Full Description
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.
Contents
Dedication
List of figures and tables
Foreword
About the author
About the website
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Part 1: Introduction to Open Source
Chapter 1: What is open source?
Scratching an itch
Freedom for all
The costs of open source
Prevalence of open source
Sharing
Chapter 2: Community and open source
Working for open source
Working together
Governing in open source
Health of the community
Chapter 3: Debunking the myths
Homegrown is not open source
How can it be any good if it's free?
Security and open source
Not worth the risk
Chapter 4: Open source and libraries
Library budgets
Gift cultures
Thinking ahead
Part 2: Practical Applications for Libraries
Chapter 5: Open source for day to day operations
Operating system
Virtual machines
Office suite
Statistics and data gathering
Improving day to day services
Chapter 6: Open source web access
Open source web browsing
Expanding Firefox
A new browsing experience
Open source emailing
Instant messaging
A web of options
Chapter 7: Open source media applications
Photo editing
Desktop publishing
Audio editing
Screencasting
Conclusion
Chapter 8: Open source on the web
Getting files onto the web
Content management
Consulting with colleagues
Wikis
Conclusion
Chapter 9: Open sourcing collections
Digital collections
Institutional repositories
Community built collections
Baskets of knowledge
Chapter 10: Open source research tools
Subject guides
Additional research tools
Online course management
Teaching our patrons
Chapter 11: Open source library automation
Open source faces
Open source it all
Taking the leap
Afterword
Appendix 1: Survey results
Appendix 2: Web links
Appendix 3: Additional references
Index
