Open source refers to an application whose source code is made available for use or modification as users see fit. This means libraries gain more flexibility and freedom than with software purchased with license restrictions. Both the open source community and the library world live by the same rules and principles. Practical Open Source Software for Libraries explains the facts and dispels myths about open source. Chapters introduce librarians to open source and what it means for libraries. The reader is provided with links to a toolbox full of freely available open source products to use in their libraries. Provides a toolbox of practical software that librarians can use both inside and out of the library Draws on the author's wide-ranging practical experience with open source software both in and out of the library community Includes real life examples from libraries and librarians of all types and locations

Open source refers to an application whose source code is made available for use or modification as users see fit. This means libraries gain more flexibility and freedom than with software purchased with license restrictions. Both the open source community and the library world live by the same rules and principles. Practical Open Source Software for Libraries explains the facts and dispels myths about open source. Chapters introduce librarians to open source and what it means for libraries. The reader is provided with links to a toolbox full of freely available open source products to use in their libraries. - Provides a toolbox of practical software that librarians can use both inside and out of the library - Draws on the author's wide-ranging practical experience with open source software both in and out of the library community - Includes real life examples from libraries and librarians of all types and locations

This practical guide to using open source software to build digital libraries covers the basics of key technologies and the associated tools that make them usable. Emphasis is given to matching the community with the best content possible and to the natural synergy between libraries and the open sou

Open source software and applications are all around us, and it’s no different in today’s libraries. Knowing about the open source alternative to integrated library system and being able to make accurate comparisons can save a library tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars a year while more closely matching the library’s functional needs. The fact is that the foundational software in place in nearly every industry is being built with open source components. Where software applications are still proprietary or closed, those systems are themselves often built upon open source applications like open source web services, database management systems, programming languages, and operating systems. It’s the same story in the library world. Library software providers offering the latest and greatest software solution for many thousands of dollars a year are building these solutions with open source software. However, full-fledged open source applications built with the same underlying technologies are available to libraries at no cost for the software itself. Each of these applications have their own unique and interesting history and communities supporting them. For the reader unfamiliar with open source software or apprehensive about using these applications in their library, this guide: introduces the history of open source; demonstrate the global upward trend of adopting open source technologies in general and within libraries in particular; debunk various myths about implementing and using open source technologies; discusses several different types of library information systems including: Integrated Library Systems Institutional Repositories Digital Asset Management Systems Online Public Access Catalogs Resource Sharing Electronic Resource Management and lastly, shares real world experiences in getting started with open source solutions, including discussing what systems and services are available and best practices for implementation and use.

Coombs and Hollister, both librarians with experience in software and information technologies, present this overview of useful open source software tools for libraries. Beginning with a discussion of web application concepts and open source software, the work progresses through an examination of blog and wiki technologies such as WordPress and MediaWiki and content management systems such as Drupal and Joomla, and concludes with a look at library administration specific technologies like LibData and next generation catalog applications including Vufind and Sciblio. The work provides introductory information and basic set up instructions for each application as well as screen shots and commentary about their best use in a library setting.

The corporate market is now embracing free, "open source" software like never before, as evidenced by the recent success of the technologies underlying LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP). Each is the result of a publicly collaborative process among numerous developers who volunteer their time and energy to create better software. The truth is, however, that the overwhelming majority of free software projects fail. To help you beat the odds, O'Reilly has put together Producing Open Source Software, a guide that recommends tried and true steps to help free software developers work together toward a common goal. Not just for developers who are considering starting their own free software project, this book will also help those who want to participate in the process at any level. The book tackles this very complex topic by distilling it down into easily understandable parts. Starting with the basics of project management, it details specific tools used in free software projects, including version control, IRC, bug tracking, and Wikis. Author Karl Fogel, known for his work on CVS and Subversion, offers practical advice on how to set up and use a range of tools in combination with open mailing lists and archives. He also provides several chapters on the essentials of recruiting and motivating developers, as well as how to gain much-needed publicity for your project. While managing a team of enthusiastic developers -- most of whom you've never even met -- can be challenging, it can also be fun. Producing Open Source Software takes this into account, too, as it speaks of the sheer pleasure to be had from working with a motivated team of free software developers.

The free/open source approach has grown from a minor activity to become a significant producer of robust, task-orientated software for a wide variety of situations and applications. To life science informatics groups, these systems present an appealing proposition - high quality software at a very attractive price. Open source software in life science research considers how industry and applied research groups have embraced these resources, discussing practical implementations that address real-world business problems.The book is divided into four parts. Part one looks at laboratory data management and chemical informatics, covering software such as Bioclipse, OpenTox, ImageJ and KNIME. In part two, the focus turns to genomics and bioinformatics tools, with chapters examining GenomicsTools and EBI Atlas software, as well as the practicalities of setting up an 'omics' platform and managing large volumes of data. Chapters in part three examine information and knowledge management, covering a range of topics including software for web-based collaboration, open source search and visualisation technologies for scientific business applications, and specific software such as DesignTracker and Utopia Documents. Part four looks at semantic technologies such as Semantic MediaWiki, TripleMap and Chem2Bio2RDF, before part five examines clinical analytics, and validation and regulatory compliance of free/open source software. Finally, the book concludes by looking at future perspectives and the economics and free/open source software in industry. - Discusses a broad range of applications from a variety of sectors - Provides a unique perspective on work normally performed behind closed doors - Highlights the criteria used to compare and assess different approaches to solving problems

The book wraps up with a look at the legal effects--both positive and negative--of open source/free software licensing.

Containing 101 fun, interesting, and useful ways to get more out of Java, this title targets developers and system architects who have some basic Java knowledge but may not be familiar with the wide range of libraries available.

A rich case-study analysis of open source software adoption by public organizations in different countries and settings. Government agencies and public organizations often consider adopting open source software (OSS) for reasons of transparency, cost, citizen access, and greater efficiency in communication and delivering services. Adopting Open Source Software offers five richly detailed real-world case studies of OSS adoption by public organizations. The authors analyze the cases and develop an overarching, conceptual framework to clarify the various enablers and inhibitors of OSS adoption in the public sector. The book provides a useful resource for policymakers, practitioners, and academics. The five cases of OSS adoption include a hospital in Ireland; an IT consortium serving all the municipalities of the province of Bozen-Bolzano, Italy; schools and public offices in the Extremadura region of Spain; the Massachusetts state government's open standards policy in the United States; and the ICT department of the Italian Chamber of Deputies. The book provides a comparative analysis of these cases around the issues of motivation, strategies, technologies, economic and social aspects, and the implications for theory and practice.