Abstract

We evaluated three free software applications for administrative archives management and their implementation in university archives. Software evaluated was: Archon, Archivists ’ toolkit and ICA-AtoM. The comparative analysis considered 12 requirements concerning metadata management, description standards and lending, and document life-cycle analysis. The results show the requirements met by each software application evaluated. Although currently they do not satisfy all archive management requirements, open software can be customized and integrated with new contexts.

Abstract

One of the main consequences of publishing a program as libre (free, open source) software is that its source code is made available to anyone who wants to look at it. In addition, much other information on the development process is often easily accessible on the internet. Some of the consequences of “opening up” the process of building libre software are discussed, briefly exploring how these open mechanisms could behave in other areas.

Abstract

University libraries manage not only commercial electronic resources, but also documents generated by research and educational activities at their own institutions. Libraries are committed to disseminating these electronic documents, which usually requires that they compile and store them as well as guaranteeing their preservation. The best way to achieve this objective is e-information repositories. We briefly present an overview of the free software available to develop repositories, with a special focus on the software used to build Catalan cooperative repositories. We also review desireable system characteristics, such as the use of open communication standards between repositories, preservation strategies for digital content, and user communities.

Abstract

We reviewed projects and outcomes in the implementation and use of free software in the Technical University of Catalonia (UPC) libraries. Free software is a growing movement with steadily increasing significance, especially in university environments. The use of standards improves the possibility of integration with other systems and enhances the efficient management of library data. At the moment UPC libraries are developing their institutional repositories, using open source software like DSpace to disseminate the institution’s teaching and research activities. The UPC libraries will continue to implement this cost effective software and promote its use among library users and the university community.

Abstract

The selection of a library management system is often affected by social, economic and political conditions that may result in an inappropriate choice for a library’s needs, characteristics and functions. Free software, or freeware, is one of the more often selected solutions, given the freedom to copy, modify and distribute it in addition to free licensing and the possibilities for integration with other applications. This trend is reflected in librarianship curricula, in which automation software, repository management software, and even Linux/GNU, among others, are explained in a variety of courses. This combination of organizational needs and freeware trends led a group of professors from the Faculty of Library and Information Science (UB) and members of the Work Group on Free Software for Information Professionals (Cobdc) to create a virtual laboratory for the use of free software for library applications, as a contribution to the professional community.

Abstract

The inclusion of Andalusia in the “Internet in the libraries” programme has allowed an increase in the number of libraries offering free internet access to their users and working online with the same integrated library system. The most innovative projects set up by the regional government through the Public Libraries Network of Andalusia (RBPA) are analysed, along with new digital library services considered to be examples of good practice. Finally, the action plans for future implementation of an information and library management system based on free software and open source code are described.

Abstract

The results of the pedagogical and documentary engineering have driven distance and distance learning. Scenari –and its Opale model dedicated to training-, is a free software for managing a publishing chain to produce and publish digital educational materials. It allows new approaches to teaching that are key for defining new models of learning, information exchange and collaboration.

Abstract

Many organizations use social media to attract supporters, disseminate information and advocate change. Services like Twitter can theoretically deliver messages to a huge audience that would be difficult to reach by other means. This article introduces a method to monitor an organization’s Twitter strategy and applies it to tweets from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) accounts. The Resonating Topic Method uses automatic analyses with free software to detect successful themes within the organization’s tweets, categorizes the most successful tweets, and analyses a comparable organization to identify new successful strategies. In the case of UNDP tweets from November 2014 to March 2015, the results confirm the importance of official social media accounts as well as those of high profile individuals and general supporters. Official accounts seem to be more successful at encouraging action, which is a critical aspect of social media campaigning. An analysis of Oxfam found a successful social media approach that the UNDP had not adopted, showing the value of analyzing other organizations to find potential strategy gaps.