Open Source Library Automation: Overview and Perspective
2008; American Library Association; Volume: 44; Issue: 8 Linguagem: Inglês
ISSN
1945-4538
Autores Tópico(s)Web and Library Services
ResumoThis is a time of major transformation in the library automation industry, and the open source software movement has found fertile ground among libraries. Many libraries are moving away from proprietary integrated library systems in favor of open source software. The dynamics of the industry have changed dramatically in recent years--until recently, libraries had largely acquired propriety automation systems from a clique of specialized vendors following the traditional software licensing models. The open source movement has disrupted long-established patterns, introducing a new way of thinking about the development and distribution of software, new products, and a new set of companies seeking to compete against the status quo. In this issue of Library Technology Reports we provide extensive information about the emerging open source software movement as it applies to integrated library systems. As libraries make decisions about what software to use when automating their operations, it is vital for decision-makers to have a solid grasp of the available options. In the past, our options were differentiated on the basis of features, functionality, price, and performance of the software and on the perceived ability for a given company to develop its products into the future and provide adequate support. Do these factors differ with open source ILS products? As we explore open source software, we hope that readers will become well equipped to make informed decisions regarding whether or not this approach benefits their library. The marketing efforts of the companies involved in open source software evangelize its benefits, while the incumbent companies warn of its dangers. We must look beyond the marketing for the most objective information on this complex issue. On discussion lists and blogs, opinions flow in all directions on the role of open source software in libraries. This report is not meant to advocate for or against the open source approach, but rather to describe in some detail what is different about the open source approach and to provide information about some of the products and companies involved. Readers can then draw their own conclusions. This report focuses on open source issues specifically relating to integrated library systems. We will provide some general information about open source software and its use in other domains in order to provide some background for the discussion. What Is Open Source? Open source software is free software. It's not necessarily cost-free, but is free to use, free to modify, and free to share. It's a model of dealing with software that presents an alternative to the commercial licensing that imposes many layers of restrictions. The open source software movement is one of the major alternatives for professionals who work with computer software. On one level, it involves a specific set of software license terms that specify who gets access to the source code that underlies programs, who can change them, what can or must be done with changed versions of the software, and other issues related to modifying the program. But open source also stands for a broader philosophical approach to software that aims to give its users more freedom and allow them to break free from constraints associated with the traditional proprietary model. Open source software has been a growing part of the overall landscape for the last decade or so. In the broader information technology arena, open source software alternatives have become well-established in key areas of infrastructure from operating systems to web servers. Open source operating systems include many varieties of Linux that compete with proprietary systems like Microsoft Windows. The classic polemic casts Microsoft as a monopolistic domineering company against the open source alternatives that free the world from its stranglehold. In the real world, many individuals continue to choose the proprietary option, and others prefer open source alternatives. …
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