Leveraging open-source software to modernise public libraries in South Africa

Mahlatse Moses Shekgola

doi:10.24294/jipd11333

Home - JIPD - Volume 9 - Issue 3

Submit to JIPD

Journal Browser

Volume | Year

Issue

• Current lssue

View All

News and Announcements

View All

Leveraging open-source software to modernise public libraries in South Africa

Mahlatse Moses Shekgola

Journal of Infrastructure Policy and Development 2025, 9(3), 11333; https://doi.org/10.24294/jipd11333

Submitted：13 Jan 2025

Accepted：13 Feb 2025

Published：21 May 2025

Download PDF(481.60KB)

XML

Abstract

Open-source software (OSS) has emerged as a transformative tool whose implementation has the potential to modernise many libraries around the world in the digital age. OSS is a type of software which permits its users to inspect, share, modify, and enhance through its freely accessed source code. The accessibility and openness of the source code permits users to manipulate, change, and improve the way in which a piece of software, program, or application works. OSS solutions therefore provide cost-effective alternatives that enable libraries to enhance their technological infrastructure without being constrained by proprietary systems. Hence, many countries have initiated and formulated policies and legislative frameworks to support the implementation and use of OSS library solutions such as DSpace, Alfresco, and Greenstone. The purpose of the study reported on was to investigate the leveraging of OSS to modernise public libraries in South Africa. Content analysis was adopted as the research methodology for this qualitative study, which was based on a literature review integrating insights from the researchers’ experiences with the use of OSS in libraries The findings of the study reveal that the use of OSS has the potential to modernise public libraries, especially those located outside cities or urban areas. These libraries are often less well equipped with the necessary technology infrastructure to meet the demands of the digital age, such as online books and open access materials. The study culminated in an OSS framework that may be implemented to modernise public libraries. This framework may help public libraries to integrate OSS solutions and further allow users access to digital services.

Keywords

Intraspinal neuroendocrinomaï¼›Literature review

References

Ballhausen, M. (2019). Free and Open Source Software Licenses Explained. Computer, 52(6), 82–86. https://doi.org/10.1109/mc.2019.2907766

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2013). Successful qualitative research: a practical guide for beginners. London: Sage.

Brunswicker, S., & Chesbrough, H. (2018). The Adoption of Open Innovation in Large Firms. Research-Technology Management, 61(1), 35–45. https://doi.org/10.1080/08956308.2018.1399022

Buffett, B. (2014). How IT can contribute to changing organizational culture: Factors influencing open-source software adoption in public sector national and international statistical organizations. In: Proceedings of the Meeting on the Management of Statistical Information Systems (MSIS 2014); 2014; Dublin, Ireland and Manila, Philippines.

Bwalya, T., Akakandelwa, A., & Dobreva-McPherson, M. (2019). Adoption and use of free and open-source software (FOSS) globally: An overview and analysis of selected countries. Zambia Journal of Library & Information Science (ZAJLIS).

Corrado, E. M. (2022). Digital Preservation Is Not Just a Technology Problem. Technical Services Quarterly, 39(2), 143–151. https://doi.org/10.1080/07317131.2022.2045432

Corrado, E. M., & Moulaison, H. L. (2014). Digital preservation for libraries, archives, and museums. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.

Cripps, M. J. (2011). Technical Communications in OSS Content Management Systems: An Academic Institutional Case Study. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication, 41(4), 423–448. https://doi.org/10.2190/tw.41.4.f

Dar, B. A., & Ahmad, S. (2017). Recent trends in digital archiving and preservation: a global perspective. Raleigh: Laxmi Book Publication.

Davis, R. F. (2024). Evergreen Open-Source Library Software. Available online: https://evergreen-ils.org/ (accessed on 12 October 2024).

Dei, D. G. J., & Tetteh, C. F. (2022). Adoption and use of open-source software in academic libraries in Ghana. Ghana Library Journal, 27(1), 125–133. https://doi.org/10.4314/glj.v27i1.11

Digital Preservation Coalition. (2022). Digital preservation handbook. Available online: https://www.dpconline.org/handbook (accessed on 16 September 2024).

Digital Repository DSpace. (2025). Digital Repository DSpace. Available online: https://www.rvsolutions.in/it-software/e-gov-products/digital-repository-dspace/ (accessed on 5 December 2024).

Drake, M. (2017). The difference between free and open-source software. Available at: https://www.digitalocean.com/community/conceptual-articles/free-vs-open-source-software#the-rise-of-open-source (accessed on 9 December 2024).

DSpace. (2022). About DSpace. Available online: https://dspace.lyrasis.org/about/#:~:text=While%20DSpace%20shares%20some%20feature,the%20software%20of%20choice%20for (accessed on 18 November 2024).

