Open Source Software: Role of National and International Organization

1. Open Source Software: Role of National and International Organization Dr. Mahendra V.Mete Librarian ShriShivaji Arts & Commerce College, Amravati, India metemahendra@gmail.com CALIBER 2013 INFLIBNET AHMEDABAD

2. Abstract • Software plays a vital role in information management. Open source software revolutionized the education field and the international organization like UNESCO, UNDP FSF, IFLA, IOSN promoted open source in e-learning, content management, digital library and integrated library management fields. In India, Knowledge commission under chairmanship of Sam Pitroda recommended open source software for e-governance and information management. In India 95 Institutional repositories developed by using open source digital Library software serving the academic community. CALIBER 2013 INFLIBNET AHMEDABAD

3. Role of UNESCO in promoting open Source Software • In 2001 UNESCO decided to embark on this relatively new approach of not only providing the software for free but also making the source codes in principle ‘open’, i.e. publicly available on the website http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/. • This has finally lead to a framework of its wider ‘Free and Open Source Portal’ approach promoting the idea and adding other software, e.g. Greenstone, into their ‘basket’ of supported and promoted software for better professional development also in the Southern and transitional countries. • UNESCO’s FOSS Portal can be found at: http://www.unesco.org/cgi-bin/webworld/portal_freesoftware/cgi/, with interesting links to discussions of the FOSS history, licenses and case studies. CALIBER 2013 INFLIBNET AHMEDABAD

4. Role of UNESCO in promoting open Source Software • From 'free' to 'FOSS' • CDS/ISIS as a software has been 'free' and 'open' since its early days, long before 'FOSS' (Free and Open Source Software) became a known software model (or should it be put in the reverse way : long before 'commercial closed software' became widely practiced' ). CALIBER 2013 INFLIBNET AHMEDABAD

5. United Nation Development Program (UNDP) • The Asia Pacific Development Information Programme(APDIP) is an initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) that aims to promote the development and application of new Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for poverty alleviation and sustainable human development in the Asia Pacific region. It does so through three core programme areas namely Policy Development and dialogue, Access and content development and knowledge management. CALIBER 2013 INFLIBNET AHMEDABAD

6. International Open Source network (IOSN) • The International Open Source Network (IOSN) is an initiative of APDIP and supported by the International Development Research Center of Canada. IOSN is a center of excellence for free /open source software (FOSS), Open content and open standard in the Asia Pacific region. • IOSN provides policy and technical advice on FOSS to governments, civil society and the private sectors. It produces FOSS awareness and training materials and distributes them under open content licenses. It also organizes awareness raising, training, research and networking initiatives to assist countries in developing a pool of human resources skilled in the use and development of FOSS . • IOSN works primarily through its web portal www.iosn.net/ that is collectively managed by FOSS community. The web portal serves as a clearing house and a platform for knowledge sharing and collaborations. CALIBER 2013 INFLIBNET AHMEDABAD

7. IFLA working group on Open Source Software • One of the interest areas identified during the first IFLA IT section meeting in Milan, Italy in 2009 was the furtherance of open source initiatives. Open source group was formed under Edmund Balnaves discussed the ways in which open source and open access initiatives can interact and the possibilities for open source publishing systems to interact with open source library services. These activities centered on two ways. • Direct activities of IFLA IT section in promoting standards in open source and publishing open source frameworks for libraries. • Working with other agencies actively engaged in open source to encourage regional support initiatives for open source, recommended projects that facilitates adoption of open source and work with UN/UNESCO and EIFL-Net in their open source initiatives. CALIBER 2013 INFLIBNET AHMEDABAD

8. Recommendation of National Knowledge commission: • The National Knowledge Commission was set up by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh under the chairmanship of Sam Pitroda, to prepare a blueprint to tap into the enormous reservoir of our knowledge base so that our people can confidently face the challenges of the 21st century. The commission made the following recommendation on the e-gorvernance. • “Because of the enormous size and scope of the e-governance effort in India and because of the availability of globally recognised software talent of Indians, we must actively encourage open source software implementations and open standards wherever possible. This will allow us to have cost-effective solutions and help develop open software products and standards. CALIBER 2013 INFLIBNET AHMEDABAD

