https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5561-346X
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ABSTRACT
When considering a major new technological system such as an integrated library system there are many considers including functionality, total cost of ownership, patron privacy, and staffing needed to operate. Another factor that should be considered is if the system is a proprietary and open source software systems in libraries. While the decision to use a commercial system or an open source software system will depend on the specific needs of individual libraries there are some factors that librarians and other decision makers should consider.
Column Editor: Edward M. Corrado, Associate University Librarian, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA [email protected] .Editor’s Note: The “Trending Tech Services” column examines current developments along with emerging and future trends involving technology and its impact on the technical operations of modern libraries and information centers. In this issue’s column, we look at some important considerations for open source software and proprietary software solutions for integrated library systems. Interested authors are invited to submit proposals and articles to the column editor at [email protected]. Please include “TSQ submission” in the subject line of the e-mail.
Column Editor: Edward M. Corrado, Associate University Librarian, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA [email protected] .Editor’s Note: The “Trending Tech Services” column examines current developments along with emerging and future trends involving technology and its impact on the technical operations of modern libraries and information centers. In this issue’s column, we look at some important considerations for open source software and proprietary software solutions for integrated library systems. Interested authors are invited to submit proposals and articles to the column editor at [email protected]. Please include “TSQ submission” in the subject line of the e-mail.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.
Notes
1. For the purposes of this paper an ILS includes software that goes by various names including Integrated Library System (ILS), Integrated Library Management System (ILMS), Library Management System (LMS), and Library Services Platform (LSP). While the definitions of these different types of system may vary, they are closely related and serve much of the same functionality so they are considered together as one type of system
2. Another form of software development that is not seen as often in libraries today is homegrown systems where the library builds an ILS themselves. While this may make sense in some very specialized cases it is rare and will not be covered in this paper.
3. At least this is how it is supposed to work. In reality sometimes the knowledgebase is not as up-to-date as one would like or the records included in the knowledgebase are not as detailed as librarians would like them to be.
4. While this paper focuses on ILS systems, the same factors are important to consider for any major software acquisition including institutional repositories and digital preservation systems.