Open Source ILS

Software:
KOHA
an experience
By

Sangeeta Kaul
Network Manager , DELNET
New Delhi, India
Email : [email protected]
Web : www.delnet.nic.in
What does Open Source mean?
 The term “open source” refers to software that
is free and that includes the original source code
used to create it so that users can modify it to
make it work better for them.

 open source software may be free, a developer

or distributor may charge for services, including
special programming, installation, training, and
technical support.
 Quality, not profit drives open source developers
who take personal pride. Simple use it and is
not locked any single person or institution.
Advantages of Open Source Software :
 Ability to tailor to fit local needs :
The availability of the source code means that a user can
modify and enhance the software to more closely fit its
own needs .
 No restriction on use :
There are no contractual restrictions on how the
software is used .
 Low cost :
There is no charge for the software itself. The major
cost is local development. If the number of users is
large, and they share their efforts, each user’s cost is
reduced.
 Disadvantages of Open Source Software:
 Unanticipated Efforts : A library may find that it needs to
do a great deal more work than anticipated to adapt the
software to local needs.
 Lack of coordination : The decentralized development of
open source software means that progress can be chaotic and
there may be delays in addressing bugs.
 Inadequate technical support : Documentation tends to be
limited and aimed at developers. There usually is limited
technical support, especially for users of the software
 Customization : Open source software may not offer the level of
customization as it is being done in case of commercial software.
Open Source Integrated Library
System Products :
 MicroLCS,  Koha
 Emilda  OpenBiblio
 Evergreen  phpMyLibrary
 FireFly  PMB
 GNUTeca  PYTHEAS
 Avanti  WEBLIS.
 Criteria for Evaluating Open Source
Integrated Library Systems :
 There is active current development under way.
 At least the cataloging, circulation, patron access catalog
modules, acquisitions and serials control should be available.
It should be Integrated library system.
 MARC is supported.
 Current source code and documentation are available for
downloading under the GNU General Public License
 The product is currently in use in libraries.
 Scalability
 Adaptability and user friendly system.
 What is Koha ?
 Koha is a full featured Integrated Library System (ILS).
there is no cost for the license, you have the freedom to
modify the product to adapt it to your needs, etc.
 Developed initially in New Zealand by Katipo
Communications with Horowhenua Library Trust.
 It is currently maintained by a dedicated team of software
providers and library technology staff from around the
globe.
 That by adopting it, the customer becomes "joint owner "
of the product. In particular, the customer can freely install
new versions or not, and can take part in new
developments by financing them or by carrying them out
them self.
 Why Open Source Software Koha:
 Proven, Stable Technologies: Koha is tried and tested and has
demonstrated both stability and scalability, used in hundreds of
libraries worldwide.
 Software Collaboration and Resource Sharing: software
solutions that are freely available to all libraries worldwide.
libraries benefits from the contributions of other participating
library systems.
 Long term Support:With proprietary software, source code is
'closed' and support and future development of the product rely on
the success and resources of a single vendor. If the vendor goes
under, so does your product support. open-source solutions rely on
stable code bases developed and supported by many providers
worldwide.
 User-driven: open-source software user-driven--you decide what
features are important and deserve attention rather than a vendor.
continued----
 Why Open Source Software Koha:
 Cost-effective: paying licensing fees for proprietary solutions, users
of open-source software can often deploy the product using in-house
resources. They pay only for needed support or any additional
vendor services they require.
 Innovation: code is open, users are free to innovate and improve the
software to meet their needs Free innovation also means that open-
source software has much faster development cycles when compared
to proprietary software.
 Free/open source software koha is an economical alternative to
reliance upon commercially supplied software. It means the cost
involved development, license, upgrading, maintenance etc., lower
than commercial software. koha does not need the initial cost like
commercial software.
 Free/Open source Koha has all the feature of commercial software.
 Motivate and encourage staff to creativities.
 What does it cost Koha?
 Free/open source software Free download under
the GNU General Public License.
 Users of open-source software Koha can often
deploy yourself using in-house resources. They
pay only for needed support or any additional
vendor services they require.
 It means the cost involved development,
upgrading, maintenance etc., Koha does not
need the initial cost like commercial software.
 Here cost means commitment, dedication, and a
long term efforts to sustain and development of
the software.
 Who uses Koha?

