Proprietary software has failed: a community-driven open source security proposal

Following a number of high-profile cyber attacks on UK universities, many libraries are rethinking the prevalent UK approach to library systems: a reliance on proprietary software that has failed to protect their users’ data and a management approach to outsourcing systems that has reduced the numbers and skills of in-house technical staff. In this presentation, I argue for a new approach to enable libraries to take back control of their systems and their data. Open source software is not only more secure than proprietary software but allows users more control and customisation over how the software works. By working collaboratively, libraries could establish community-driven multi-tenant library systems installations using open source software to give them more control over their system security, to protect their users’ lending data, and to divest themselves of third-party private library systems companies. Using examples from the Copim and the Open Book Futures project infrastructure, I’ll show how open source software provides a more secure and more ethical alternative to proprietary software.