2026
Singh, Rupinder
A Feature Based Comparative Evaluation of Open-Source and Proprietary Digital Library Software Journal Article
In: International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 4665-4678, 2026, ISSN: 2349-6002.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Digital Library Digital Library, Dspace, Open Source
@article{Singh2024b,
title = {A Feature Based Comparative Evaluation of Open-Source and Proprietary Digital Library Software},
author = {Rupinder Singh },
url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=205018},
doi = {doi.org/10.64643/IJIRTV13I1-205018-459},
issn = {2349-6002},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-05-31},
urldate = {2026-05-31},
journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {4665-4678},
abstract = {The technological foundation of modern academic information services is digital library software (DLS), which allows institutions to gather, arrange, preserve, and distribute scholarly digital content to user communities throughout the world. Choosing a suitable DLS platform has become a strategic, long-term institutional decision with major consequences for cost, interoperability, scalability, and preservation quality as academic libraries make considerable investments in institutional repositories and digital collections. Six popular digital library software platforms, two proprietary (CONTENTdm and DigiTool) and four open-source (DSpace, EPrints, Greenstone Digital Library Software, and Fedora Commons) are systematically compared in this paper using eight evaluation dimensions: availability and licensing, document management, metadata standards support, storage architecture, search and retrieval, interoperability, security and user management, and accessibility and customization. The study creates an evidence-based choice framework for library directors and information professionals using official software documentation, peer-reviewed comparison studies, and Indian academic institutional adoption data. The results show that while proprietary platforms offer managed infrastructure appropriate for institutions with low technical resources, open-source platforms especially Fedora Commons and DSpace offer superior feature sets in metadata flexibility, interoperability, and customization. DSpace controls a 62% share of institutional repository deployments among national institutions, according to an analysis of adoption patterns in India. In order to translate comparative findings into practical procurement guidelines for college libraries, research institutions, archives and museums, and government data repositories, the article ends with institution-type-specific recommendations.},
keywords = {Digital Library Digital Library, Dspace, Open Source},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The technological foundation of modern academic information services is digital library software (DLS), which allows institutions to gather, arrange, preserve, and distribute scholarly digital content to user communities throughout the world. Choosing a suitable DLS platform has become a strategic, long-term institutional decision with major consequences for cost, interoperability, scalability, and preservation quality as academic libraries make considerable investments in institutional repositories and digital collections. Six popular digital library software platforms, two proprietary (CONTENTdm and DigiTool) and four open-source (DSpace, EPrints, Greenstone Digital Library Software, and Fedora Commons) are systematically compared in this paper using eight evaluation dimensions: availability and licensing, document management, metadata standards support, storage architecture, search and retrieval, interoperability, security and user management, and accessibility and customization. The study creates an evidence-based choice framework for library directors and information professionals using official software documentation, peer-reviewed comparison studies, and Indian academic institutional adoption data. The results show that while proprietary platforms offer managed infrastructure appropriate for institutions with low technical resources, open-source platforms especially Fedora Commons and DSpace offer superior feature sets in metadata flexibility, interoperability, and customization. DSpace controls a 62% share of institutional repository deployments among national institutions, according to an analysis of adoption patterns in India. In order to translate comparative findings into practical procurement guidelines for college libraries, research institutions, archives and museums, and government data repositories, the article ends with institution-type-specific recommendations.