Library Software Packages Unit- 4

UNIT 4: LIBRARY SOFTWARE PACKAGES

UNIT STRUCTURE

4.1 Learning Objectives

4.2 Introduction
4.3 Types of Library Software Packages
4.4 Concepts related to Software Packages
4.5 Criteria for selection and evaluation of Library Software Packages
4.6 Library Management Software Packages
4.7 Institutional Repository Software Packages
4.8 Content Management System (CMC)
4.9 Learning Management System (LMS)
4.10 Let Us Sum Up
4.11 Further Readings
4.12 Answers to Check Your Progress
4.13 Probable Questions

4.1 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After going through this unit you will be able to

 Know about library software packages;
 Know about the concept and terminologies used in conjunction
with library software packages;
 Know about the criteria for evaluation of library software pack-
ages;
 Know about different library management software packages.

4.2 INTRODUCTION

The computer cannot do anything without some programme or in-

struction or software. Unlike the hardware, software cannot be touched but
it instructs the computer what to do in a particular situation. Any type of
computer programme designed to perform some kind of library activities is
known as library software. It may be a simple programme to perform the job
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of acquisition or cataloguing or integrated library management software that

will perform the job of acquisition, cataloguing, circulation, serial control and
others. It may also be digital library management software which will man-
age the digital resources of the library or some other types, say a Learning
Management System or Content Management System, etc.
This unit will describe each and every aspect of the library software
packages. Due attention is given to list the free software packages (open
source and proprietary) that can be implemented without giving much stress
on library finance. Sometimes a few commercial software packages that
are also well proven also listed out to have a comparative study of the trend
of available functionality in both categories.

4.3 TYPES OF LIBRARY SOFTWARE PACKAGES

There are different library software packages, and each of them has
different functionability. The amalgamation of features adds a lot of difficul-
ties in categorizing the library software packages. However for the purpose
of our study, an attempt is made to categorize the library software pack-
ages into the following:
A) Based on Function Performed
i) Database Creation Software (E.g CDS/ISIS)
ii) Library House Keeping / Management Software Packages (Libsys,
OASIS, Sanjay, SLIM, SOUL)
iii) Institutional Repository Software Packages (CDSWare, Dspace, E-
prints, Fedora, Ganesha digital library, Greenstone)
B) Based on Source Code Availability
a) Proprietary software (SOUL)
b) Open Source Software Packages (Koha)
C) Based on Cost Factor
a) Completely Commercial (LibSys)
b) In-house Developed;
c) Shareware
d) Freeware (Gratis / Libre software)
e) Open Source Software
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4.4 CONCEPTS RELATED TO SOFTWARE PACKAGES

Open-source software is computer software whose source code is

available under a licence that permits the users to study, change, and im-
prove the software, and to redistribute it in modified or unmodified form.
When we talk about the software packages especially Open Sources
Software, we will come across some concepts or terminologies. Some of
the popular concept or terminologies are discussed below-
a) Open Archives Initiative (OAI): The Open Archives Initiative (OAI) is
an attempt to build a low-barrier interoperability framework for archives
or institutional repositories containing digital content. It allows service
providers to harvest metadata from the data providers. The collected
metadata thus obtained is used to provide "value-added services". More:
http://www.openarchives.org/
b) Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting (OAI-
PMH): It is a protocol developed by the Open Archives Initiative. It is
used to harvest (or collect) the metadata descriptions of the records in
an archive so that services can be built using metadata from many ar-
chives. A number of software systems support the OAI-PMH, including
GNU EPrints from the University of Southampton and DSpace from MIT.
The OAI Protocol has been widely adopted by many digital libraries,
institutional repositories, and digital archives. Commercial search en-
gines have started using OAI-PMH to acquire more resources. Google
has started to accept OAI-PMH as part of their Sitemap Protocol, and
they are using OAI-PMH to harvest information from the National Library
of Australia Digital Object Repository. In 2004, Yahoo! acquired content
from OAIster (University of Michigan) that was obtained through
metadata harvesting with OAI-PMH. The mod_oai project is using OAI-
PMH to expose content to web crawlers that is accessible from Apache
Web servers. A number of large archives support the protocol including
arXiv and the CERN Document Server.
c) Directory of Open Access Repositories (OpenDOAR): OpenDOAR
is an authoritative directory of academic open access repositories. It

