studying
the websites of 127 libraries which use one or the other OSS in India. The main OSSs used are:
DSpace, Greenstone, NewGenLib, EPrints and Koha. The authors studied the contents of these
library sites and noted how the OSSs were deployed to launch a variety of new services including
Digital Archives, New Book information, Online SDI apart from marketing the libraries and
providing a 24x7 access. New content made available through library sites using OSS include:
Pictures, Theses, Research Papers, Book Chapters, Patents, Annual Reports, Videos/Audios, PPTs,
Rare books, Institutional publications, Book Cart facility, etc. OSSs have also made library experience
more interesting by facilitating self uploading/downloading of documents and user interaction
online. OSSs have also been instrumental in promoting resource sharing besides serving as a
tool to librarians to develop their IT skills. The paper recommends Indian librarians to explore
other useful OSSs too, such as VuFind, Library Find, Calibre , PMB, Evergreen, OpenBiblio, etc.
Other recommendations include development of guidelines for uploading/downloading documents,
improved design for institutional repository webpages, use of standard subject headings, regular
update and enriching library sites with more content.
Description
9th Convention PLANNER-2014 in reaction to
Dibrugarh University, Assam, September 25-27, 2014
Keywords
Open Source Software, DSpace, EPrints, Koha, Greenstone, NewGenLib, LibraryTransformation