A Survival Guide for Librarians in the Digital Age
A Survival Guide for Librarians in the Digital Age
Open source software is a computer program for which the source code is made available without charge by the owner or licenser, usually via the Internet, to encourage the rapid development of a more useful and bug-free product through open peer review. The practice also allows the product to be customized by its users to suit local needs. It has both advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages:
The availability of the source code and the right to modify is very important.
Users have the right to redistribute modifications and improvements to the code.
The user can use the software in any way.
Disadvantages:
There is no guarantee that development will happen.
There may be significant problems connected to intellectual property.
It is sometimes difficult to know that a project exist, and its current status.
Today, more and more libraries begin to accept Open source software for daily use. The Well known electronic document delivery software, Ariel is open source. Here are some ongoing open source library projects.
