Open Source Library Management Systems: A Multidimensional Evaluation‪.‬

During the last decade there has been significant innovation in open source systems (OSSs) for integrated library management. Commercial library management systems (LMSs) have evolved to extend functionality from acquisitions and circulation control to a range of other features integral to library operation, and to meet increasing demands for complementary functions, such as integration with learning management systems. (1) Integrated LMSs are expected to deliver the full breadth of OPAC, circulation, serials management, external interfaces (especially Z39.50 compliance) and statistical reporting. The first open source LMS, Koha, was released over a decade ago. Since that time OSSs have shown sustained development of ligatures and significant cross-fertilisation of ideas based on shared experiences. Dorman has identified the difficulty that open source LMSs may face in the context of a mature proprietary system marketplace. (2) Nevertheless, because libraries are turning increasingly to OSSs to source their integrated LMSs and systems for a range of other functions (3), OSSs will increasingly feature as a mainstream option in the software selection process for libraries. The technologies that drive Web 2.0 (dubbed Library 2.0 in their adoption by libraries) have also added new energy to the development of open source integrated LMSs.