Open-Source Software for Libraries
I’ve been collecting open-source software links for MPOW and I thought I might as well post the list here. I’ll try to keep it updated. It’s far from comprehensive but it can provide a good start if you’re looking for stuff to try.
- Aquisitions
- The Library Acquisitions Database manages the ordering and receiving of items, such as books and video cassettes, for a library system, featuring individual-branch buying and budgeting. It is developed in Perl (with DBI) with a MySQL database backend.
- Digital Collection Management
- Greenstone is a suite of software for building and distributing digital library collections.
- Digital Repository
- A groundbreaking digital repository system, DSpace captures, stores, indexes, preserves, and redistributes an organization’s research material in digital formats.
- Event Calendar
- Calendar of Events is a Web-based calendar of events built with PHP and MySQL with an administration interface and a variety of repeating entry scheduling options.
- Federated Search Tools
- dbWiz - Database Selection Wizard gives librarians the ability to create a customized search profile. A search profile consisting of any number of databases can then be
- ILS
- Evergreen is being developed and maintained by the Georgia Public Library Service for use by the Georgia Library PINES Program, a consortium of 252 public libraries. This software can be downloaded for free, and anyone can contribute to development efforts.
- Koha includes a full catalog, opac, circulation and acquisitions system. With the 2.2 version, Koha is now a mature product, with a lot of nice features. It’s used in more than 50 libraries including academic, public, school, and religious, and has demonstrated good scalability (from 1 to 8 branches, and from 1,000 to 300,000 items).
- OpenBiblio is an easy to use, open source, automated library system written in PHP containing OPAC, circulation, cataloging, and staff administration functionality. The purpose of this project is to provide a cost effective library automation solution for private collections, clubs, churches, schools, or public libraries.
- Emilda is a complete Integrated Library System that features amongst others an OPAC, circulation and administration functions, Z39.50 capabilities and 100% MARC compatibility. MARC compatibility is achieved using Zebra in conjunction with MySQL.
- SOPAC-1.0
It’s basically a set of social networking tools integrated into the AADL catalog. It gives users the ability to rate, review, comment-on, and tag items. SOPAC presents as a set of drupal modules and ships under the GPLv2.
- Intranet
- Brushtail is a open source intranet suitable for public libraries.
- Online Reference
- RAKIM Open Source Chat Reference Software from Rob Besson at Miami University Libraries seems to provide many of the features available in expensive web contact center software.
- OpenAAQ (Open Ask A Question) is a web based virtual reference application for libraries. It is a basic trouble ticket system applied to library reference questions that supports collaborative management of answers in a multi- sector/institution/department.
- Publishing
- The HyperJournal is an Open Source software application which enables on-line as well as printed publishing in an innovative and significantly cost-cutting way
- Open Journal Systems (OJS) is a journal management and publishing system that has been developed by the Public Knowledge Project through its federally funded efforts to expand and improve access to research. OJS assists with every stage of the refereed publishing process, from submissions through to online publication and indexing.
- Reserves
- ReservesDirect is a complete, integrated software package for managing academic reserves materials for university and college courses.
- Resource Directory
- CWIS (Collection Workflow Integration System) is an OSS software package to assemble, organize, and share collections of data about resources, like Yahoo or Google Directory but conforming to international and academic standards for metadata.
- Subject Guides
- iVia Virtual Library Software is an open source system for building Web-based virtual libraries and subject portals. It has been designed by and for librarians at the University of California, Riverside (UCR). The goal of the software is to fostering collaboration while maintaining a system of rigorous editorial controls.
- LibData is a library oriented web based application which provides authoring environments for subject pathfinders (Research QuickStart), course related pages (CourseLib) and general purpose web pages (PageScribe).
- ResearchGuide: Web-based management of subject guides for academic libraries.
- Tutorial
- The Texas Information Literacy Tutorial was developed by librarians at the University of Texas-Austin beginning in 1996 as a way to teach information literacy concepts to first-year students.
Support
LibLime provides full vendor services (migration assistance, staff training, and software maintenance, support and development) to libraries for open-source software like Koha. Our mission is to make open-source software more accessible to libraries.
You’d have to do a comparison but it’s a good bet that a contract with LibLime for support costs a lot less than buying the software from a vendor, plus you keep the pluses of open-source.
