(i) Proprietary software

The proprietary software is a kind of software for which ownership remains with the creator under the provisions of copyright. The owner or proprietor provides license to the user, for using its applications on certain terms and conditions. Users are not being given the right to open, modify or further distribute the source code of such software. Because of this, the software of this category is being called closed source software also. The owner of the software takes fees for granting the license for using its applications, sometimes, some of the software may be free from charges for using its applications but the source code of the software remains closed.

The proprietary software is most of the times a paid software but sometimes it can be made available free of cost, on the basis of some terms and conditions decided by the owner whereas. Whether such software are being purchased or made available free of cost, but the source code of such software remains closed. We have a number of Library automation software in this category. For example, LIBSYS, VIRTUA, TRUDAN, etc.

(ii) Open Source Software 

The Open Source Software (OSS) is a software for which source code is open. The users are granted license to use, study, modify and further redistribute it. Such software is usually the product of collective efforts of the professionals to provide free and also the right of customization as per need of the user. 

There are a number of open source Library automation software available and being used worldwide. For example, KOHA, New Gen Lib, ABCD, etc, are a few open source LAS available worldwide. 

Here, we are going to discuss KOHA, which is one of the popular and worldwide used open source LAS.