Decision Support Tools

FOSS4LIB (Free/Open Source Software for Libraries), a website dedicated to providing guidance about open source software for the library community, is now available to LYRASIS members and non-members alike.

Through FOSS4LIB, LYRASIS Technology Services, with funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, is helping librarians and technologists navigate through the planning, decision-making and implementation processes associated with open source.

FOSS4LIB offers a set of Decision Support Tools for the library community to assess open source readiness and related decisions. The tools include:

• Control versus Responsibility: a self-paced survey to determine the best software and hosting options;
• Questions for a Library's Parent IT Organization: a list to help libraries understand open source software requirements and how to integrate with their larger institutional technology environments;
• Costs of Open Source Software: a list of factors that impact the true cost of implementing open source; and
• Software Selection: a document to guide the software package selection process.

The site also details current information about open source software service providers, events and usage. Through its open source software registry, FOSS4LIB enables providers to highlight their software packages and benefits, libraries to submit firsthand experience with open source software, and users to learn about open source software updates and releases.

Software package creators, service providers and library professionals are encouraged to add their contact information to the registry.

Click here to visit FOSS4LIB.

To access the current list of packages on FOSS4LIB, please click here.

To learn more about the most recent releases from providers, please click here.

To find out about open source provider events, please click here.

LYRASIS also provides additional information about this free online resource via free webinars and online classes.