PurposeThe selection of effective library software not only plays an important role for students, academic staff and the library staff but also helps an institution by having the library management system more centralized. Therefore, the aim of this study is to develop a multiple-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) cause and effect factor model for the implementation of the Greenstone Digital Library (GSDL) software.Design/methodology/approachA thorough review of the literature is conducted to develop an initial list of the appropriate evaluation factors that play a significant role in the implementation of GSDL software. The data were collected from a domain of experts in the library sciences field. A combined approach of Delphi-DEMATEL methods is employed for the definition of these factors and to construct an MCDA cause-effect model which represents their relationships.FindingsThe DEMATEL analysis resulted in the division of all factors into two groups, causes and effects. The results show that content management, having a user-friendly interface and usability, information search and retrieval and authentication and authorization fall into the cause group. These factors directly affect the remaining factors. Content acquisition, classification, access, control and privacy management and metadata submission and support fall into the effect group. The research findings can help library professionals to make effective decisions to facilitate the successful implementation of GSDL software in a library and the enhancement of library technology.Practical implicationsThe results of this study can be useful for library professionals and decision-makers to select the most appropriate software for the implementation of library technology. The study analysis shows that for GSDL, user-friendly interface and usability, information search and retrieval plus authentication and authorization factors have seven positive relationships with other factors. Secondly, content management and classification have six relationships with other factors. Thirdly, access control plus privacy and management have two relationships. Content acquisition has only one relationship with other factors. It is recommended that the user-friendly interface and usability, information search and retrieval, as well as authentication and authorization should be the initial areas of focus if GSDL is to be implemented successfully in digital libraries.Originality/valueThe proposed MCDA cause-effect model can be useful for library professionals or decision-makers in the context of selecting software to be implemented in a library and to minimize implementation costs.