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provides the facility to “search for repositories” or “search repository

contents”. It also provides tools and support to both repository adminis-
trators and service providers in sharing the best practice and improving
the quality of the repository infrastructure. W ebsite: http://
www.opendoar.org/
d) Richard Matthew Stallman: Richard Matthew Stallman often abbrevi-
ated as "rms" (http://stallman.org/) is an American software freedom
activist and computer programmer. In September 1983, he launched
the GNU Project (http://www.gnu.org/gnu/initial-announcement.html) to
create a free Unix-like operating system. In October 1985 he founded
the Free Software Foundation (FSF). Stallman pioneered the concept
of copyleft and he is the main author of several copyleft licences includ-
ing the GNU General Public Licence, the most widely used free soft-
ware licence.
e) Application Programming Interface (API): An Application Program-
ming Interface (API) is an interface implemented by a software
programme which enables it to interact with other software. It facilitates
interaction between different software programmes similar to the way
the user interface facilitates interaction between humans and comput-
ers. An API is implemented by applications, libraries, and operating sys-
tems to determine their vocabularies and calling conventions, and is
used to access their services.
f) The Digital Library Federation (DLF): The Digital Library Federation
(DLF) is an international consortium of libraries and related agencies
that are pioneering the use of electronic-information technologies to
extend collections and services. Since its formation in 1995, DLF has
made a number of significant contributions to the academic library and
library services vendor communities. Website: http://www.diglib.org/
g) The Dublin Core Metadata Initiative: The Dublin Core Metadata Ini-
tiative, or "DCMI", is an open organization engaged in the development
of interoperable metadata standards that support a broad range of pur-
poses and business models. The Dublin Core set of metadata elements
provide a small and fundamental group of text elements through which
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most resources can be described and catalogued. It can describe physi-

cal resources such as books, digital materials such as video, sound,
image, or text files, and composite media like web pages. Metadata
records based on Dublin Core are intended to be used for cross-do-
main information resource description and have become standard in
the fields of library science and computer science. Implementations of
Dublin Core typically make use of XML and are Resource Description
Framework based. Website: http://dublincore.org/
h) Search / Retrieval via URL (SRU): SRU is a standard XML-focussed
search protocol for Internet search queries, utilizing Contextual Query
Language (CQL), a standard syntax for representing queries. Website:
http://www.loc.gov/standards/ or http://www.loc.gov/standards/sru/
i) Free Software Foundation (FSF): The Free Software Foundation (FSF)
is a non-profit corporation founded by Richard Stallman in October 1985
to support the free software movement, a copyleft-based movement
which aims to promote the universal freedom to create, distribute and
modify computer software. Website: http://www.fsf.org/
j) Copyleft Licenses: Copyleft is a general method for making a program
(or other work) free, and requiring all modified and extended versions of
the program to be free as well. The GNU General Public Licence,
originally written by Richard Stallman, was the first copyleft licence to
see extensive use, and continues to dominate the licencing of copylefted
software. Creative Commons, a non-profit organization founded by
Lawrence Lessig, provides a similar licence called ShareAlike.

4.5 CRITERIA FOR SELECTION AND EVALUATION

OF LIBRARY SOFTWARE PACKAGES

In any endeavour in which we make a substantial investment of

money, energy, and time or other resources, we like to know what kind of
return we are getting. The ability to evaluate the return on our investment
gives us the basis on which to choose between alternatives. So an evalua-
tion is basically a judgment of worth, it is a matter of comparison of actual

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result with external standard, in the light of existing institutional realities which
may be relevant to evaluating the future trajectory of the programme or ser-
vices and provide an objective basis for decision making. Like any evalua-
tive process, library software evaluation is also quite a difficult task. It mainly
involves four basic aspects i.e.
a) Whether software will be commercial;
b) In-house developed software packages;
c) Freeware
d) Open Source Software
In case of commercial software, it will cost a huge investment. In
case of In-house developed software packages, it will consume much of
the library budget, time from the library staff (in the form of constant evalu-
ation and modification to the library software packages to become stable)
and create problem in retrospective conversion. In case of freeware, there
is a problem with technical support. But the Open Source Software has not
any major disadvantages, if it has a online community for technical support.
But in all cases, we have to consider the following procedure, features and
aids to evaluate the software package.
A) Preliminary Steps
a) Consulting Others: No one wants chosen software to stop unex-
pectedly, slow down on large network, report error message. So,
before making a choice, it will be better to consult a person who has
already used the software in the same way or consult people who
have already gained experience on that software package.
b) Reputation of the Referrer: The reputation of a person or the in-
stitution, his/her/its experience on that particular software is the next
point to be considered. The relation between the evaluator and the
referrer should also be justified at this point.
c) Existing Literature: It is better to go for the software after carefully
examining the existing literature and documentation on the particu-
lar software packages.

