Varrato, Francesco2023-10-162023-10-162023-10-162023-10-16https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/201612Academic libraries are dynamic entities, constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of students, researchers, professors, and the broader academic community. As a Research Data Management Specialist at EPFL and ex researcher, I have observed the transformative impact of free and open-source software (FOSS) on both academic libraries and the research community. This pre-print paper explores the multifaceted aspects of FOSS, considering its benefits, challenges, and broader impact on various stakeholders, including librarians, IT professionals, government bodies, research funders, and university departments.academic libraryFOSSOSSOpen SourceOpen ScienceResearch Data ManagementUniversityDigital Transformationtext::working paper