 More than 300 libraries are using Koha,

including academic, public, school and
special libraries, in Africa,
Australia,Canada, USA, France, India and,
of course, New Zealand. Along with a
committed team of programmers its
development is steered by a growing
community of libraries collaborating to
achieve their technology
 Koha User
Name Type website
Antioch University Academic http://library.afognak.org/

Northland Bible Baptist College Academic https://libcat.nbbc.edu/

Childcare Resource and Academic http://circonline.ca

Research Unit – University of
Toronto

West Liberty Public Library Public http://opac.wlpl.org

Nelsonville Public Library Public http://search.athenscounty.lib.o

System (7 library branches h.us/

Horowhenua Library Trust Public http://www.library.org.nz/

Asian School of Business www.asb.edu.in

Business,Trivandrum Kerala school
 Koha and Commercial LMS:
S.No Core services Alice Libsys New Soul VTLS Libsuite Koha
Genlib

01 Acquisition 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
02 Cataloguing 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
03 Circulation 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
04 Web/OPAC 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
05 Serials 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
06 Biblio format 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
07 Data exchange 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

10 Standards 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
11 Cost(Approx.) 3.5 4.5 Open 50000 8.00 4.5 Open
Lakh Lakh Source Lakh Lakh Source
 Koha Feature
 A full featured modern integrated library software (ILS).
 Award winning and free/Open-source
f Software.(no license fee).
 OS independent any operating system. Linux, Unix, Mac.
 Web based. Web-based Interfaces. We can integrate with website.
 Full MARC21 and UNIMARC support for professional cataloguing.
 Multilingual and multi-user support
 Library-Standards-Compliant. industrial standards & protocols.
 Z39.50 server.
 Customizable web based opac.circulation system.
 Online reservation.
 Full catalogue, circulation, acquisitions, library stock management.
 Web based OPAC, public to search the catalogue.
 Major industry-standard database type (text, RDBMS), SQL,MYSQL.
 Serial management module.
 Print your barcode.
 Export and import records, ISO2709
 Koha System Architecture:

 Koha is based on a client-server architecture.

 Network Server: koha can be installed on a server running Linux,
Unix, Mac.The recommended operating system is stable version of
Debian Linux, although Koha can run on any modern operating
system.
 Client Workstations: Koha requires only a web browser on the
workstation (a graphical browser, or even a text browser for the
OPAC). Koha thus functions on PCs running Windows,PCs running
Linux, Macs, or even UNIX workstations.
 Koha runs over any TCP-IP network.
 Koha accommodates low-bandwidth connections. It is completely
usable on ordinary telephone line connections. This is more true of
the librarian interface than of the public interface (OPAC).
 Koha Standards
 The developers of the product have taken care to
adhere strictly to international standards.
 Industry standards: Z39.50, UNIMARC, ISO2709,
MARC21.
 For technical standards: the OPAC is "valid
XHTML ", and respects the standards of
accessibility.
 Web standards recommended by the World Wide
Web Consortium.
 Koha Requirement:
 Koha version 2.2.9 Free (download from
http://www.koha.org/
 Apache web server, 2.0.58 free (download
from (http://www.apache.org)
 MySQL. Relational Database Management System
(http://www.mysql.com) free
 Perl modules 5.8.(http://www.cpan.org).
free.
 Linux (RHEL 3.0, 4.0, 5.0) or Any flavour
of LINUX or WINDOWS Server
 Koha Server Software:
 Server operating system: Linux, OpenBSD,
FreeBSD, MacOS X, or any other Unix.

 Web server: Apache.

 Programming language: Perl.

 Database:MySQL.

 Integrated Library software: Koha 2.2.9

 Koha Client Software:
 Koha requires a recent Internet browser.

 Mozilla is advised, but not obligatory. (Koha works

with Internet Explorer.).

 Certain data validity checks are made on the client

machine, JavaScript must be enabled.