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B) Manufacturers and Vendor

a) Reputation of the Manufacturer and Vendor: What is the
reputation of the software vendor or manufacturer in the market or
for how long they are working in the field is the next important thing
to consider.
b) Training: Does the company or authority of the particular software
provide training? Where and how the training is conducted, whether
it is online, onsite? It is another point to be considered.
c) Documentation / Manual: Is training accompanied by easy-to-follow
supporting print material or manual. How good the manual is? It is
also an important point to consider.
d) Updating: Does the library automation system company from their
own website help to install, upgrade (web based updates), and
patches or simply help one with a particular function. How is the
new modification / new version of the software to be obtained by the
librarian?
e) Post Installation Support: Post installation support from the vendor.
C) General Features of the Software Package
a) Multiple Platforms: The software package chosen should run on
various computer platforms i.e. server, mainframe to simple PCs.
The software should also be able to run in multiple platforms such
as windows XP, windows 2000, windows N.T., etc.
b) Existing Standard : Software should support internationally known
standards such as MARC 21, CCF, AACR2, LCSH and data export/
import in ISO 2709 (MARC/ CCF). If possible, the software chosen
should also comply with UNICODE.
c) Integrated : The software should permit collaborative working and
all modules should be integrated in nature.
d) Flexibility : The software should make it easy to switch between
the OPAC and writing station because there are times when one
would want the public OPAC station to function as writing station
and at other times when would like the writing station to function as
OPAC. The software package chosen should also be so flexible as
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to handle the records of variable sizes.

e) Capacity : The restriction in total number of database / information
/ records in a database enable the software to be handled effectively.
f) Speed : Speed of operation in different environment.
g) Standardize Data Format for Import and Export : The software
should use standardized data format for importing and exporting of
data from and to the software.
h) De-Bugging Facility : De-bugging facility and scope of proper er-
ror message while executing the software are to be ensured.
i) User Friendliness : The software should build on GUI based envi-
ronment. It should provide expert advice and assistance in perform-
ing any task. It should empower the experienced user with short cut
and inexperienced user with menu driven icon, dialogue box, etc.
giving clickable access to the software. The software that is built on
other platform should have the mnemonic based command.
j) Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) : The Object Linking and
Embedding feature helps to create objects in one application and
then to embed it in a record of the software package running on the
computer. If the software package chosen has this feature then it is
good.
k) Effectiveness : Does the system meet the specification?
l) Reliability : Does the search in the software give consistent result?
m) Customization and Expandability : The system should permit
addition of new feature to meet the local need and use.
D) Services
a) Acquisition: Does the system carry out duplicate checking while
entering the data. Does it have the capacity to print accession
register? How effective the system is for data entry? Does the
software provide an easy way for editing records? Are insertion and
deletion of records easy?
b) Cataloguing: Cataloguing through retrospective conversion facility,
provision of catalogue card printing, etc.
c) Circulation : Provision for issue, return, renewal, grace period,
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overdue alert, computation of fines, reservation of document etc.

