Powerful utilization of open source software in digital preservation, maintenance and utilization: an example of the creation of Union Catalogue of Serials for Astronomy Libraries in India Sanjay Dongare Scientific Information Resource Centre , National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (TIFR) dsanjay@gmrt.ncra.tifr.res.in

Presentation will cover What is Open Source Software? Need for Open Source Software. Features of Open Source Software Concept of Union Catalogue of Serials Application of Open Source in Creating Union Catalogue of Serials Subscribed in Astronomy Libraries. Conclusion

What is Open Source Software? Open Source Software is , software that users have the ability to run, distribute, study, and modify the program for any purpose.

Need for Open Source Software Cost of commercial software's is very high. Commercial developers do not reveal the source code of their program. You can modify the software to your specific needs. Reduced dependence on software vendors (no forced updates or license renewal purchase) Global collaboration with skilled developers.

History of Open Source Software 1984 Richard Stallman formed Free Software Foundation ( FSF) 1991 Linus Torvalds developed Linux 1994 Red Hat company founded. 1998 “Open Source Initiative” was formed

Features of Open Source Software Historically evolved from free software. Open source grants 4 freedom ( run, study, distribute and modify ). Open Source initiative license (OSI).

Concept of Union Catalogue The concept of a Union Catalogue is based on a model of co-operation between a group of libraries wishing to build a common infrastructure.  Major points for the establishment of a central Union Catalogue are:   Resource sharing between the libraries Central access point for users Platform for service co-operation, such as interlibrary loan Platform for agreement of bibliographic standards Efficient management

Prominent Union Catalogues in India NUCSSI : National Union Catalogue of Scientific Serials in India by NISCAIR IndCat : Online Union Catalogue of Indian Universities by INFLIBNET CSIR Libraries Union Catalogue of Serials Union Catalogue of Biomedical Serials by Indian Medlars Centre. MYLIBNET's :Union list of Science and Technological serials of S & T libraries in Mysore city.

Union Catalogue of Serials for Astronomy Libraries in India Technologies used : Operating System: Linux Scripting Language: PHP RDBMS : MySql Webserver : Apache Methodology : Data Collection Data Organization

Union Catalogue Features Web-based OPAC. Multifaceted search engine. Secure Login Script. Web-based data entry form. Online Update/Delete facility to central database

Screenshots

Findings This Union Catalogue fulfills the objectives for which it was developed. Since this catalogue is developed with the use of Open Source tools it can be extended successfully for other libraries. With increased participation it is possible to have union catalogue of serials published in other libraries. We are ready to extend this service for other libraries and if we receive data from other libraries we will add those records as well.

Online Demo of Union Catalogue of Scientific Serials Available in Astronomy library http://ncralib.ncra.tifr.res.in/forsa/forsasearchform.php http://ncralib.ncra.tifr.res.in/update/login.php

Conclusion Open Source Software have been found very useful in various library operations. Libraries can make use of open source software for managing digital contents effectively as well as providing different online services.

_________________________________ Thank You __________________________________ Sanjay Dongare GMRT-NCRA dsanjay@gmrt.ncra.tifr.res.in