Bib Essay Unit 4
Brian Cote
Anne Mastroianni
Sept. 28 – Oct. 2, 2009
We are all familiar with the many types of software we use each day in our home, the operational software that runs our computer systems and other digital devices and the applications that enable us to perform tasks on them. We’ll take a look at two distinct types of software used in libraries, library management software and computer applications for public use, and then consider the future of software in the library.
Intro
Software is the lifeblood of computers. Without it our computers would be little more than expensive clusters of circuitry. Software comes in three varieties: system software, which helps the computer handle it resources, application software, which allows users to solve problems or provides entertainment, and specialty software, which covers a broad range of interests from financial software to desktop publishing (Williams
& Sawyer, 2006).
Library Management Software
Library management software, also known as an Integrated Library System or
ILS, was first developed to digitize card catalogs and the circulation process. Integrated library systems now handle acquisitions, processing of serials, inter-library loans and the
Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC), as well (Wilson, 2006). There are two types of management software, proprietary software and the newer technology, open-source software.
Proprietary Software
Proprietary software is a program developed by a commercial vendor and libraries must pay a licensing fee to use the software. This type of software is currently the most popular management software in public libraries in the United States (Breeding, n.d.).
The Unicorn system is used in the majority of these, while the Millennium System is most popular among large research libraries (Breeding, n.d.). Service and support are included with the licensing fees of proprietary software but libraries are then dependent on the vendor to provide updates, which may not keep pace with the changing needs of the institution (Breeding, 2009). Proprietary software can also be used to manage a consortium of libraries and facilitate inter-library loans, however the cost of these services may be rising too high for cash-strapped public libraries. In an article posted on the American Library Association website on September 4, 2009 by Beverly Goldberg, the Cuyahoga County (Ohio) Public Library has cut its funding for a major software used for interlibrary loans and blamed state budget cuts for the shortfall.

Open Source Software
The cost of proprietary software is one reason for the increasing interest in open source ILS. The term open source refers to software developed collaboratively, with resources shared without cost (Jaffe & Careaga, 2007). The software can constantly evolve, with the community of users making decisions about final changes. This openness makes OSS more secure than proprietary software since errors and security issues can be quickly seen and corrected ( www.open-ils.org
). Koha, the first open source
ILS, was implemented in New Zealand in 2001 (Jaffe & Careaga, 2007). Evergreen is a later version developed in 2005 by the Georgia Public Library Service specifically because their needs were not being met by proprietary vendors. This drive towards open sources does not end with application software. There are a growing number of libraries that are switching over to open source system software such as Linux. The Howard
Country Public Library is one such library. They were growing weary of the cost of keeping their Windows based computers up to date. The switch to Linux, which is maintained free of cost by a legion of devoted programmers, has saved them enough to purchase 20 new computers (Barr, 2004). Hundreds of libraries are now using this free software and maintaining it on their own while others elect to pay for support
( www.open-ils.org
).
Social Networking Software
An even newer technology to have an impact on libraries is social networking software. There are some creative ideas for using this type of software in a blog written by David Allen Kelly who is a web designer for the Palm Beach County Library System and also maintains their Facebook, MySpace and Twitter pages. Users of Twitter are able to post a short reply to the question “What are you doing?” and the post can be sent to mobile devices or web sites. The Palm Beach County Library has used Twitter to announce special events, promote materials and post information that includes links to library services. Postings can also be made from library events as they are being held
(Kelly, 2009). Similarly the Ann Arbor District Library has replaced its traditional homepage with a Director’s Blog that announces special events and keeps patrons informed on important issues concerning their library (http://www.aadl.org/)
Patron Software
Libraries have changed; Amy Begg DeGroff noticed when she took the job as director of IT at the Howard County Library in 2005. In addition to using traditional library materials, she noticed “customers also were reading email, surfing the web and creating documents” (DeGroff, 2008).
Searching
Many patrons’ first stop in the library is at the computers to use the OPAC system to search for library material. This software can be specific to a certain branch or allow