d) Serial Control: Provision of monitoring multiple issue of a serial,
provision of grace period for receiving the serial, provision of renewal,
overdue alert, entering the abstract of a serial.
e) OPAC: Provision of reservation through OPAC, provision of searching
OPAC from outside the library, provision of searching the OPAC
and web simultaneously (Meta search) using a single word search.
f) Library Administration: The software should allow generation of
different kinds of reports i.e. collection statistics, circulation statistics
and also should be helpful to create one’s own specialized report to
meet the specialized need. It should also have the facility to assign
different right to the software for different categories of library staff.
E) New Technologies: The library software package should keep pace
with global technology, web enhancement, online information, virtual
services, provision of barcode facility, handling un-catalogued item etc.
a) Network Capabilities: Provision of LAN connectivity, scope of
integration of the software package with other school department,
provision of accessing the software from computer outside the
school walls via a web browser.
b) Web Enabling: Provision of web enabling through link to the
Application Service Provider (ASP) or to the school web server,
provision of internet connectivity, Email connectivity, etc. This is an
advantage, where the cataloguer can work from remote location and
OPAC can be accessed from both home and school, 24 hours a
day.
c) Enhanced MARC Data: Many softwares allow to catalogue website,
E-Books, AV resources in addition to the library resources. The
websites are added by the library media specialist manually.
d) Open Standard Technologies: Is the database built on open
standard technologies such as SQL, cold fusion, or XML that allows
different types of software to talk to each other? That means, different
modules of the software can easily and automatically share and update
any information is common e.g. students name, address etc.
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F) Securities
a) Log on/off: The software should provide the students and staff
members the user id and passwords to log on/off facilities on their
own. The system must also allow the administrator to provide access
restriction to certain records/ fields of importance.
b) Power out Feature: Is any power out feature included? The system
should be with a manual hand scanner available to check the material
in and out in the event of power failure that can later on easily be
connected to the computer system.
G) Cost Factor of the Software Package
a) Total Cost of the Software Package : If the system comes in
different modules (available in only circulation module, circulation
plus cataloguing module) then the total cost of the system. Is to be
considered whether the total cost is affordable or justified.
b) Cost of Support : Cost of training, on site support, etc.
c) Cost of Upgrade : Cost of future upgrades.
d) Future Exist Cost : In near future, if one wants to switch over to
another package then the cost involved in such cases should also
be considered.
e) Warranty: The software should come with performance and service
warranty.
The technologies are shifting the horizon of library software
packages every day, so, in choosing any software for library
automation, if possible, we should look for the software package
that has also the facility for federated search, and comply with the
Open URL and Barcode and RFID technologies.

4.6 LIBRARY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE

PACKAGES

Library management or automation software provides centralized

management and processes for different types of libraries and library
activities such as acquisition, cataloguing, circulation, administration,

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reporting and patron records. It provides integration of self-service kiosks

and online web portal access for catalogue search, content delivery or
reservation requests and such others. They also track and automate
notification of overdue books and fines.
In the following paragraphs, an attempt is made to list some of the
popular free and open source library automation software packages. A very
few commercial software packages are also discussed.
a) Automatización de Bibliotecas y Centros de Documentación
(ABCD): ABCD stands for "Automatización de Bibliotecas y Centros de
Documentación" (Spanish), which means: Library and Documentation
Centers Automation. Its development is promoted and coordinated by
BIREME, with the support of VLIR. ABCD is an integrated library
management system that covers all the major functions in a library. It is
able to manage acquisitions, management of bibliographic databases,
user management, loan management, control of periodicals, and so
on. It uses MARC-21 cataloguing formats and other current standards
or protocols (Dublin Core, METS, Z39.50) and published as Free and
Open Source Software (FOSS) with the accompanying tools for the
developer community. Website: http://reddes.bvsaude.org/projects/abcd
or http://sites.google.com/site/abcdtutorials/
b) DEL-PLUS: This software was designed and developed by Developing
Library Network (DELNET), New Delhi exclusively to work under all kinds
of libraries. It is able to manage the acquisition, cataloguing, circulation,
and administrative work of the library. It also has an OPAC end and
follows internationally recommended standards and formats such as
MARC 21. It is suitable for small and medium size libraries which have
collections upto one lakh holdings. It also supports Barcode. Website:
http://delnet.nic.in/software-development.htm
c) E-Granthalaya: e-Granthalaya is a library automation software from
National Informatics Centre, Department of Information Technology,
Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Government
of India. Using this software the libraries can automate in-house activities
as well as user services. The software can be implemented either in
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stand-alone or in client-server mode where the database and WebOPAC

