Journal of Multidisciplinary Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST) ISSN: 2458-9403 Vol. 4 Issue 5, May - 2017 A Review Of Open Source For Library Services Rositsa Petrova – Vasileva, Ph.D. Nikola Dimitrov Vasilev “Sava Dobroplodni” Regional library Faculty of Computer Systems and Technologies Sliven, Bulgaria Technical University of Sofia [email protected] Sofia, Bulgaria [email protected]

Abstract— Use of new information public for any use, modifications and redistribution technologies in modern libraries is an essential without any licensing restrictions. The source code factor in the development of new innovative refers to instructions written by humans in a computer services. The choice of appropriate software is programming language to be compiled into a binary very important in the development of these format that can run on a computer, carrying out the services. The report aims to analyze the open tasks outlined in the source code. Instructions to source software for library services, to present computers are normally written by programmers in their advantages and disadvantages and to programming languages like - C, C++, Java, Perl, classify them by function. The best Python, etc. These instructions are readable by representatives of open source software for each humans and referred to as source code [8]. functional group are described. The software The OSS is becoming increasingly popular software analyzed can be effectively used for the provision development method. It is a term to describe the of innovative services in the libraries not requiring tradition of open standards, shared source code, and large funds. collaborative development. The OSS programs are available for any user for use. In case of proprietary Keywords — open source software; library software, the software is not free nor is the source services; innovative services code of the software available to the end user. I. INTRODUCTION There have been many successful open-source projects e.g. Linux operating system, Apache web The use of open source software (OSS) for library server, MySQL, PHP, Sendmail, Bind, Tcl/Tk, Python, services takes an increasingly large share in libraries. etc. Firefox web browser has recently surpassed This is due to the lack of funds, not so good support Microsoft's Internet Explorer due to its quality. Google from the suppliers of commercial software, the lack of is currently investing money into open source diversity or efficiency of the modules of commercial development, with its own browser Chrome, and two software for libraries. This necessitates the search for operating systems, Android for mobile phones and alternative solutions to optimize the function of libraries Chrome for computers. and introducing new innovative information services. All the OSS software are copyrighted and distributed An appropriate solution is the use of open source with license terms and conditions designed to ensure software (OSS). Good sites that provide information that the source code is always available. The most about open source software (OSS) for library services popular open source license is GPL, i.e., GNU Public are: License. Generally, value of any OSS is measured in  Free/Open source software for libraries [1] terms of its simplicity and connectivity. A. Following are some of the benefits of  Open source systems for libraries [2] using OSS:  List of free and open-source software packages [3]  Software does not depend on any specific hardware or operating system platform to function.  Library Success: A Best Practices [4]  With OSS, people can have any number of  Practical Open Source Software for Libraries [5] copies of programs on their machines, at home or at work. The analysis of the information provided shows that  Since source code is available one can customise open source software (OSS) for library services has the software as per the requirements. been classified by function in 22 categories, with some  It is possible to incorporate the software into the categories offered software reaches up to 30 products. another program to perform new functions. This is very indicative of the applicability of this type of  If the user base of open source is large, it can software in libraries. sustain in the market for long time.  Since developers working for open source are II. DEFINITION AND ADVANTAGES OF OPEN SOURCE spread across the world its development does not SOFTWARE (OSS) depend on any single person/community. Hence, new The OSS is a collaborative programming development release versions can frequently be made available to which releases its source code freely to the general the community.

www.jmest.org JMESTN42352217 7346 Journal of Multidisciplinary Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST) ISSN: 2458-9403 Vol. 4 Issue 5, May - 2017  There is large community of people who work on A. Content Management Systems - OSS for popular open source hence regularly new versions of content management - Content management the OSS are available to the community. systems /CMS/ tools allow to easily create complex  There is a group of community who can provide library websites with lot of new features. support through mailing lists, internet relay chat The CMS is a software program that makes centers to get quick answer to any problem/query. building and maintaining websites faster and easier.  Since it is open source, there is no data loss as The CMS lets one build a website that can be quickly well as with open standards/formats, hence it is easy and easily updated by non-technical staff members. to retrieve data for future. These open source systems are created and B. Following are some of the drawbacks of supported by a community of developers, and can be using OSS downloaded without cost. There are over 15 such  Lack of formal support and training that a systems in practice and the most used are: Joomla, commercial software package offer. WordPress, Kete, Bibliography Module, ResCarta  Often software support is provided only through Toolkit, Avalon Media System, MaiaCMS. mailing lists and discussion forums.  Installing and maintaining OSS generally requires B. Course Management - OSS for course more technical knowledge than that required for management - These systems are used to deliver commercial software. online education. Today, most course management  OSS are also not known for ease of use as the systems make extensive use of web and include focus is usually on functionality. features such as discussion forums, chats, journals,  With no vendor responsible for the software, grading tools, and student tracking. Moodle is main support for the OSS applications can vary and often representative in this category. Other commonly used depend on the user/developer's communities systems are ATutor, Claroline, Ilias, Sakai, dotLRN, commitment to the project. Fle3.  Documentation manuals of OSS are not very simple; C. Digital libraries – OSS for digital libraries -  A medium level of technical expertise is Digital Libraries (DLS) / institutional repositories sometimes required. (IRS) / Digital Repository are discussed intensively since 2000. Wide range of OSS for digital library (over III. ANALYSIS AND CLASSIFICATION OF OPEN SOURCE 30) are available especially CDS-, DSpace, SOFTWARE FOR LIBRARY SERVICES Eprints, Fedora Repository, Greenstone [6], Omeka, According to the developers of the site for Islandora, BitCurator, SobekCM Digital Repository Free/Open source software for libraries Software, Archivematica, IR+ (Irplus) Institutional (https://foss4lib.org) [1] open source software for Repository, MyCoRe, CollectionSpace, etc. Each of library services has been classified by function in 22 this software has its advantages and disadvantages. categories, with some categories offered software DSpace and Eprints are the most popular software reaches up to 30 products. Similar classification has used in the world to build digital repositories. been also made on the site Open source systems for D. Integrated Library System – OSS for libraries (www.oss4lib.org) [2]. The main classification library automation - The most popular OSS for of OSS in use is as follows: library automation, which are available free to end  Archival Record Manager and Editor users are , , Senayan Library  Bibliography Management System (SLiMS), Next-L Enju, Open  Content Management Framework Library Environment (OLE), ABCD (Automation of  Content Management System liBraries and Documentation Centers), BiblioteQ, E-  Course Management Library, Web Librarian, OpenBiblio, NewGenLib,  Data Preservation and Management OPALS, etc.  Digital Repository Recently during 2011, Breeding carried out a  Discovery Interface survey of automation software used in US academic  Electronic Reserves and public libraries and it was found that many  Electronic Resource Management libraries in US continue to opt for open source ILSs  Image Display and Manipulation rather than proprietary products. Evergreen and Koha  Integrated Library System ILS have become mainstream in libraries from USA.  Interlibrary Loan  Journal Publishing E. Knowledge Base - Knowledge Base represents  Knowledge Base a repository of information that provides tools for  Metadata Manipulation collecting, organizing, sharing, searching and using  Online Public Access Catalog information. It is organized so that it can be used and  Reference edited by computer programs (machine processing) or  Wiki Management by its users and creators. The following products are in this category: Kbplus, Guide On The Side, BibApp, We will analyze in brief the most important sections that are most relevant to libraries

