for library automation

1. Challenges and Remedies for adoption
of OSILS in university libraries
submitted by : Muhammad Ali(blif19m024)
Shah Khalid(blif19m046)
Jabran Shehzad(blif19m038)
Shehzad Ahmad(blif19m042)
Hasnain(blif18m009)
Submitted to : Mr Asif Ali
session : 2019-23
Class: Bs lis (6TH R)

2. Outline:
 Open source software
 Integrated library system
 Adoption
 Challenge
 Remedies
 Challenges in the adoption of OSILS in university libraries
 Remedies for adoption of OSILS in university libraries

3. Open Source Software:
 Open-source software is computer software that is released under a license in which the
copyright holder grants users the rights to use, study, change, and distribute the software and its
source code to anyone and for any purpose.
 “The defining characteristic of open source software is that the license encourages people to
modify and improve the software and make the resulting improvements available to others
for further enhancement” (Rubin, 2010, p. 340)
Integrated Library system:
 Multifunctional adaptable software that allow library professionals to manage, catalogue and
circulate library materials to users.
 The acquisition, cataloging, circulation, serials control, OPAC, reporting, Inter-Library Loans
(ILL), and patron management modules might be included in an ideal ILS
.

4. Adoption:
 The term adoption is defined as “Making full use of a new idea as the best course of
action available”
Challenges:
 Challenges mean the hurdles faced by librarians in the adoption of OSILS.
Remedies:
 The solution which can solve the challenges faced by librarians in the adoption of OSILS

5. Challenges in the adoption of OSILS in university libraries
are:
university librarians are getting interest in the adoption of open source integrated library system such
as koha, evergreen etc. but they need special skills to run these software smoothly, due to this, they face
challenges in the adoption of open source integrated library system .the following are challenges faced
by university librarians in the adoption of open source integrated library system(OSILS)
1. Lack of the technical knowledge of library professionals on OSILS
2. Lake of the skilled manpower
3. Lack of training & retraining
4. Lack of local OSILS expert
5. Lack of technical support

6. Challenges in the adoption of OSILS in university libraries are:
6. Lack of IT infrastructure
7. Unwillingness of library professionals to take initiative.
8. Higher the rigid policies of university, lower the adoption
of OSILS
9. Inadequate funding
10. Lack of promotional activities

7. Challenges in the adoption of OSILS in university libraries are:
11. Higher the lack of consortium
12. Lower the reliability/longevity
13. Higher the availability of commercial software
14. Lack of awareness of OSS availability
15. Favorable arrangement with a proprietary vendor (e.g. bulk
purchasing discount

8. Remedies for adoption of OSILS in university libraries:
1. Libraries should employ skilled manpower
2. IT infrastructure must be strong in the university libraries
3. Library professionals should be self-motivated to take initiative for adoption of
OSILS
4. Librarians must be given the right to make decision
5. Library staff and users may be given proper orientation on the benefits and use of
OSILS

9. Remedies for adoption of OSILS in university libraries:
6. Software must be made flexible enough and user-friendly.
7. Libraries should appoint minimum one IT professional for the
maintenance of OSILS
8. University authority should allocate more funds for
maintenance of the library
9. There must be uninterrupted power supply i.e. generators
10. OSILS course ought to be included in the department of
Information Management of universities’

10. Remedies for adoption of OSILS in university libraries:
11. There must be promotional activities for OSILS
12 Libraries need to form a consortium:
13. Institutional policies of the university should be flexible
14. There have to be technical support from vendors for adoption and maintenance of OSILS

11. Conclusion:
The above mentioned 15 points of challenges are identified in the results
of following authors study: Choi & Pruett 2019; Rafiq & Kanwal 2008;
Asim & Ijaz 2018; Vandana, 2018; Alam, M.J. and Mezbah-Ul-Islam,
2019 at the end of their studies they suggest remedies (14 points) by
which librarians in the university libraries can limit the challenges and make
use of the OSILS.