are installed on the server PC while the data entry programme is installed
on client PCs. The software runs on Windows platform. The software is
provided at zero cost to the Ministries / Departments / Public / Academic
/ Universities / Colleges and school libraries. Besides, libraries set up in
Public / Private sectors may also approach the NIC for free copy of the
software. Website: http://egranthalaya.nic.in/
d) Evergreen: Evergreen is an open source library management software,
freely licensed under the GNU GPL. It was first launched in September,
2006 in Georgia's PINES consortium. It is highly-scalable software for
libraries that helps library patrons find library materials, and helps the
libraries to manage, catalogue, and circulate those materials, no matter
how large or complex the libraries. are Evergreen has an active
community that participates in its coding, documentation, and direction
of the project. Website: http://www.open-ils.org/
e) FireFly: FireFly is a Complete Public Library system. It is being written
in Python, Perl, with all data being stored in XML. The driving force behind
this project is to give public libraries a Free-Software set to run and
maintain library systems. Website: http://savannah.nongnu.org/projects/
firefly/
f) Koha: Koha is the world's first open-source Integrated Library System
(ILS) and it is distributed free of cost (open source, and so no license
fee, ever). It was initially developed in New Zealand by Katipo
Communications Ltd and first deployed in January of 2000 for
Horowhenua Library Trust. It is currently maintained by a team of software
providers and library technology staff from around the globe and is in
use worldwide in the libraries of all sizes. The name “Koha” comes
from the Maori word for a gift or donation.It runs on Linux, Unix, Windows
and MacOS platform. Koha is a comprehensive system that has the
capacity to intelligently run a library, large or small, real or virtual. Koha
is compliance with copy cataloguing and z39.50, MARC21 and UNIMARC
for professional cataloguers. The software can also be used as
document manager or digital library. Website: http://koha.org/
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g) Library Information and Management System (LIMS): LIMS is a

unique library system, designed, developed, implemented and fully tested
by library professionals. It is distributed free of cost to the libraries.
Website: http://www.paklag.org/limsFreeware.htm
h) Library Manager: Library Manager is a library management software.
It has been developed under GPL licence. W ebsite: http://
libman.sourceforge.net/
i) LibSys 7: It is a web based library software product from Libsys Ltd.,
Gurgaon, Haryana. It has the modules for acquisition, cataloguing,
circulation, serials, article indexing, Web-OPAC, and reports. It supports
international standard like MARC21 (USMARC + CANMARC), Unicode,
SRU-SRW, Z39.50, NCIP-NISO, SICI-Barcode. If any library has the
sufficient fund, then it can be treated as the most field-proven library
system in a wide spectrum of libraries with unmatchable depth in
functionality and features. Website: http://www.libsys.co.in/
j) NewGenLib: NewGenLib is an integrated library management system
developed by Verus Solutions Pvt Ltd. Domain expertise is provided by
Kesavan Institute of Information and Knowledge Management in
Hyderabad, India. On 9th January 2008, NewGenLib was declared as
Open Source Software under GNU GPL Licence by Verus Solutions. It
is estimated that 2,500 libraries across 58 countries are using NewGenLib
as their Primary integrated library management system. Website: http:/
/www.verussolutions.biz
k) OpenBiblio: OpenBiblio is an easy to use, automated library system
written in PHP containing OPAC, circulation, cataloguing, and staff
administration functionality. The software is free. Website: http://
obiblio.sourceforge.net
l) Sanjay: The NISSAT sponsored a project to DESIDOC for developing
programmes on UNESCO’s CDS/ISIS for enabling a library to do
acquisition, circulation, etc. DESIDOC has successfully modified the
programmes and a new package based on CDS/ISIS was released in
1992 by the name of SANJAY. So, Sanjay is an augmented version of

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CDS/ISIS with modules prepared for the various house keeping