users to access other libraries’ collections. A system such as WorldCat contains the databases of over 45,000 libraries in eighty-seven countries (Mann, 2005). Searching is also facilitated by MARC records. These were developed by the Library of Congress in the 1960’s to take advantage of advancing computer technology (Library of Congress,
2003).
Google Books is new software which takes searching for books one step farther by allowing users to search for (and download) digitized books online. Their plans consist of digitizing the collections of five major universities as well as many books that are under copyright protection (with the option of the copyright owners to opt out) (Mills,
2005). There is still ongoing controversy over whether this practice is a violation of current copyright laws (Flag, 2009). A settlement that was reached in 2008 has been deemed inoperable by the presiding judge and now the two parties will participate in a status conference to figure out what to do next (Krazit, 2009).
Wireless Technology
A simple way to free up Internet stations and encourage more tech savvy patrons to come to the library is to set up a wireless network. Patrons with a laptop or PDA can simply walk into the library, open a connection to the local network, and tap into their library’s collection of online databases or software.
Productivity
Productivity software is software that is used to complete a task in an efficient manner, to make and present a chart, for example. According to our textbook, the three most important types of software are word processing, spreadsheet, and database management (Williams & Sawyer, 2009).
Microsoft Word is a common type of word processing software. Patrons can use
Word as a simple typing tool, but they can also use it to create and format documents that include charts and graphs. Users can also compile data into indexes and bibliographies
(Cox & Preppernow, 2007). Spreadsheet software, such as Microsoft Excel, allows users to organize data by entering it into fields called cells. The cells are arranged in rows and columns on a page called a worksheet. Excel can be used to manage and summarize large data collections and to analyze and present numerical data (Frye, 2007). Database management software is used to store, retrieve and report information, and to automate repetitive tasks, such as inventory control (Prague & Irwin, 2001). A popular type of database management software is Microsoft Access.
Entertainment
Computer games are becoming a popular way to attract young patrons to the library. Game software can be installed on library computers or played on separate platforms. According to an article in the Los Angeles Times (Pham, 2008), a survey in
2007 by Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies found that almost a quarter

of libraries surveyed had put on video game events. These libraries credit gaming with increasing attendance among teens and getting them exposed to more traditional library offerings. Computer games have also made inroads into the children’s sections of the library, where educational gaming blurs the line between entertainment and learning.
Open Source
Libraries can also install open source software for patrons to use. Known as
Software as a Service or SaaS, this software is different from the traditional type that must be purchased outright and updated by the user. SaaS software fees can be paid as a subscription or lease with maintenance, updates and support as part of the fees. Work on this type of software is also known as cloud computing. Google is the most well known of companies offering free SaaS. The product, GoogleApps, contains the applications
GMail, Google Calendar, Google Docs, Google Sites and Google Video all accessed over the Internet. Google Docs is the most popular (Buck, 2009), with functions similar to
Microsoft Word, but existing online, allowing documents to be shared and accessed without using attachments.
The Future
The library of the future depends greatly on new software and new uses of old software. One possible face of this approaching library could be NetLibrary. They are a company that provides over 200,000 books via the net to libraries around the world
(http://library.netlibrary.com). Beginning mainly with college texts, they have expanded their collection to include many popular mainstream titles. Their interface is simple and mimics the traditional print library in that they only allow one user at a time to view an individual ebook (Akst, 2003). Some see the future of libraries not in the shunning of the
Internet, but in its acceptance. Libraries will open online branches that will encourage users to interact with each other in the spirit of a community center (Dremann, 2009).
Many new software programs are being created for this purpose. Kete is one such program described as a “relational wiki” and “a mashup between content management and knowledge management” (http://kete.net.nz/). The idea is a library available 24/7 that caters to the patrons’ needs as easily as a traditional website. In this spirit, some libraries are creating entirely online sections that cater to teens, by helping them with homework or by allowing them to create their own library websites (Dremann, 2009). A possible competitor with libraries of the future could be p2p networks that allow users to download legal and illegal copies of books. The recent rise in the illegal downloading of ebooks, corresponding to the increase in the number of available ebooks, has drawn the attention of publishers, but the architecture of these networks makes it difficult to stop them (Loban, 2004).

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