Question 5.2: What are the advantages and disadvantages of using an open-source digital library application software for building a digital library?
The sequential design process in data collection and processing transition into information has resulted in massive knowledge stores in library services. This has revolutionized the ways and approaches for retrieving credible and valuable data and insights. The advancement of information and communication technology has made this possible. The digital libraries would be a sort of informational retrieving platform in which content is kept in digitized forms and may be accessible by users over a functionalization. It makes usage online databases that can methodically preserve literary content and be delivered to consumers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There are several open source and private digital archives accessible. Open source refers to a software construction method that makes use of the power of critical analysis and the accountability of decentralized community evolution. The Open Source Digital Library software programs aid in the creation and presentation of different databases. Because these programs provide such functionalities, libraries developed with the assistance of such digital library management software may be accessed and explored depending on metadata. Besides that, they are simple to manage, improve, and reproduce. Several open source software (OSS) solutions for libraries and information organization are currently present, such as Eprints, GSDL, DSpace, Fedora, and others. As a result, organizations may select the best one for particular needs and use it to develop digital libraries. GSDL, DSpace, and EPrints are among the most prominent Open Source Digital Library applications (Verman & Kumar, 2018).
Implementing either open source and private software presents problems, and the decision will be influenced by the conditions of each organization and sometimes even individual approach. With considerations of deploying open source, the software could be free, but there will undoubtedly be a considerable effort in human assets, most probably in the manner of technical knowledge. Furthermore, there are currently several possibilities for outsourcing open – sourced programming and maintenance (Morgan & Eichenlaub, 2016).