operations. The software is totally menu driven and works in windows
environment with LAN support. In India, NISSAT is the marketing agent
of this software. The package was released for marketing in September
1995.
m) Small Library Organizer Pro: It is a complete software for small private,
public, or corporate libraries. It able to manages all the library collections,
member / patron information, and keeps track of the library circulation
data. The package has a separate module called Designer. With
Designer one can modify Small Library solution or can build their own.
This is a freeware. W ebsite: http://small-library-organizer-
pro.software.informer.com/1.0/
n) SOUL 2.0: Software for University Libraries (SOUL) is the state-of-the-
art library automation software designed and developed by the
INFLIBNET Centre, Ahmedabad. It is a user-friendly software developed
to work under client-server environment. Looking at the name of the
software, one may think that it is meant for the university libraries only,
but, in fact, it is flexible enough to be used for automating any type or
size of library. It is one of the best and proven software for all types of
libraries. Website: http://www.inflibnet.ac.in/soul/
o) WEBLIS: WEBLIS is a free-of-charge Web based Library Integrated
System based on CDS/ISIS. The system has been developed by the
Institute for Computer and Information Engineering (ICIE), Poland. The
current version of WEBLIS, available in English, consists of the
cataloguing system, OPAC (search), LOAN module, and statistical
module. WEBLIS runs through the WWW-ISIS engine. More: http://
portal.unesco.org/ci/fr/ev.php-URL_ID=16841&URL_DO=DO_
TOPIC&URL_ SECTION=201.html

4.7 INSTITUTIONAL REPOSITORY SOFTWARE

PACKAGES

An Institutional Repository (IR) is an online locus for collecting and

preserving in digital form the intellectual output of an institution, particularly
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a research institution. For a university, this would include materials such as

research journal articles (before (preprints) and after (postprints) undergoing
peer review, and digital versions of theses and dissertations, but it might
also include other digital assets generated by normal academic life, such
as administrative documents, course notes, or learning objects. The main
objectives for having an institutional repository is to provide open access to
institutional research output by self-archiving it and to store and preserve
other institutional digital assets, including the unpublished or otherwise easily
lost (grey) literature (e.g., theses or technical reports).
IRs are partly linked to the notion of a digital library i.e., collecting,
housing, classifying, cataloguing, curating, preserving, and providing access
to digital content, analogous with the library's conventional function of
collecting, housing, classifying, curating, preserving and providing access
to analog content.
There are different softwares for building institutional repositories.
Some well known software packages are described bellow
a) Dspace: Dspace was developed by Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (MIT) libraries & Hewlett-Packard labs. It runs on Unix or
Linux machine and Apache web server, Tomcat servlet engine and the
postgre SQL relational database system are required. The software is
released under BSD license. Website: http://www.dspace.org/
b) EPrints: Eprints was developed by University of Southampton and
released under GNU General Public License. It runs on Unix machine
and Apache, MySQL database, Perl language is necessary for its
installation and operation. Website: http://www.eprints.org/software/
c) Green Stone Digital Library software (GSDL): The Greenstone Digital
Library Software is a suit of Open Source, multilingual software package
for building and distributing Digital Libraries. It provides a new way of
organizing information and publishing it on the Internet or on CD-ROM.
The software has been developed by the New Zealand Digital Library
Project at the University of Waikato, New Zealand. Greenstone is
supported by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) and the Human Info NGO, based in Antwerp,
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Belgium for spreading the benefits of this software to developing

countries. It is released under GNU General Public License and runs on
Windows, Linux / Unix machine that have Apache web server, MySQL
database and Perl language. Website: http://www.greenstone.org

4.8 CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (CMS)

A Content Management System (CMS) is a computer application

used to create, edit, manage, search and publish various kinds of digital
media and electronic text. CMSs are frequently used for storing, controlling,
versioning, and publishing industry-specific documentation such as news
articles, operators' manuals, technical manuals, sales guides, and marketing
brochures. A CMS may support the following features-
a) Identification of all key users and their content management roles;
b) Ability to assign roles and responsibilities to different content categories
or types;
c) Definition of workflow tasks for collaborative creation, often coupled with
event messaging so that content managers are alerted to changes in
content (for example, a content creator submits a story, which is
published only after the copy editor revises it and the editor-in-chief
approves it.);
d) Ability to track and manage multiple versions of a single instance of
content;
e) Ability to capture the content (e.g. scanning);
f) Ability to publish the content to a repository to support access to the
content through different search and retrieval techniques;
Besides the above, a CMS may also have the following provisions:
g) Communication application such as video conferencing;
h) Administration components such as whiteboards for brainstorming,
appointment scheduling, project management, etc.
A CMS has the following advantages over other paper based
information sources