DURASPACE. (2016). Available online: http://fedorarepository.org (accessed on 29 October 2024).

EPrints for Open Access. (2015). EPrints for Publications. Available online: https://uk.eprints-hosting.org/uk/index.php/flavours/openaccess/ (accessed on 22 December 2024).

Gangadhar, K. C., Nagaraja, A., Vasanthakumar, M. (2017). Present library automation status: Open-source library software—an opportunity or threat?. International Journal of Library & Information Science (IJLIS).

Greenstone Digital Library Software. (2022). Building digital library collections with greenstone 3 tutorial. Proceedings of the 22nd ACM/IEEE Joint Conference on Digital Libraries, 1–2. https://doi.org/10.1145/3529372.3530944

Gupta, P. K., & Yadav, A. (2018). Make a comparative study of open-source software DSpace and EPrints digital library software. Journal of Advancements in Library Sciences. Available online: https://www.dpconline.org/handbook (accessed on 8 December 2024).

Jin, Z. (2018). Open Models. ACM SIGSOFT Software Engineering Notes, 43(4), 9–12. https://doi.org/10.1145/3282517.3282522

Karume, S., & Mbugua, S. (2012). Trends in adoption of open-source software in Africa. Journal of Emerging Trends in Computing and Information Sciences. Available online: www.cisjournal.org/journalofcomputing/archive/vol3no11/vol3no11_10.pdf (accessed on 6 December 2024).

Katuu, S. 2023. Manging digital records in Africa. Routledge Taylor & Francis Group. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003203155.

Khan, S. A., & Bhatti, R. (2017). Digital competencies for developing and managing digital libraries. The Electronic Library, 35(3), 573–597. https://doi.org/10.1108/el-06-2016-0133

Mobius Consortium. (2025). Evergreen: Flexible and Robust Integrated Library System (ILS). Available online: https://mobiusconsortium.org/evergreen (accessed 27 December 2024).

Mojapelo, S. M. (2019). The Internet Access and Use in Public Libraries in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Public Library Quarterly, 39(3), 265–282. https://doi.org/10.1080/01616846.2019.1622980

Muchaonyerwa, N., Olatoye, O. I., & Gunuza, N. (2021). Equity of access to library and information services and education support at Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality: the case of King William’s Town, South Africa. South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science, 87(2), 11–20. https://doi.org/10.7553/87-2-1925

Ngoepe, M. (2017). Archival orthodoxy of post-custodial realities for digital records in South Africa. Archives and Manuscripts, 45(1), 31–44. https://doi.org/10.1080/01576895.2016.1277361

Open-Source Resources. (2021). What is open source?. Available online: https://opensource.com/resources/what-open-source (accessed on 6 August 2024).

Oreku G. S., & Mtenzi, F. J. (2013). Adoption and diffusion of open-source software in Tanzania: A way forward. Available online: www.IST-Africa.org/ (accessed on 10 December 2024).

Sanchez, V. R., Ayuso, P. N., Galindo, J. A., et al. (2020). Open Source Adoption Factors—A Systematic Literature Review. IEEE Access, 8, 94594–94609. https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2020.2993248

Shekgola, M. M., & Ngoepe, M. (2024). Ingesting digital archives into long-term storage system through free open-source software in South Africa. Collection and Curation, 44(1), 25–33. https://doi.org/10.1108/cc-02-2024-0003

Shekgola, M., Maluleka, J., & Rodrigues, A. (2021). Factors influencing the adoption of free and open-source software for electronic records management by municipalities in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Journal of the South African Society of Archivists. https://doi.org/10.4314/jsasa.v54i1.4

Shibambu, D. A., & Mojapelo, S. M. (2024). The status of digital and information literacies in South Africa from 2016 to 2022: a literature review. Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication. https://doi.org/10.1108/gkmc-04-2023-0142

Singh, J. (2007). Open-source software and knowledge management in digital context: Issues and implications. In: Proceedings of the 5th International CALIBER 2007. Panjab University, Chandigarh.

Techopedia. (2012). Open source: Too good to be true?. Available online: https://www.techopedia.com/2/28968/software/open-source-is-it-too-good-to-be-true (accessed on 05 August 2024).

Wheeler, A. D. (2015). Why open-source software/free software (OSS/FS, FLOSS, or FOSS)? Look at the numbers! Available online: http://www.dwheeler.com/contactme.html (accessed on 22 November 2024).

Wicox, D. (2017). Supporting Digital Preservation and Access with Fedora. Available online: https://library.ifla.org/id/eprint/1758 (accessed on 22 November 2024).

Previous
article in this issue

Next
article in this issue