Open Source Tools for Information Visualization: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Experimented visualization software tools are integral components for implementation of information visualization in libraries. Successful information visualization tools articulate a powerful story with charts. Since a decade many libraries have started using the information visualization software tools for showcasing their library data or information and communicate the library impact and values to the user community through visuals. Hence it is important to understand the various free and open source software tools available prior to selecting right tool for implementation of visualization in libraries. Involvement of time in selection of right tool and resources can be rendered if right software tools found in existing studies. This paper presents a comparative study of eight selected visualization software tools, which helps library professionals in understanding and selecting the right tool for implementation of information visualization in their libraries.