 The public interface (OPAC) conforms with

XHTML1.0 standards: the utility is thus compatible
with alternate browsers. In particular, the OPAC can
be used by people needing special assistive
technology (Braille browsers, voice synthesis, text-
based broswers, etc.).
Skill Requirements To Operate System:

 Koha's interfaces are designed with usability in

mind and are extremely user friendly.
 Staff and patrons with only basic computer skills
have quickly learned to use the system efficiently.
 The cataloging module requires an understanding of
cataloging practices such as MARC, Z30.50
retrieval tools, how to add holdings information, etc.
 Administrators should know operating system
(Linux, etc.)for maintenance, some knowledge of
cataloging in setting up the system preferences.
System Overview:
 Koha Modules:
 OPAC
 Full catalogue.
 Circulation.
 Serials.
 Acquisition.
 Patron Management.
 Branch management.
 Reservations.
 Koha OPAC Module:
 Koha provides a full-functioned Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC).
 OPAC users can carry out searches starting from ten fields (Keyword,
Subject, Title, Class, Barcode, author, publisher, etc.). As in the librarian
interface, they can order the results according to several criteria.
 OPAC users who are logged-in members can place reservations on
library items.
 Bibilio basket:Logged-in members can select records from an OPAC
search and retrieve them by e-mall, either in human-readable form or in
an ISO2709-format file. An ISO2709 file can be processed using
bibliographic software like End Note.
 OPAC users can submit suggestions for acquisition. Koha automatically
informs the OPAC user (by e-mall) of the action taken on each
suggestion.
 Koha Delegation of Authority:
The administrator can allot one or more of the following
capabilities to each staff member:
 Super-librarian: access to all functions.
 Circulation: carry out circulation tasks.
 Catalogue: search the catalogue.
 Parameters: administer the system parameters.
 Borrowers: manage the public users (addition,
modification, restriction, etc.).
 Permissions: administer staff access to functions.
 Reserves for others: place reserves on items for any
borrower.
 Reserves for oneself: place reserves for oneself
 Loan: loan items to borrowers.
 Cataloguing: manage the catalogue.
 Charges: manage the fines and fees levied against
members.
 Koha Members Module:
 The members (borrowers) module makes it possible to
manage not only individual borrowers, but also
institutions.
 Each member belongs to a category. The member
category defines:The minimum and maximum ages for
members of the category• The cost of placing a
reservation on an item (when it is applicable in the
library)• The rules of circulation.
 By entering the borrower's library card number into the
librarian interface, the librarian can:
See the financial standing of the borrower (charges due).
See the borrower's reservations, and his/her outstanding
loans. Set permission flags (for the librarian members).
 Koha Circulation module:
 Borrowing a book from any branch (not just the
branch where the borrower first registered)
 Returning an item at any branch
 Reserving an item for at any branch.
 Circulation rules can be defined very finely by the
library: for each member category, item category,
and holding branch of the item, the duration of the
loan and the maximum number of books loan able
can be defined.
 Returning items ("checking-in") is extremely easy:
Simply scan the barcodes of the items being returned.
 Koha Cataloguing Module:
 MARC Management :The cataloguing module is one of the principal
strong points of Koha.Several "frameworks " can be defined to do
different cataloguing for monographs, electronic
resources,periodicals, etc.
 Export/Import:Importing records in ISO2709 format (the MARC
reservoir) and through Z39.50 (client) for fast cataloguing.
 Copy records:One or more copy records can be attached to each
bibliographic record.
 Fast cataloguing:To accelerate cataloguing, Koha provides,
Management of a MARC record reservoir, in ISO2709 format, A
Z39.50 client that can access several Z39.50 servers
 MARC view and simple view:Catalogue data can be displayed in
MARC format, in simplified form.
 Searching:searches can be performed on any MARC field. Advanced
functions, search on one word, the beginning of the field, greater than,
less than, etc are also available.
 Koha Serials Module:
 It is possible to register subscriptions with reviews, and to
track the arrival of periodicals.
 Koha manages late issues, skipped issues, and claims with
the suppliers.
 Koha manages complex classifications, allowing the
librarian to work with eleven different publication periods
(from daily newspapers to annual publications), with
delayed publications, and with publications out of sequence.
 A state of the collection can be defined which will
synthesize the missing publications, received
publications,etc.
 The state of the collection can be displayed differently in the
OPAC and in the librarian interface.
 Koha Acquisition Module:

