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Introduction
Open Source Digital Library Software is an application where source code and rights are provided under a GNU General Public License. The users can download and use, and modify and redistribute customized versions. Dspace, Eprints, FEDORA, Greenstone, etc, are some examples of open source Digital Library Management Systems (DLMS). DLMS helps in structuring and managing digital libraries; it provides all the essential and advanced functionalities such as searching and browsing, acquisitions and metadata bases over the Internet. This paper provides an overview of the usage and utility of Greenstone3 based on selected criteria to help library professionals in learning about various features available in it. The present work is an outcome of our experience of working with Greenstone3. It embodies our reflections as well as assessment.
Greenstone digital library - introduction
Greenstone Digital Library (GSDL) is a suite of software developed by the New Zealand Digital Library Project at the University of Waikato in 1995. The distribution and promotion partners for Greenstone are: UNESCO; Human Info NGO, Belgium; NCSI, Bangalore; UCT, Cape Town; Dakar, Senegal; Almaty, Kazakhstan; and an individual.(Tramboo et al. , 2012).
The Greenstone website was launched in 1998, and later in 2000 Greenstone collaborated with UNESCO. Greenstone has released several versions of the software and a Java-based Greenstone librarian Interface (GLI) was developed in 2003. Information about user groups and mailing lists are posted on the website. It is distributed on SourceForge, and the present Greenstone version is 3.06.
Functional review and critical analysis of Greenstone
The Greenstone Digital Library Management Software is functionally reviewed and analysed based on selected broad criteria, viz., user friendliness, administration, customization, international metadata standards and interoperability, search and browse capabilities, security aspects and statistical functions.
User interface
Greenstone software is available for all operating systems: Windows, Unix/Linux and Mac OS-X. Windows installation is the default, and the configuration steps and time taken is much less compared to DSpace. Greenstone can be installed on desktops, laptops and servers, and be made available online via standard web server software (e.g. Apache). Additional softwares like ImageMagick, Ghostscript and Tomcat web server are installed along with the core installation. Not only is it easy to install, the software is also easy to maintain.
Greenstone is available in 59 international...