Lessons from the bazaar: Open source software use and development in libraries

This paper discusses how libraries can and should participate in existing OSS development communities, and why libraries may want to start their own OSS projects. When libraries use OSS software, and fail to participate in the user community, the library risks losing sight of the project direction, which may ultimately make the product unsuitable for that specific library. While library staff may not be able to participate as programmers, other types of participation can assist the community with providing documentation such as software evaluation and best practices for implementing the software. Participating in OSS communities can educate library staff in the practical skills needed to develop in-house software