Open Source Integrated Library Systems – Changing the Landscape

Author: Karen Wilson, Director & Lead Analyst

This report examines the emerging strength of open source software in integrated library systems (ILSs). As information managers and users are becoming more technology savvy, some are feeling disgruntled by what they perceive as the slow development response time and increasing annual maintenance fees under some ILS vendors. With traditional vendors not always willing or able to make changes quickly, some information managers are starting to consider the increasing popularity of ILSs based on open source software. This report contains data from Outsell’s recent survey of 295 information professionals and interviews with six information managers in five sectors. It offers:

- A brief history of open source software and explanation of the open source development model;
- Analysis of how open source is currently being used in different types of libraries, and reasons for implementing or considering open source ILS software;
- Open source ILS and online public access catalog (OPAC) examples;
- Qualitative feedback from information management executives interviewed about their experiences with open source software;
- Imperatives for information managers.