The document discusses open source software solutions for libraries. It begins by defining free and open source software, noting that free refers to liberty rather than price. It then lists the 10 criteria that define open source software according to the Open Source Definition. The document outlines advantages and potential drawbacks of open source software for libraries. It provides examples of open source solutions for tasks like web servers, indexing, integrated library systems, collection management, and digital preservation. Finally, it recommends libraries consider community support and internal expertise when adopting open source solutions.

1. Open Source Solutions
for Libraries
Amber Billey, MLIS
UVM Faculty Development
April 18, 2012

2. Open source software?

3. Free...as in kittens!

5. What is freedom?
“Free software” means software that respects users'
freedom and community. Roughly, the users have the
freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and
improve the software. With these freedoms, the users
(both individually and collectively) control the program and
what it does for them.
...
Thus, “free software” is a matter of liberty, not price. To
understand the concept, you should think of “free” as in
“free speech,” not as in “free beer”.
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html

6. What is open source really?
Open-source software (OSS) is computer software that is
available in source code form: the source code and certain
other rights normally reserved for copyright holders are
provided under an open-source license that permits users
to study, change, improve and at times also to distribute the
software.
Open source software is very often developed in a public,
collaborative manner. Open-source software is the most
prominent example of open-source development and often
compared to (technically defined) user-generated content
or (legally defined) open content movements. - Wikipedia

7. What is open source really?
1. Free redistribution
http://opensource.org/docs/osd

8. What is open source really?
1. Free redistribution
2. Source code
http://opensource.org/docs/osd

9. What is open source really?
1. Free redistribution
2. Source code
3. Derived works
http://opensource.org/docs/osd

10. What is open source really?
1. Free redistribution
2. Source code
3. Derived works
4. Integrity of the author's source code
http://opensource.org/docs/osd

11. What is open source really?
1. Free redistribution
2. Source code
3. Derived works
4. Integrity of the author's source code
5. No discrimination against persons or
groups
http://opensource.org/docs/osd

12. What is open source really?
1. Free redistribution
2. Source code
3. Derived works
4. Integrity of the author's source code
5. No discrimination against persons or groups
6. No discrimination against fields of
endeavor
http://opensource.org/docs/osd

13. What is open source really?
1. Free redistribution
2. Source code
3. Derived works
4. Integrity of the author's source code
5. No discrimination against persons or groups
6. No discrimination against fields of endeavor
7. Distribution of license
http://opensource.org/docs/osd

14. What is open source really?
1. Free redistribution
2. Source code
3. Derived works
4. Integrity of the author's source code
5. No discrimination against persons or groups
6. No discrimination against fields of endeavor
7. Distribution of license
8. License must not be specific to a product
http://opensource.org/docs/osd

15. What is open source really?
1. Free redistribution
2. Source code
3. Derived works
4. Integrity of the author's source code
5. No discrimination against persons or groups
6. No discrimination against fields of endeavor
7. Distribution of license
8. License must not be specific to a product
9. License must not restrict other software
http://opensource.org/docs/osd

16. What is open source really?
1. Free redistribution
2. Source code
3. Derived works
4. Integrity of the author's source code
5. No discrimination against persons or groups
6. No discrimination against fields of endeavor
7. Distribution of license
8. License must not be specific to a product
9. License must not restrict other software
10. License must be technology-neutral
http://opensource.org/docs/osd

17. Why open source software?
Advantages Drawbacks
● Free ● Hidden costs
● No vendor ● No vendor
● Control code ● Technical expertise
● Customize ● Technical support
● Development ● Lack of community
● Redistribution
● Community

19. What can open source software do
for libraries?
Lots of stuff!
● Behind the scenes (web servers, indexing,
operating systems and databases)
● Integrated Library Systems
● Collection management
● Content management
● Digital preservation
● and more!

20. Open source behind the scenes
● Many libraries use open source software and
don't even know it!
○ Linux
○ Apache Tomcat web server
○ Apache Lucene index
○ MySQL

21. Integrated Library Systems
● Maori for "gift" ● GPLS
● LibLime ● PINES consortium
● Koha Community ● Many installations in
● VOKAL North America

22. Collection Management

23. Content Management

24. Digital Preservation
● Library of Congress and NDIIPP
○ Ace (monitor file integrity)
○ EMET (extract image metadata)
○ INFORM (risk assessment of digital file formats)
○ JHOVE2 (identify, validate & assess digital objects)
○ Recollection (create & share embeddable
interfaces to digital cultural heritage collections)
○ Library of Congress - Transfer Tools (validation &
transfer of data)
● D-Space
○ digital asset management
○ repository

25. Before adopting, ask...
● How robust is the open source project?
● What is the support like?
● Do you have the expertise and time on-staff
to make the software work for your library?
● What are your time constraints?
Farkas, M. (2011). Open Source, Open Mind. American Libraries, 42(9/10), 36.

27. Let's talk about the "future"
● Beyond software
○ Semantic Web
○ Linked Data
Bibliographic data Subject data
Semantic delivery tool
RDF? ● search engine
OWL? ● ILS
SKOS? ● OPAC 3.0
Names data VIAF?

28. Why open source?
● Free from vendors
● Free to develop
● Share code and
data
● Contribute to a
community

29. Any questions?
thank you!
abilley@uvm.edu