 Simple acquisitions:The simple acquisitions module

makes it possible to acquire materials and add them directly to
the catalogue.It does not manage budgetary matters, the orders
placed with the suppliers, etc.
 Full acquisitions:The full acquisitions module makes it
possible to manage:Budgets and book funds:Budget available,
Committed, Spent Suppliers.Orders, via 'shopping baskets‘.
 Koha Personalization:
 The architecture of Koha divides the software into three
different layers..
 The database layer, which manages access to the DBMS
(database management system)
 The processing layer, which manages the processes
required by the user
 The formatting layer, which contains templates for the
HTML presentation
 The visible interface of the software is thus entirely
customizable. Koha's Intranet and OPAC by selecting
from several 'themes'
 The librarian interface uses cascading style sheets (CSS).
It is more coherent and easier to follow than was the case
in version 2.0.
 Koha Operating Parameters:
Koha allows you to set various parameters which control the operating
environment of the library:

 Library branches: defining branch categories, branches, and contact

information.
 Item types: Define library items.set rental charges of any amount to users
for borrowing items.
 Not for loan" for item types such which do not leave the library; issuing
 Define Borrower Categories: Set “Category Codes”, “Descriptions”,
 “Enrollment Periods”, "Upper Age Limit" and "Age Required" for each user
type;
 Issuing rules: define issuing and fines based on borrower categories, item
types, and circulation units (matrix-based rule set);
 Stop words: improve list all of the words Koha should ignore when
performing catalog searches or building the index
 Z39.50: define servers for searching using Koha's Z39.50 client (for
cataloging); to add servers, enter the domain name or IP address of the
server, the port number to use, and the name of the database to access.
 Book funds: set up accounts that keep track of expenditures for library
materials.
 Koha Back-up Software:

 SSH-tunneled MySQL replication.

 Database dumps using the mysql dump utility
 On the hardware level, the production system
utilizes a two-disk RAID 1 configuration for data
redundancy in the event of single-disk hardware
failure. The system partitions use the Reiserfs
journaling file system which provides another point
of data redundancy
 Encoding & Character Sets in Koha
System $ echo $LANG
en_US.UTF-8
Apache2:Be sure to have these lines in your http.conf:
AddCharset UTF-8 .utf8
AddDefaultCharset UTF-8
MySQL , Server Configuration, edit your my.cnf
init-connect = 'SET NAMES utf8'
character-set-server=utf8
collation-server=utf8_general_ci
Check to make sure the following are set to utf8:
| character_set_client | utf8

| character_set_connection | utf8

| character_set_database | utf8

| character_set_results | utf8

| character_set_server | utf8

| character_set_system | utf8

| collation_connection | utf8_general_ci

| collation_database | utf8_general_ci

| collation_server | utf8_general_ci
 Koha Resources :
 http://kohadocs.org koha documentation project
 http://koha.org/manual The official Koha manual
 http://www.skemotah.com/ Stephen Hedges' Koha migration guide
Migrating_to_Koha.html
 http://athenscounty.lib.oh.us/koha.html Joshua Ferraro's Koha installation
guide and other Koha documents
 http://sourceforge.net/projects/koha Koha project CVS host (2.2/2.0 source
code repository/download)
 http://www.mjr.dsl.pipex.com/ Koha project Arch host (2.0 source
code/repository/download)
 http://koha.org/wiki KohaWiki
 http://bugs.koha.org Koha bug reporting system
 http://koha.org/mailing/ Koha mailing lists page
 http://koha.org/irc/ Koha IRC logs
 http://koha.org Koha Homepage
 http://www.ttllp.co.uk/koha/ Koha England
 Frequently Asked Questions
 Collection Size- How many books Record can koha handle?
 Readers- How many readers can koha handle?
 Circulation- How many transaction can koha handle per year?
 Biggest Library- which is the biggest among those who uses?
Answers from the users and Developers
 All the data i.e. records, readers, circulations data is stored in
database mysql. All the limitation are enforced by database and your
hardware, network connectivity , not by the software.
 Nelsonville Public Library System, Athens County OH, USA 7
branches; 300,000 items; 50,000 borrowers; 600,000 annual circulation
OPAC: http:// search.athenscounty.lib.oh.us
 The Harward County library system is switched to koha recently and
they do transaction 50,00,000 issue per year.
 North East University Library, Cyprus 2 million records OPAC:
http://library.neu.edu.tr