Role of open source softwares and their impact on library and information centres: A study

In this epoch of transition from information age to knowledge society, the libraries have much greater challenges to face. The whole insight of library has now changed from collection of books to a single window knowledge bank. This paper discusses the definition and features of open source library management software, criteria of selection of best open source library management software, their, advantages and limitations. Open source library management software is a solution to reducing that cost. The paper describes in brief about the feature of some of the open source library management software like Greenstone Digital Library, DSpace, KOHA, E-Prints, NewGenlib, PhpMyLibrary, OpenBiblio, Avanti, etc., which are useful for developing digital library and institutional repositories.