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a) Reduction of paper handling and error-prone manual processes;

b) Reduction of paper storage;
c) Reduction of lost documents;
d) Faster access to information;
e) Online access to information that was formerly available only on paper,
microfilm, or microfiche;
f) Improved control over documents and document-oriented processes;
f) Streamlining of time-consuming business processes;
g) Security over document access and modification;
h) Providing reliable and accurate audit trail;
i) Improved tracking and monitoring, with the ability to identify bottlenecks
and modifying the system to improve efficiency.
In the following paragraphs a few widely used CMS are discussed
in brief.
a) Drupal: Drupal is a free and open source content management system
(CMS) written in PHP and distributed under the GNU General Public
License. The Drupal contains basic features common to most CMSs.
These include user account registration and maintenance, menu
management, RSS-feeds, page layout customization, and system
administration. The Drupal core installation can be used as a
brochureware website, a single- or multi-user blog, an Internet forum,
or a community website providing for user-generated content. Website:
http://drupal.org/
b) Joomla: Joomla is a free and open source content management system
for publishing content on the World Wide Web and intranets. It includes
features such as page caching, RSS feeds, printable versions of pages,
news flashes, blogs, polls, search, and support for language
internationalization. Website: http://www.joomla.org/
c) MediaWiki: MediaWiki is a popular free web-based wiki software
application developed by and used on all projects of the Wikimedia
Foundation, as well as on many other wiki websites worldwide. The first
version of the software was deployed to serve the needs of the free
content Wikipedia encyclopedia in 2002. Now it is deployed by many
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companies as a content management system for internal knowledge

management. Website: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/MediaWiki
d) Zope: Z Object Publishing Environment (Zope) is a free and open-source,
object-oriented web application server written in the Python programming
language. Zope is used for building web applications, content
management systems, and dynamic websites of all kinds. Website:
http://www.zope.org/

4.9 LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (LMS)

A Learning Management System (LMS) or Courseware Management

System is a software application for the administration, documentation,
tracking, and reporting of training programmes, classroom and online events,
e-learning programmes, and training content.
LMSs range from systems for managing training and educational
records to software for distributing courses over the Internet with features
for online collaboration. Student self-service (e.g., self-registration on
instructor-led training), training workflow (e.g., user notification, manager
approval, wait-list management), the provision of on-line learning (e.g.,
computer-based training, read & understand), on-line assessment,
management of continuous professional education (CPE), collaborative
learning (e.g., application sharing, discussion threads), and training resource
management (e.g., instructors, facilities, equipment), are dimensions to
Learning Management Systems.
The following are some of the popular LMS softwares
a) ATutor: ATutor is an Open Source Web-based Learning Management
System (LMS). It is used in various contexts, including online course
management, continuing professional development for teachers, career
development, and academic research. The software is cited as unique
for its accessibility features, (useful to visually-impaired and disabled
learners); and for its suitability for educational use. Website: http://
www.atutor.ca/
b) Brihaspati (The Virtual Classroom): Brihaspati is an open source

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learning management system and of Indian origin. Website: http://

home.iitk.ac.in/~ynsingh/tool/brihaspati.shtml
c) Claroline: Claroline is a collaborative eLearning and eWorking platform
(Learning Management System) released under the GPL Open Source
license. It allows hundreds of organizations worldwide ranging from
universities to schools and from companies to associations to create
and administer courses and collaboration spaces over the web. Website:
http://www.claroline.net
d) Moodle: Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment
(Moodle) is a free and open-source e-learning software platform, also
known as a Course Management System, Learning Management
System, or Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It is developed by Martin
Dougiamas to help the educators create online courses with a focus on
interaction and collaborative construction of content. Website: http://
moodle.org/

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS

Q 1 : Match the Following

a) OpenDOAR i) Founded Free Software Foundation (FSF).
b) Richard Matthew ii) Developed by the Open Archives
Stallman Initiative.
c) Digital Library iii) A Copyleft License.
Federation (DLF)
d) The GNU General iv) An international consortium of libraries
Public License and related agencies.
e) OAI-PMH Protocol v) Authoritative directory of academic
open access repositories.
Q 2 : Match the Following
a) LibSys 7 i) Developed by Wikimedia Foundation.
b) Dspace ii) Example of Content Management
System (CMS).

