Library automation in developing countries: the last 25 years

Library automation has developed in the industrialised world over the last 25 years and progress in developing countries cannot be separated from trends worldwide. However there are different criteria for success in developing countries which are brought out in this review. Open Source has been hailed as a solution to the economic problems but there are still organizational problems to be surmounted. There is also the possibility to develop one’s own system. Nigeria, Thailand and India are taken as case studies, illustrating different kinds of solutions that are available and various pitfalls. Predictions into the future are difficult. Internet bandwidth will improve in developing countries and open source may prove useful but economics may not improve and power supply problems are likely to remain.