www.jmest.org JMESTN42352217 7347 Journal of Multidisciplinary Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST) ISSN: 2458-9403 Vol. 4 Issue 5, May - 2017 Vivo, RT: Request Tracker, TemaTres Vocabulary Open source offers useful savings in time, money, Server, Bibserver. and resources. Large percentage of library professionals has recognized potential for OSS F. Metadata Manipulation - The metadata can be systems and applications. With exponential growth of defined as information about the information itself. information, user expectations are growing and more Metadata come before data: they describe the and more “personalized” services are required by characteristics of the data with a high level of users and there is a great opportunity for librarians to abstraction. Examples of the use of metadata - Book - play a leading role in organizing and presenting metadata is the name of the author, title, ISBN, filtered information by making use of them. number of edition, type (genre) of the book, name of publisher, year of publication, price. Implementation of library request can be done using a computer based on this metadata.[7] This category includes the REFERENCES: products: Scripto, Oral History Metadata [1] Free/Open source software for libraries Synchronizer, Protégé Desktop, WebProtégé, (https://foss4lib.org) BIBFRAME Editor, Metafacture, MARC Library [2] Open source systems for libraries (SobekCM), Catmandu, Traject, MARC Toolkit For (www.oss4lib.org) Libraries, CSharp MARC, Conversion Tools For [3] List of free and open-source software packages. Libraries, TEI Boilerplate, Ruby-Marc, PHP MARC, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_free_and_open- MarcXimiL, MARC4J, Marc2frbr. source_software_packages [4] Library Success: A Best Practices Wiki G. Electronic Resource Management - open (www.libsuccess.org) source software systems to monitor Internet-based [5] Nicole Engard, “Practical Open Source Software resources for electronic journals and books, database for Libraries, Chandos Publishing, 2010. pp,112-115 for them. These systems are designed to handle (http://opensource.web2learning.net/) Internet-based metadata, overcoming the [6]. D. Vasilev, R. Petrova – Vasileva and Svilen disadvantages of library catalogs and integrated Semkov, “Comparative analysis of applied open library systems. This category includes the products: source software for digital repositories in libraries”, Calibre, SMDB, ERMes, E-Matrix, CORAL, Reports of Technical University-Sliven, Vol. 4, 2014 ReSearcher, The Home Library Archive, Esciurus, ISSN 1312-3920, pp.25-27 Sushi Py, FreERMS, Custom Summon Searches, [7]. D. Vasilev and R. Petrova – Vasileva, “Criteria for CUFTS. evaluating open source software for digital libraries”, H. Wiki Management [5] Reports of Technical University-Sliven, Vol. 6, 2014 ISSN 1312-3920, pp.27-32 help libraries to organize library resources [8]. D. Vasilev, “Open source software for simulation and improve communication with users. Wiki software and monitoring of computer networks”, International can be used to perform several tasks such as to Conference on Engineering, Technologies and create subject guides in libraries, to create Systems, TECHSYS 2015, Plovdiv, May 28-29, documentation manuals, to create professional Journal of the Technical University – Sofia, Plovdiv knowledge repository, to maintain wiki for a software branch, Bulgaria, “Fundamental Sciences and development and its activities, to maintain conference Applications” Vol. 21, book 1, 2015 pp.237-240 website, etc. There is a wide range of OSS available for creating wikis are CoWiki, Instiki, MediaWiki, MoinMoin, PmWiki, Swiki, and Twiki.

IV. CONCLUSIONS Many OSS tools are now available for use in libraries. The development of digital library initiative is mainly driven by using OSS tools. For creating digital libraries, libraries relied on OSS tools as an alternative instead of any commercial digital library systems mainly due to dissatisfaction with functionality. The OSS resources for libraries are vast and are increasing at an exponential rate. This software can be used in libraries to provide new value added services to end users without any requirements of large budgets. The following sections provide list of different open source applications which are available from different categories and which can be effectively used to provide new services to end users with successful implementation without relying on any commercial vendors.

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