The Relative Merits of Open-Source and Proprietary ILS

Software for Library Catalogs

Julie Reynolds

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Open Source Software, definition

• According to the Open Source Initiative, open source software must meet the following criteria:

1. Free redistribution: a license does not restrict the ability of anyone to give away or sell the software.

Open Source Software, definition continued

2. Source Code: the program must include the source code and must allow redistribution of the source code.

3. Derived Works: the software license must allow modifications and derived works.

Open Source Software, definition continued

4. Integrity of the Author’s Source Code: the license must allow distribution of the software built with modified source code.

5. No Discrimination Against Persons or Groups

6. No Discrimination Against Fields of Endeavor

Open Source Software, definition continued

7. Distribution of License: program rights must apply to whomever the program is distributed to, without needing a new license.

8. License Must Not Be Specific to a Product: rights accompanying the program can’t depend on the program being part of a certain software distribution.

Open Source Software, definition continued

9. License Must Not Restrict Other Software: the license can’t restrict the other software that is distributed along with the licensed software.

10. License Must Be Technology/Neutral

(The Open Source Definition, Open Source Initiative, http://www.opensource.org/docs/osd)

How Do You Know Whether the Software is Any Good?

“As more users of the software make more improvements, the applications grows in functionality and stability over time. The community of programmers involved in using and improving the software often forms some kind of organization that deals with issues of quality assurance, testing, and version control and might establish a road map for future development.”

(Marshall Breeding, Open Source Library Automation, Library Tech. Reports, No./Dec. 2008)

Library Catalog Open Source Software

• Koha (http://www.koha.org/)

• Evergreen (http://open-ils.org/)

• phpMyLibrary (http://sourceforge.net/projects/phpmylibrary/)

• OpenBiblio (http://obiblio.sourceforge.net/)

Open Source Software

• What should you look for when choosing open source software?– How many/what kind of organizations are

already using it?– Is it adaptable to your library’s needs?– What kinds of how-to or help are available?

(How to choose an open source library, http://www.manageability.org/blog/stuff/how-to-evaluate-open-

source-library)

Proprietary Software

• Created by software companies, these ILS (including cataloging) systems are pre-packaged and available under a paid licensing arrangement.

• Included in the cost of the software (which can be significant) are training, maintenance, and user assistance.

What are some of the brands?

• Voyager (http://www.exlibrisgroup.com/category/Voyager)

• Millennium (http://www.iii.com/)• SirsiDynix: Symphony, Horizon, Unicorn

(http://www.sirsidynix.com/)• Auto-Graphics: AGent VERSO

(http://www4.auto-graphics.com/)• LibraryWorld (http://www.libraryworld.com)

Other possibilities: quasi-open source?

“…Ex Libris announced June 29 the launch of its "Open Platform Strategy“…. The Open Platform seeks to tap into the power and popularity of user-written software features while maintaining the focused development of top-down design for the company's major product lines, including the Aleph and Voyager ILS systems, as well as the Metalib metasearch tool and the SFX link resolver.”

(Ex Libris Develops “Open Platform”, Library Journal, Aug. 15, 2008)

How to Make the Choice

• Bottom line: Money is an important factor, but it’s not the only factor.

• Training users (staff and patrons)

• What if your library doesn’t have an IT department?

• How will you stay current/deal with technical issues?