Library automation and Open source softw…

Library automation and Open source software in Italy: an overview :

“Library automation in Italy started in 60s in order to computerize the managing process in specialized documentation centres. Between the late 60s and the early 70s library automation started within the two National Libraries (Florence, and Rome) too. During the 80s the National Library Service (SBN) was taking shape, but the process would finish ten years later only. From that time, the world of library automation in Italy is divided into those who joined SBN and those not, with rebounds on the software market. The analysis is focused on the scarce diffusion of open source ILS, although in the history of Italian library automation can be found both products without commercial distributors, and attempts to create native OS products or to release source code files previously of a file owner. Hypothesis are put forward in order to find the reasons of the lacking development of OS ILS advance. The results are compared with figures on other European countries.”

URL : http://eprints.rclis.org/17599/

Open Source Software Libraries : “Open …

Open Source Software Libraries :

“Open source software is not something to be afraid of! It’s software that you can modify, fix, add to, and distribute to others. Benefits are numerous, including having the ability to create good software that works for you and your library, all while paying a fraction of the cost that you might spend on proprietary software. This website introduces librarians to using open source software and provides tips for implementing and evaluating your transition, ideas for funding, and suggestions for open source software to use in your library.”

URL : http://ir.uiowa.edu/bsides/17/

Creative Commons Licenses: Strategic imp…

Creative Commons Licenses: Strategic implications for National Libraries :
“Of all the legal issues related to open access, copyright is probably the most pressing. This paper aims to analyze this aspect from the perspective of National Libraries, with a particular emphasis on the model proposed by Creative Commons Licenses. We explore the underlying assumptions behind this global and standardized licensing solution in order to assist National Libraries in understanding open access.”
URL : http://www.ifla.org/files/hq/papers/ifla76/132-charbonneau-en.pdf

Is Open Access to Information Through Li…

Is Open Access to Information Through Libraries on the Agenda at the African Union When It Comes to Assessing Countries’ Development under the African Peer Review Mechanisms? :
“Is the issue of Open Access to information through libraries part of business for the African Union (AU) when it comes to assessing countries’ performance under the African Peer Review Mechanisms (APRM)? Whereas the scope of this review is limited as on record it focuses on three areas, namely politics, economics and good governance, in fact individual countries are free to incorporate relevant cross-cutting issues, such as HIV/AIDS, gender, or information access. The paper indicates that although technically speaking the matter of Open Access might in some regions be more of a librarians’ preoccupation, they should not remain indifferent but rather seize the opportunity to influence others, such as researchers and political leaders, on the relevance of Open Access in the business of the APRM. A brief is given on the prevailing situation in Africa, as well as relevant factors to be addressed, as positively and/or negatively affecting how Open Access becomes part of the APRM
processes.”
URL : http://www.ifla.org/files/hq/papers/ifla76/146-chadzingwa-en.pdf

Pushing Libraries and Archives to the Ed…

Pushing Libraries and Archives to the Edge of the Law :
“The ability to digitize hard copies, the proliferation of born digital content, and access to online distribution holds the promise of improved access to archival materials. Despite these advances, libraries and archives are increasingly hindered in providing this access by the legal issues surrounding their collections. However, this unfortunate problem can be resolved with a mixture of good policy, careful action, clarification of uncertain legal implications, and a reliance on the protections afforded to libraries and archives by the law.
This paper explores the legal issues faced by archivists and librarians in digitizing and distributing their materials. Through a discussion of current archiving practices, this paper walks readers though the relevant sections of the copyright act, as well as other implicated areas of the law. By showing potential sites of legal conflict, engaging difficulties with seeking permission to use library and archival content, and suggesting areas where archivists can push the boundaries of their rights more aggressively, this paper provides a glimpse of the legal landscape surrounding digital archiving, and offers suggestions on how to successfully navigate it. It is my sincere hope that this effort can empower librarians and archivists to make full use of their collections, to assert the full scope of their rights under the law, and to become advocates helping to shape the national discussion over the future of digital collections.”
URL : http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1659853