Using open source to provide remote patron authentication

Purpose – To develop an open‐source remote patron authentication system to replace a problematic, proprietary vendor product.Design/methodology/approach – Functional requirements were developed using the vendor product as a model with additional requirements determined by the libraries planning to use the application. Using PHP on Apache web server with a connection to our ILS database on Sybase, a flexible system that can be configured to the local libraries requirements was created.Findings – Overall, the new system has been welcomed and the most widespread problems we encountered have been resolved. Most importantly though, using an in‐house system empowers libraries to introduce enhancements and bug fixes as soon as possible and not rely on a vendor's schedule for doing so.Research limitations/implications – A project like this would not be possible if the ILS database was proprietary and inaccessible from other, open‐source technologies like PHP or the data structures were not published.Practical imp...