The Reality of using open source integrated library systems in Omani academic libraries

A. Shehata, Jamal Al Salmi, Farida Touqiya
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Abstract

The study aimed to identify the reality of using open source integrated library systems in Omani academic libraries, the awareness of decision makers and information specialists in Omani academic libraries of the concept of open-source systems, the importance of using open-source integrated library systems and the advantages they offer, the acceptability of decision makers and information specialists to replace and use these systems in Omani academic libraries, as well as to identify the motivations for their use and the challenges faced by Omani academic libraries in using these systems.The study adopted the qualitative approach and used two basic data-collection tools: single semi-structured interviews (15 with decision makers) and focus group interviews (2 interviews with information specialists and technicians). The study community included public and private academic libraries in the Sultanate of Oman. Sixteen academic libraries (public and private) were sampled with (25%) of the total of 63 libraries.The study reached a number of conclusions, the most important of which were: The various types of integrated library systems used to manage the operations in academic libraries in the Sultanate; between global commercial systems, internal local system, local commercial system and open-source global systems. The study also showed a low level of awareness of the importance of using open-source integrated library systems in Omani academic libraries; at the level of decision makers and some of the workers in the non-applied libraries, while the level of awareness of the individuals working in which the libraries applying the system varied. Moreover, the level of acceptance by decision makers and information specialists for the establishment and use of open-source integrated library systems in Omani academic libraries also varied which was based on the organization's policy towards open-source systems adoption and the extent libraries that are applying the system are reliant on basic system operations.The study showed a range of motivations behind the shift towards open-source integrated library systems; represented: Financial factors, user-friendly, non-monopolized, integrated systems that allow for modification and development, as well as they are sustainable and compatible with recent library trends. The study also revealed that there are a number of challenges impeding the use of open-source integrated library systems in Omani academic libraries: technical challenges, security challenges, human challenges, and administrative challenges.The study made a number of recommendations, including: Activating outreach roles to raise awareness to the importance of shifting towards integrated open-source library systems for decision makers and libraries through holding seminars, conferences and more workshops on these systems with the need to present the successful experiences of the applied libraries. Besides, establishing a group of library technicians (governmental and private) to provide technical support in collaboration with the Open-Source Center of Excellence and Wipro, in turn will contribute to providing technical support ad increase the scalability and replacement of the open-source integrated library systems. Encouragement and incentives by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology for Omani academic institutions with the necessity of Open-source systems adoption through providing training courses and workshops and providing technical support for such systems.
阿曼学术图书馆使用开源集成图书馆系统的现实
这项研究的目的是确定阿曼学术图书馆使用开放源码综合图书馆系统的现实情况,阿曼学术图书馆的决策者和信息专家对开放源码系统概念的认识,使用开放源码综合图书馆系统的重要性及其提供的优势,决策者和信息专家在阿曼学术图书馆替换和使用这些系统的接受程度。以及确定使用这些系统的动机和阿曼学术图书馆在使用这些系统时面临的挑战。本研究采用定性方法,使用两种基本的数据收集工具:单一半结构化访谈(15位决策者)和焦点小组访谈(2位信息专家和技术人员)。研究团体包括阿曼苏丹国的公共和私人学术图书馆。16个学术图书馆(公立和私立)被抽样调查,占63个图书馆总数的25%。这项研究得出了若干结论,其中最重要的是:苏丹国用于管理学术图书馆业务的各种综合图书馆系统;在全球商业系统,内部本地系统,本地商业系统和开源全球系统之间。该研究还表明,阿曼学术图书馆对使用开源综合图书馆系统的重要性的认识水平较低;在未应用该系统的图书馆中,决策者和一些工作人员的意识水平是不同的,而在应用该系统的图书馆中工作的个人的意识水平是不同的。此外,决策者和信息专家对阿曼学术图书馆建立和使用开放源码综合图书馆系统的接受程度也各不相同,这取决于该组织对采用开放源码系统的政策以及应用该系统的图书馆依赖基本系统操作的程度。该研究显示了向开源集成图书馆系统转变背后的一系列动机;代表:财务因素,用户友好,非垄断,允许修改和发展的综合系统,以及它们是可持续的,与最近的图书馆趋势兼容。该研究还显示,阿曼学术图书馆使用开源集成图书馆系统面临许多挑战:技术挑战、安全挑战、人力挑战和管理挑战。该研究提出了若干建议,包括:通过举办关于这些系统的研讨会、会议和更多讲习班,发挥外联作用,提高决策者和图书馆对转向综合开放源码图书馆系统的重要性的认识,并需要介绍应用图书馆的成功经验。此外,与开源卓越中心和Wipro合作,建立一个由政府和私人图书馆技术人员组成的小组,提供技术支持,从而有助于提供技术支持,增加开源集成图书馆系统的可扩展性和可替换性。交通、通信和信息技术部通过提供培训课程和讲习班以及为此类系统提供技术支持,鼓励和激励阿曼学术机构采用开源系统的必要性。
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