WHAT IS SOFTWARE

Software, in its most general sense, is a set of instructions or programs instructing a

computer to do specific tasks. Software is a generic term used to describe computer
programs. Scripts, applications, programs and a set of instructions are all terms often
used to describe software.

WHAT IS MEANT BY LIBRARY

a place in which literary, musical, artistic, or reference materials (such as

books, manuscripts, recordings, or films) are kept for use but not for sale

DESCRIPTION OF LIBRARY SOFTWARE

Computer software, or simply software, also known as computer programs, is the
non-tangible component of computers. Software contrasts with computer hardware,
which is the physical component of computers. Computer hardware and software
require each other and neither can be realistically used without the other
(Wikipedia, 2013).
4.1 Different types of software:
Based on the goal, computer software can be divided into
Application software uses the computer system to perform useful work or
provide entertainment functions beyond the basic operation of the
computer itself.
Application software consists of programs that perform a specific, welldefined task for a
particular application (Islam, 2009).
System software is designed to operate the computer hardware, to provide
basic functionality, and to provide a platform for running application
software. System software consists of program that facilitates the use of the
computer by the users (Islam, 2009).
There are two approaches to the distribution of software:
Open source software
Proprietary software or closed source software
Open source software
Open source software is computer software whose source code is available under a
license (or arrangement such as the public domain) that permits users to study,
change, and improve the software, and to redistribute it in modified or unmodified
firm. It is often developed in a public, collaborative manner (Randhawa, 2008). Open
source software helps to provide better quality software’s having higher reliability,
flexibility with lower cost, and an end to the traditional vendor lock-in (Tramboo,
Humma, Shafi & Sumeer, 2012).
The most well-known example of open source software is the Linux operating
system, but there are open source software products available for every conceivable
purpose.
It has revolutionized the development of software and offers a number of attractions
for libraries, especially for developing countries (Rafiq & Ameen, 2008).
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A list of open source software given below (Vasupongayya et. al.,2011)
Table1: list of some open source software
Notation Open Source Software
http://www.koha.org/
Koha
originated in New Zealand
http://www.open-ils.org/
Evergreen
originated in USA
http://obiblio.sourceforge.net/
OpenBiblio
originated in Spain
http://www.verussolutions.biz/
NewGenLib
originated in India
http://www.dspace.org/
Dspace
originated in USA
http://www.greenstone.org/
Greenstone
originated in New Zealand
http://www.eprints.org/
Eprints
originated in UK
http://www.avantilibrarysystems.co
MicroLCS m/ microlcs.html
originated in USA
http://www.mediaflex.net/
OPALS
originated in USA
http://www.emilda.org/
Emilda
originated in Finland
http://invenio-software.org/
Invenio
originated in Europe

Proprietary software
Proprietary software or closed source software is computer software licensed under
exclusive legal right of the copyright holder with the intent that the license is given
the right to use the software only under certain conditions, and restricted from other
uses, such as modification, sharing, studying, redistribution, or reverse engineering.
Proprietary, which in a nutshell means that it costs money and that the actual code
of the software is restricted, in that the code of the software cannot be modified,
copied, or changed from its original construction? The code is "unreadable" and
pretty much is what it is (Randhawa, 2008)

LIBRARY SOFTWARE

In the library perspective, according to the library automation and digitization

aspects, library software can be of two types:
Library Automation software
Digital library software

Library automation software:

Library Automation Definition:

According to Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science, ―Automation is

the technology concerned with the design and development of process and system
that minimize the necessity of human intervention in operation‖(Kent, 1997).

Types of library automation

1 ..In-house Software: These soft wares are basically developed by local

expertise. Many organizations or colleges have used their own skills and efforts
for developing library management software. These types of softwares name or
their index or any information is not available or it is totally unpublished work.
There are so many reasons behind in-house softwares being replaced by
commercial software. The main reasons are mobility of IT expert towards IT
industry and changing technology was affected to update LMS versions and
reducing prices as compare to old prices.
2…Commercial Software (National)
These commercial softwares are also introduced with good features, more security
and advanced technology but the cost of the software, updating charges, AMC
charges, service problems and benefits taken by library, instead of paid amount is
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creating headache to the organizations. There are so many commercial softwares
developing in India, some of these are, developing in India to fulfill the changing
needs of library automation.
Commercial LMS Commercial LMS
Sr. No. Sr. No.
Name Name
1 AutoLib 9 Libris
2 EasyLib 10 Libex.Net
3 SLIM 11 LIBSIS
4 Librarian 12 Nalanda
5 SOUL 13 NexLib
6 Libra 2000 14 SWIRL
7 Library Manager 15 Gyanodaya
8 LIBSUITE 16 Biyani-Tecno
Source: (Phadke,
2012)

3…Commercial Software (International)

On the international platform there are many commercial software developers who
have developed commercial software on international platform. Some of them are
given below. The commercial software is also changing their interface as per
driven technology, but developers cannot able to success to reduce the cost of
aspects related to library automation. Now a days the trend is moving towards
OSS and web 2.0 applications are attracting librarians towards open source
software.
Sr. No. Name of LMS Sr. No. Name of LMS
1 DLib 10 MINISIS
2 Alice 11 OLIB
3 My Librarian 12 Sagebrush
4 CDS/ISIS 13 Mandarin M3
5 Endeavor Voyager 14 STAR/ Libraries
6 EOS 15 Surpass
7 KeyStone 16 Techlib
8 Millennium innovative 17 TLC
Micro Librarian
9 18 URICA
System
Source: (Phadke, 2012)

4---Open Source Software (OSS):

Now a days open source softwares are very popular in society. The programme
applications are available through internet to the common peoples. It is also part
of technological advancement with the collaborative efforts which is taking place
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around the world. Open source software has two basic properties, the first one is
`Source Code` or programme and another is, it is illegal to convert an open source
software into proprietary version or commercial version. Open source software is
similar to a peer review, which is used to the progress of LMS. The open source
model replaces central control with collaborative networks of contributors. Every
contributor can build on the work that has been done by others in the network, to
reduce time span ‗reinventing the wheel‘. The following table shows some open
source library management softwares.
Sr. Name of Free/OSS : ILMS
1 Koha
2 NewGenLib
3 e-Granthalaya
4 PMB
5 Evergreen
Source: for ILMS: (Kumar,
2005)
The following table shows some open source Digital Library Management
Softwares (DLMS)
Sr. Name of Free/OSS: DLMS
1 DSpace
2 EPrints
3 Fedora Commons
4 Greenstone
5 Drupal
Source: for DLMS: http://www.researchgate.net