Open Source Library Systems

Two popular open source library systems (Koha and Evergreen) do exist and they both not only offer open access to the information stored within them (to those running the systems, not to just anyone on the web), but they also take advantage of open data on the web in order to generate a great big catalog mashup.

For example, both systems use APIs provided by various book jacket and book review services to mash catalog data up with book cover images and reviews written either by professionals or just book lovers on the web. The end result is a more browsing-friendly interface than most are used to in their online library catalogs, something more akin to Amazon.com than Library of Congress.

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