December 10, 2010 (New York, NY) — “A functioning free and open source software project is about far more than the program code alone; it is as much about freedom and community as it is about software,” Christopher Cormack writes in the foreword to Practical Open Source Software for Librarians.

In the beginning, all software was distributed freely, without license fees and hefty price tags. Open source software represents a return to the view of software as part of a community. Practical Open Source Software for Libraries, to be released in North America by Neal-Schuman Publishers on January 15, 2011, shows librarians how to use and integrate open source software into libraries to improve organizations and save costs.

Library technology and open source specialist Nicole C. Engard explores the concept of open source software as a means of developing community and collaboration in this practical guide. In the first part, Engard covers the history and definition of open source software. Readers will learn about the concept of open source, its relationship with community, common misconceptions about its development and use, and how it can benefit libraries. Engard incorporates numerous facts and statistics into her discussion. In the second part, Engard describes open source applications that many libraries are already using. She looks at applications for daily use, Web access, and media, applications online, in collections, as research tools, and library automation. Each chapter includes a firsthand account from a librarian who uses that application in his or her organization. Engard offers numerous figures and tables throughout, and includes appendices with survey results, Web links, and additional references.

Practical Open Source Software for Libraries will give readers a clear, accessible introduction to the open source concepts. It will benefit any librarian or information professional involved with library technology.

Practical Open Source Software for Libraries

Chandos Publishing

ISBN 978-1-84334-585-5.
2010. 6 x 9. 242 pp.  $99.95.

About the Author

Nicole C. Engard is the director of Open Source Education at ByWater Solutions, where she directs open source education endeavors. She keeps the library community up to date on Web technologies via her Web site, “What I Learned Today…” (http://www.web2learning.net). She has been published in several library journals and books.

About Neal-Schuman Publishers and Chandos Publishing

Founded in 1976, Neal-Schuman Publishers is based in New York City with offices in London, UK. Neal-Schuman is a leading publisher of professional and academic titles in all areas of library and information studies. Since June 2009, Neal-Schuman has also been the exclusive North American distributor for titles from the United Kingdom’s Chandos Publishing, a division of Woodhead Publishing Limited.  Chandos books are a leading, highly practical source of authoritative information for professionals and researchers worldwide.

For More Information and/or Cover Art

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