9. Recommendation of National Knowledge commission • Setup a national institute for advanced training and R&D (suggested name: Indian Institute of Library and Information Science) needs to be set up. The proposed Institute would have two major functions: • A. To offer training programmes in relevant areas and to conduct continuing education programmes for library and information professionals; B. To identify, sponsor and conduct R&D programmes in the field of library and information science, including newly emerging research areas. Among the areas needing immediate R&D, the following were identified by the Working Group: CALIBER 2013 INFLIBNET AHMEDABAD

10. Recommendation of National Knowledge commission • Cross-language information retrieval, with an emphasis on information in Indian Languages; • Standardization of Indian names; • Vocabulary control over Indian subjects developed in terms of multi-lingual thesauri and subject-heading lists; • Development of open source software; • Development of Digital Libraries, both in English and Indian languages; CALIBER 2013 INFLIBNET AHMEDABAD

11. Recommendation of National Knowledge commission • C Networking of Libraries • Infrastructure requirements for cataloguing, database creation and networking. • a. Open source software should be used wherever possible at present and eventually at all levels. • b. An open source web-enabled library management software should be developed if necessary and provided to all public libraries for facilitating networking. This software should support multiple Indian language scripts and dialects. • Networking of Public Libraries: • The networking agencies should ensure state-of-the-art technology with the following features: • i. Open source platform for the software, which also supports multi-lingual environment with multi-user and multimedia content creation capabilities; • Ii. Storage, dissemination and replication of the data through mirror sites, gateways, Portals, and inter-library loan facilities; iii. Capability to conduct exhaustive training programmes. CALIBER 2013 INFLIBNET AHMEDABAD

12. National Resource Center for Free & Open Source Software (NRCFOSS) • NRCFOSS is an initiative of the Department of Technology, Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Government of India .NRCFOSS was setup in Chennai in April 2005 with the twin roles of bridging the digital divide as well as strengthening the Indian software industry. NRCFOSS aims to contribute to the growth of FOSS in India through Research & Development, Human Resource Development Networking & Entrepreneurship Development as well as serve as the reference point for all FOSS related activities in the country including the creation and maintenance of this national FOSS portal. CALIBER 2013 INFLIBNET AHMEDABAD

13. Open Source Software Resource Center • IBM Corporation, in partnership with Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) and the Center for development of Advanced Computing (CDAC), has established the open source software Resource Center (OSSRC).OSSRC’s goals are to develop, adopt and disseminates solutions, education and content that use open standards in support of India’s economic development plans. CALIBER 2013 INFLIBNET AHMEDABAD

14. Information & Library Network (INFLIBNET): Working Group on Open Source Software • INFLIBNET has established working group on open source software. The objective & responsibilities of the centers are given below: • “There are a number of open source software in the field of library and information science that are available free of cost. The Centre would create R & D facilities to study and contribute actively in their development. The Centre would work towards adoption and modification of open source software for LIS community in India.” • INFLIBNET has developed SOUL 2.0 on Mysql Database; open source database management software.INFLIBNET has developed ‘Open Journal System’ uses Open Journal Systems 2.2.4.0, which is open source journal management and publishing software developed, supported, and freely distributed by the Public Knowledge Project under the GNU General Public License. CALIBER 2013 INFLIBNET AHMEDABAD

15. CONCLUSIONS INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS SUCH AS UNESCO,IOSN,IFLA PROMOTES OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE. THE VISION OF LIBRARY SHOULD BE OPEN SOURCE AND OPEN ACCESS. IN INDIA IISC ,INFLIBNET,NRCFOSS AND KNOWLEDGE COMMISSION PROMOTES OPEN SOURCE POLICY IN E GOVERNENCE AND LIBRARY AUTOMATION AND NETWORKING CALIBER 2013 INFLIBNET AHMEDABAD

16. Thank you. CALIBER 2013 INFLIBNET AHMEDABAD

17. CALIBER 2013 INFLIBNET AHMEDABAD