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Unit- 4 Library Software Packages

c) GSDL iii) Developed by Massachusetts

Instituteof Technology (MIT) libraries
& Hewlett-Packard labs.
d) EPrints iv) Developed by the New Zealand
Digital Library Project at the University of
Waikato, New Zealand.
e) Drupal v) Institutional Repository Software
Package.
f) MediaWiki vi) An example of Learning Management
System (LMS).
g) Moodle vii) Example of Library Management
Software.
Q 3: Write Full Form of the Following
a) API. ..........................................................................
b) CMS. ..........................................................................
c) DCMI. ..........................................................................
d) DLF ..........................................................................
e) FSF ..........................................................................
f) GSDL. ..........................................................................
g) OAI. ..........................................................................
h) OAI-PMH. ..........................................................................
i) SRU. ..........................................................................

4.10 LET US SUM UP

There are different software packages available for different activities

of a library. Sometime they are bundled together with lots of cool features to
form an integrated library management software.
The open source softwares are gaining importance day by day. They
provide a free licence with the additional facility of extensive customization

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to meet the local need. In case of commercial proprietary library

management software SOUL 2.0, and LibSys 7 are popular in India. In case
of free proprietary software, the E-Granthalaya of NIC is gaining importance
and in case of Open Source software, Koha is day by day heading to win
the race.
In case of Institutional Repository Software Packages, the Green
Stone Digital Library software (GSDL), EPrints, and Dspace are deployed
in different institutions in India. In the category of Content Management
System (CMC), Drupal, Joomla, and MediaWiki is used where as from the
category of Learning Management System (LMS), Moodle are favoring by
large number of institutes.

4.11 FURTHER READINGS

1) Baruah, Deepa (2002). A study on the library software packages SOUL

and LIBPLUS with special reference to data entry and data retrieval
techniques (MLISc Dissertation, Gauhati University).
2) Borkakati, Shatabdi (2001). Evaluation of library software packages
(MLISc Dissertation, Gauhati university).
3) Mukhopadhyay, Partha Sarathi. Progress of Library Management
Softwares: an Indian Scenario. Available over web at: https://
drtc.isibang.ac.in/bitstream/handle/1849/189/lmss2a.PDF?sequence=2
4) Schrock, Kathy. Library automation: A buying guide. Available over web
at : http://www.techlearning.com/story/showarticle.jhtml?a
rticleid=17602661
5) Welgus, Barry. Library automation: software functionality issues.
Available over web at: http://www.curriculum.ed.au/scis/connections/
cnetw02/42automation.htm

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Unit- 4 Library Software Packages

4.12 ANSWERS TO CHECK YOUR PROGRESS

Ans to Q No 1:
a) OpenDOAR i) Authoritative directory of aca
demic open access repositories.
b) Richard Matthew Stallman ii) Founded Free Software Foun
dation (FSF).
c) Digital Library Federation iii) An international consortium of
(DLF) libraries and related agencies.
d) The GNU General Public iv) A Copyleft License.
License
e) OAI-PMH Protocol v) Developed by the Open Archives
Initiative.
Ans to Q No 2:
a) LibSys 7 i)Example of Library Management
Software.
b) Dspace ii)Developed by Massachusetts Institute
of Technology (MIT) libraries & Hewlett-
Packard labs.
c) GSDL iii)Developed by the New Zealand
Digital Library Project at the University
of Waikato, New Zealand.
d) EPrints iv)Institutional Repository Software
Package.
e) Drupal v)Example of Content Management
System (CMS).
f) MediaWiki vi)Developed by Wikimedia Foundation.
g) Moodle vi)An example of Learning Management
System (LMS)
Ans to Q No 3:

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Library Software Packages Unit- 4

a) API = Application Programming Interface.

b) CMS = Content Management System.
c) DCMI = Dublin Core Metadata Initiative.
d) DLF = Digital Library Federation.
e) FSF = Free Software Foundation.
f) GSDL = Green Stone Digital Library software.
g) OAI = Open Archives Initiative.
h) OAI-PMH = Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting.
i) SRU = Search / Retrieval via URL.

4.13 PROBABLE QUESTIONS

A) Write Short Notes on the Following

a) E-Granthalaya
b) Koha
c) SOUL 2.0
B) Essay Type Questions
a) Describe the criteria for selection and evaluation of library software
packages.
b) Describe the library management software with a few examples.
c) Write descriptive notes on Institutional repository softwares.
d) What is a CMS. Describe with examples.
e) Describe LMS with examples.

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