Building Digital Libraries with Open Source Software

Greenstone, a suite of software for building and distributing digital library collections, provides a new way of organizing information and

publishing it on the Internet or on CD-ROM. Produced by the New Zealand Digital Library Project at the University of Waikato, and developed and distributed in cooperation with UNESCO and the Human Info NGO, it integrates

functions such as metadata, full text search and retrieval, multilingual support, support for multiple document formats and administration.

Greenstone is open-source software, issued under the terms of the GNU General Public License. The aim of the software is to empower users, particularly in universities, libraries, and other public service institutions, to build their own digital libraries.

The some fifteen Participants of the training programme that will take place from 7 to 9 May 2020 at the Indian Institute of Science (NCSI) in Bangalore, India, are expected to conduct similar programmes in their countries and promote Digital Library collection development. The training programme will be organized and conducted by NCSI.

Participants will receive and work with a copy of the just-released UNESCO Greenstone CD-ROM which provides interfaces and documentation in English,

French and Spanish and will be distributed free of charge within available stocks, with priority given to public service institutions and information centres and services in developing countries.

The Bangalore course is the first of a series of training workshops covering

all regions, with others being planned later this year in Africa, Central Asia and the Pacific.