Open source integrated library systems (ILS) provide a free alternative to commercial ILS through projects like Koha, NewGenLib, and Evergreen. These community-owned projects are developed and improved through the collaboration of programmers, libraries, and funding agencies. While open source ILS may require more customization than commercial alternatives, they allow libraries to gain full control over their software and data while avoiding ongoing license fees. As open source ILS projects continue to evolve with user input, they are becoming viable options for enterprise-level library management systems.

1. Eight things you should know about Open Source ILS Vimal Kumar V. Thomas Abraham Asian School of Business Open Knowledge Society UGC Sponsored National Seminar on Open Source Software in Libraries. November 24-25, 2009 Cochin University of Science & Technology