Library Management Software Packages: Library management or automation software provides centralized management and processes for different types of libraries and library activities such as acquisition, cataloguing, circulation, administration, reporting and patron records. It provides integration of self-service kiosks and online web portal access for catalogue search, content delivery or reservation requests and such others. They also track and automate notification of overdue books and fines.
In the following paragraphs, an attempt is made to list some of the popular free and open source library automation software packages. A very few commercial software packages are also discussed.
a) Automatización de Bibliotecas y Centros de Documentación (ABCD): ABCD stands for "Automatización de Bibliotecas y Centros de Documentación" (Spanish), which means: Library and Documentation Centers Automation. Its development is promoted and coordinated by BIREME, with the support of VLIR. ABCD is an integrated library management system that covers all the major functions in a library. It is able to manage acquisitions, management of bibliographic databases, user management, loan management, control of periodicals, and so on. It uses MARC-21 cataloguing formats and other current standards or protocols (Dublin Core, METS, Z39.50) and published as Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) with the accompanying tools for the developer community. Website: http://reddes.bvsaude.org/projects/abcd or http://sites.google.com/site/abcdtutorials/
b) DEL-PLUS: This software was designed and developed by Developing Library Network (DELNET), New Delhi exclusively to work under all kinds of libraries. It is able to manage the acquisition, cataloguing, circulation, and administrative work of the library. It also has an OPAC end and follows internationally recommended standards and formats such as MARC 21. It is suitable for small and medium size libraries which have collections upto one lakh holdings. It also supports Barcode. Website: http://delnet.nic.in/software-development.htm
c) E-Granthalaya: e-Granthalaya is a library automation software from National Informatics Centre, Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Government of India. Using this software the libraries can automate in-house activities as well as user services. The software can be implemented either in stand-alone or in client-server mode where the database and WebOPAC are installed on the server PC while the data entry programme is installed on client PCs. The software runs on Windows platform. The software is provided at zero cost to the Ministries / Departments / Public / Academic / Universities / Colleges and school libraries. Besides, libraries set up in Public / Private sectors may also approach the NIC for free copy of the software. Website: http://egranthalaya.nic.in/
d) Evergreen: Evergreen is an open source library management software, freely licensed under the GNU GPL. It was first launched in September, 2006 in Georgia's PINES consortium. It is highly-scalable software for libraries that helps library patrons find library materials, and helps the libraries to manage, catalogue, and circulate those materials, no matter how large or complex the libraries. are Evergreen has an active community that participates in its coding, documentation, and direction of the project. Website: http://www.open-ils.org/
e) FireFly: FireFly is a Complete Public Library system. It is being written in Python, Perl, with all data being stored in XML. The driving force behind this project is to give public libraries a Free-Software set to run and maintain library systems. Website: http://savannah.nongnu.org/projects/firefly/
f) Koha: Koha is the world's first open-source Integrated Library System (ILS) and it is distributed free of cost (open source, and so no license fee, ever). It was initially developed in New Zealand by Katipo Communications Ltd and first deployed in January of 2000 for Horowhenua Library Trust. It is currently maintained by a team of software providers and library technology staff from around the globe and is in use worldwide in the libraries of all sizes. The name “Koha” comes from the Maori word for a gift or donation.
It runs on Linux, Unix, Windows and MacOS platform. Koha is a comprehensive system that has the capacity to intelligently run a library, large or small, real or virtual. Koha is compliance with copy cataloguing and z39.50, MARC21 and UNIMARC for professional cataloguers. The software can also be used as document manager or digital library. Website: http://koha.org/
g) Library Information and Management System (LIMS): LIMS is a unique library system, designed, developed, implemented and fully tested by library professionals. It is distributed free of cost to the libraries. Website: http://www.paklag.org/limsFreeware.htm
h) Library Manager: Library Manager is a library management software. It has been developed under GPL licence. Website: http://libman.sourceforge.net/
i) LibSys 7: It is a web based library software product from Libsys Ltd., Gurgaon, Haryana. It has the modules for acquisition, cataloguing, circulation, serials, article indexing, Web-OPAC, and reports. It supports international standard like MARC21 (USMARC + CANMARC), Unicode, SRU-SRW, Z39.50, NCIP-NISO, SICI-Barcode. If any library has the sufficient fund, then it can be treated as the most field-proven library system in a wide spectrum of libraries with unmatchable depth in functionality and features. Website: http://www.libsys.co.in/
j) NewGenLib: NewGenLib is an integrated library management system developed by Verus Solutions Pvt Ltd. Domain expertise is provided by Kesavan Institute of Information and Knowledge Management in Hyderabad, India. On 9th January 2008, NewGenLib was declared as Open Source Software under GNU GPL Licence by Verus Solutions. It is estimated that 2,500 libraries across 58 countries are using NewGenLib as their Primary integrated library management system. Website: http://www.verussolutions.biz
k) OpenBiblio: OpenBiblio is an easy to use, automated library system written in PHP containing OPAC, circulation, cataloguing, and staff administration functionality. The software is free. Website: http://obiblio.sourceforge.net
l) Sanjay: The NISSAT sponsored a project to DESIDOC for developing programmes on UNESCO’s CDS/ISIS for enabling a library to do acquisition, circulation, etc. DESIDOC has successfully modified the programmes and a new package based on CDS/ISIS was released in 1992 by the name of SANJAY. So, Sanjay is an augmented version of CDS/ISIS with modules prepared for the various house keeping operations. The software is totally menu driven and works in windows environment with LAN support. In India, NISSAT is the marketing agent of this software. The package was released for marketing in September 1995.
m) Small Library Organizer Pro: It is a complete software for small private, public, or corporate libraries. It able to manages all the library collections, member / patron information, and keeps track of the library circulation data. The package has a separate module called Designer. With Designer one can modify Small Library solution or can build their own. This is a freeware. Website: http://small-library-organizer-pro.software.informer.com/1.0/
n) SOUL 2.0: Software for University Libraries (SOUL) is the state-of-the-art library automation software designed and developed by the INFLIBNET Centre, Ahmedabad. It is a user-friendly software developed to work under client-server environment. Looking at the name of the software, one may think that it is meant for the university libraries only, but, in fact, it is flexible enough to be used for automating any type or size of library. It is one of the best and proven software for all types of libraries. Website: http://www.inflibnet.ac.in/soul/
o) WEBLIS: WEBLIS is a free-of-charge Web based Library Integrated System based on CDS/ISIS. The system has been developed by the Institute for Computer and Information Engineering (ICIE), Poland. The current version of WEBLIS, available in English, consists of the cataloguing system, OPAC (search), LOAN module, and statistical module. WEBLIS runs through the WWW-ISIS engine. More: http://portal.unesco.org/ci/fr/ev.php-URL_ID=16841&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html