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Open source software was a revolutionary concept among computer programmers and users. To a certain extent open source solutions could provide an alternative solution to costly commercial software. Open source software is, software that users have the ability to run, copy, distribute, study, change, share and improve for any purpose. Open source library software’s does not need the initial cost of commercial software and enables libraries to have greater control over their working environment. Library professionals should be aware of the advantages of open source software and should involve in their development. They should have basic knowledge about the selection, installation and maintenance. Open source software requires a greater degree of computing responsibility than commercial software. Library professionals do not think seriously about the advantages of open source software for automation and hence are reluctant to use it. They do not have the expertise to support open source software. Paper highlights problems of selection, installation and maintenance of open source library software.

Integrated library management systems can cut costs and enhance the efficiency of library services and therefore are absolutely necessary for the management of house keeping operations. But small and medium- size libraries face a difficult situation due to the high cost of commercial library management systems, foreign or Indian, available in the market. Naturally libraries without much financial resources need a cost effective way to automate their services. Free/Open source software was a revolutionary concept among computer programmers and users. To a certain extent free/ open source solutions could provide an alternative solution to costly commercial application software’s. Free/Open source software is, software that users have the ability to run, copy, distribute, study, change, share and improve for any purpose. About eight free/open source library management systems are available and libraries can consider these alternatives. The comparative study aims to evaluate the functional performance of three steadily improving free/open source softwares, Koha, PhpMylibrary and OpenBiblio. The functional performance was assessed by running the three software’s by entering sample data. A scoring scheme was defined to measure the evaluation of individual functional modules. Combined scores of individual modules were used to measure the total performance of three softwares. On the basis of functional analysis of Koha, PhpMylibrary and OpenBiblio, it was observed that, they can provide the essential functional modules ( cataloguing, circulation and OPAC ) required for the working of small and medium size libraries. Koha satisfies all the functional requirements of a library management system. In addition to the functional modules(acquisition, cataloguing, OPAC, circulation, and serial control), Koha can provide some features that are only available with costly ILS; web OPAC, document status inquiry, reservation and holds of documents through OPAC, customization of user and graphical interface, import and export of MARC data etc. PhpMyLibrary and OpenBiblio are not come up to the level of a comprehensive system. Free/Open source library software’s does not need the initial cost of commercial software and enables libraries to have greater control over their working environment. Library professionals should be aware of the advantages of Free/Open source softwares and should involve in their development.

The book consists of papers reflecting views on modernization of libraries. An inevitable shift from the traditional functions and services of libraries has now become essential. The book includes ten papers dealing with various topics such as shift of the role of librarians to cybrarians, newly garbed libraries, user approach to library services, proposal for a union catalogue of libraries of institutions in higher education, study on N-LIST, need for developing information literacy skills in e-learning environment, personal learning network for professional development, use of Linux operating systems in libraries, the role of face book pages in libraries, and Scientometric study of open access psychology journals.