Research And Evaluation Of Open Source OPAC

The application of open source software is an important manifestation of Library 2.0. Open source software has became an alternative in choosing library information system. Under the strong impact of internet search engine, especially the online book search engine, online encyclopedia, OPAC couldn't meets the patron's search needs well. Libraries around the world respond to this challenge by revitalizing library OPACs to make materials more easily discoverable. There are no lack of open source OPACs which features with web2.0 such as VuFind,Fac-back-OPAC ,Scriblio (WPOPAC),Social OPAC,FISH,Blacklight emerging from the revitalization. Here are two questions faced by Library: What kind of improvement should OPAC make? How to fully realize and evaluate those open source OPAC so as to make right decision?To answers the questions, a checklist which is fully representative of the features of next gernaration catalogue and a model of open source software mature were build in this thesis firsty. Secondly, this thesis evaluated the five opacs(Scriblio,Vufind,Sopac,Blacklight,Koha) separately according to the evaluation system and the evaluation model. A system analysis and comparison was performed based on the results of two evaluations.Findings shows that each of OPAC has its strengths and weaknesses. Generally speaking, they can be comparable with commercial software. The majority of research data were accessed on internet by visiting the website and having a trial of each software, another part of data obtained by mail survey. Any set of assessment criteria should modified and enriched with the development of actual state.