jkcm

Journal of Knowledge & Management Communication

2277-79382277-7946

IndianJournals.com

New Delhi, India

jkcm-2-2-br

10.5958/2277-7946

10.5958/j.2277-7946.2.2.014

Book Review

1102012

22178180

2012

IndianJournals.com

Open Source Movement in India With Special Reference to Digital Library Software: Problems and Prospects

Shibu

K.M.

2012978-3-659-12254-5

LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing

$75

Information Coordinator, Ontario Multifaith Council, Toronto, Canada; Email: mt@akbani.info

The journey of the Indian libraries has had many steps in moving from physical to virtual pathways, such as (a) automating the library (tests, troubles and brands); (b) enhancing the e-holdings (some were born digital, but most were scanned to digitise); (c) move from standalone to integrated library systems; (d) e-resources from the desktop were upgraded to synchronise with the virtual servers for semantic interoperability in a federated search environment; (e) the scanned card catalogues were transformed from a static to dynamic multifaceted visual online public access catalog (OPAC); (f) library's bibliographic databases are all set to enter a promising resource discovery path that will eventually lead to delivery via portable ventures, so on and so forth. While these steps are common in a library anywhere, India is unique. Such uniqueness is obvious in the treatment given to the development of different types of libraries since India became independent in 1947.

The book, Open Source Movement in India, in short, is the outcome of Mr. K.M. Shibu's research aimed at analysing the existing status of digital libraries using open source software (OSS). The book deals with two common concerns, viz., one, the emerging digital libraries in relation to OSS in India, and two, significant problems and prospects. While the former is visualised in the book by profiling and analysing the digitised libraries, the latter is accomplished by discussion of problems and prospects.

As an outcome of this study, the author found a validity of three assumptions, namely, first, lack of technical know how is the major obstacle in developing digital library using OSS; second, due to lack of awareness, only limited number of OSS are being used for the development of digital libraries; and third, workshops, seminars, etc. are effective in creating awareness. He found no validity of the other two assumptions, viz., libraries are facing inadequate infrastructure facilities for their digital libraries and due to inadequate funds, majority of the libraries in India are using OSS for their digitisation projects.

The book's six chapters are very valuable, with significant discussion in chapter three's Open Source Movement in India and chapter four's Profile of libraries. In addition, three appendices add value to this book, viz., list of libraries; questionnaire designed for the librarians/administrators; and overview of digital libraries. Endnotes in each chapter are highly beneficial for further study. A glossary and a bibliography make the book a useful resource for the beginners and the advanced seekers, respectively. Although the bibliography is quite exhaustive with over hundred references, some of the website citations need to be systematically documented to comply with the Modern Language Association‘s (MLA) format.

Appendix one consists of the tabulated data, that is, list of libraries in a birds eye view. In Appendix three there is a detailed summary-depicted using a standard template to visualise the profiles-that is, categorising each digital library's characteristic features, viz., name of the digital library, organisation (parent body), software (OSS), subjects (or parent body's interests), contents (or focus of the collection by media type of format), size (or digital holdings), URL (web address) and contacts (who and how to reach).

A major strength of the book, therefore, is both in its attempt to create a working profile and present a discussion of the OSS applications in as many as 43 digital libraries across the length and breadth of India. One glaring omission in the book is an index. An index makes the book not only user friendly, but also easy to use. It informs the reader about the content and also how to navigate there. Hence, in a revision of this work, the author may consider adding an index, especially a good keyword index of authors cited, OSS in respective libraries, vendors, best practices, digital formats identified in respective libraries and corporate bodies (wherever it applies).

Nevertheless, this book is the result of hard work that catalogues the present state-of-the-art OSS in Indian digital libraries. While most of the academic research work in India goes into archives, digital library research may find a better treatment. Hopefully, this study will open up the avenues, initially for an in-depth evaluation of each application in the respective libraries and subsequently to compare and contrast the applications for compatibility with digital library standards in a national level as well as in specific sectors in India. Such completeness is a collective and holistic effort, to be undertaken by the national bodies such as the National Informatics Centre, the Digital Library Federation, the National Knowledge Commission, etc., and a collaborative exercise at the national level may lead to analysis of this digital content (digital born or converted from

other media types) in the context of impact on daily life of the common man and its overall value in socio-cultural context Librarians who wish to know what and where India's OSS applications are up and running will definitely benefit from this book. Additionally, librarians in the developing world will find the Open Source Movement in India relevant and inspiring; if required, this study could as well be replicated in their respective environments.

Author's Profile

Dr. Mohamed Taher is an author of many works in the field of Area Studies Librarianship. His most recent books are Job Search the Canadian Way (Akbani Informatics, 2010) and Cyber Worship in Multifaith Perspectives (Scarecrow Press, 2006). He serves as Information Coordinator, Ontario Multifaith Council, Toronto, Canada.