Abstract

Libraries and library professionals are in the midst of technological restructure to meet the ever-increasing expectations of their users to provide instant access to the required information. One of the basic and quality service requirements that need to be achieved in the initial stage of development of any library is automation, as a means to perform the common housekeeping operations. The present study examines the inclining attitude of Indian libraries and information science professionals towards adopting or migrating to Koha rather than NewGenLib. To support the statement of ‘inclining attitude’, an online survey method was adopted to identify favoured open source automation system among Indian libraries. Further, the analysis was limited to Koha and NewGenLib Open Source Integrated Library System (OSILS), and the study sought to establish the reason for why a majority of the Indian library professionals are still considering using a foreign OSILS rather than an indigenous one. The study found that the popularity and adoption rate of an automation system depends upon its active user base and developer community, troubleshooting, and customisation support, the frequency of training programmes, promotional activities, encouragements from the government, public and private agencies and so on.