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Transcript of The Future of the Integrated Library System: moving toward the next-generation of library automation...
The Future of the Integrated Library System:
moving toward the next-generation of library automation
Marshall BreedingMarshall BreedingDirector for Innovative Technologies and ResearchDirector for Innovative Technologies and ResearchVanderbilt UniversityVanderbilt University
http://staffweb.library.vanderbilt.edu/breedinghttp://www.librarytechnology.org/
Wednesday January 14, 2009George E. Bello Center for Information and Technology Bryant University, Smithfield, Rhode Island
HELIN
Consortium of academic and hospital libraries Initially formed in 1984 to share CLSI circulation
system Implementation of INNOPAC system 1991 Migration to Millennium Brown Josiah catalog based on separate Millennium
implementation InRhode Library Catalog = HELIN + Brown Initial deployment of Encore
Library Technology Guides
http://www.librarytechnology.org
Repository for library automation data Lib-web-cats tracks 38,000 libraries and the
automation systems used. – Expanding to include more international scope
Announcements and developments made by companies and organizations involved in library automation technologies
LJ Automation System Marketplace
Annual Industry report published in Library Journal: 2008: Opportunity out of turmoil 2007: An industry redefined 2006: Reshuffling the deck 2005: Gradual evolution 2004: Migration down, innovation up 2003: The competition heats up 2002: Capturing the migrating customer
Upheavals in the library automation arena
Industry Consolidation Abrupt transitions for major library
automation products Increased industry control by external
financial investors Demise of the traditional OPAC Frustration with ILS products and vendors Open Source alternatives hit the mainstream
Breeding, Marshall: Perceptions 2007 an international survey of library automation. http://www.librarytechnology.org/perceptions2007.pl January 2008.
ILS Industry in Transition
Consolidation through mergers and acquisitions have resulted in a fewer number of players; larger companies
Uncomfortable level of product narrowing Increased ownership by external interests Yet: Some companies and products continue
on solid ground
Breeding, Marshall “Automation system marketplace 2008: Opportunity Out of Turmoil” Library Journal. April 1, 2008.
Library Automation M&A History
Product and Technology Trends
Innovation below expectations Conventional ILS less tenable Proliferation of products related to e-content
management New genre of discovery-layer interfaces
Web 2.0 / Collaborative Computing
Currently implemented ad hoc Many libraries putting up blogs, wikis, and fostering
engagement in social networking sites Proliferation of silos with no integration or
interoperability with larger library Web presence Next Gen: Build social and collaborative features into
core automation components
Part II. A Mandate for Openness
Opportunities for Openness
Open Source– Alternative to traditionally licensed software
Open Systems– Software that doesn’t hold data hostage
Open Source Alternatives
Explosive interest in Open Source driven by disillusionment with current vendors and near-evangelical promotion of this software licensing model
Beginning to emerge as a practical option TOC (Total Cost of Ownership) still roughly equal
to proprietary commercial model Still a risky strategy for libraries – traditional
licensing also risky
A result of industry turmoil
Disruptions and business decisions to narrow options have fueled the open source movement
Benefit to libraries in having additional options
Traditionally licensed and open source ILS alternatives will coexist in the ILS arena
Open Source ILS enters the mainstream
Earlier era of pioneering efforts to ILS shifting into one where open source alternatives fall in the mainstream
Off-the-shelf, commercially supported product available
Still a minority player, but gaining ground
Open Source ILS options
Koha– Commercial support from LibLime
Evergreen– Commercial support from Equinox Software
OPALS– Commercial support from Media Flex
Business case for Open Source ILS
Comparative total cost of ownership Evaluate features and functionality Evaluate technology platform and conceptual
models Are they next-generation systems or open
source version of legacy models?
“Making a Business Case for Open Source ILS.” Marshall Breeding, Computers in Libraries March 2008http://www.librarytechnology.org/ltg-displaytext.pl?RC=13134
Software Development Models
How do companies approach software development:– Ongoing maintenance work on existing products
(enhancement requests, bug fixes)– R&D toward future products (capital investment)– Sponsored Development: contracted custom
development paid for by individual sites, code shared with current and future implementers.
Observations on Open Source ILS
Current Open Source ILS products similar in modular organization and functionality to existing systems. Evolving to achieve the same level of features and capacity present in established commercial systems.
Initial wave of Open Source ILS commitments happened in the public library arena. Recent activity among academic libraries:
– WALDO Consortium (Voyager > Koha)– University of Prince Edward Island (Unicorn > Evergreen)
Do the current open source ILS products provide a new model of automation, or an open source version of what we already have?
Impact of Open Source ILS
Library automation industry cannot be complacent
Some libraries moving from traditionally licensed products to open source products with commercial support plans
Disruption of ILS industry– new pressures on incumbent vendors to deliver more
innovation and to satisfy concerns for openness
New competition / More options
More Open Systems
Pressure for traditionally licensed products to become more open
APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) let libraries access and manipulate their data outside of delivered software
A comprehensive set of APIs potentially give libraries more flexibility and control in accessing data and services and in extending functionality than having access to the source code.
Customer access to APIs does not involve as much risk to breaking core system functions, avoids issues of version management and code forking associated with open source models.
A Continuum of Openness
Closed Systems
Circulation AcquisitionsCataloging
Staff Interfaces:
End User Interfaces:
Data Stores:
Functionalmodules:
No programmable Access to the system.
Captive to the userInterfaces supplied by the developer
Programmer access:
Standard RDBM Systems
Circulation AcquisitionsCataloging
Staff Interfaces:
End User Interfaces:
Data Stores:
Functionalmodules:
Database administrators can access data stores involved with the system:
Read-only?Read/write?
Developer shares database schema
Programmer access:
Open Source Model
Circulation AcquisitionsCataloging
Staff Interfaces:
End User Interfaces:
Data Stores:
Functionalmodules:
All aspects of the system available to inspection and modification.
Programmer access:
Open API Model
Circulation AcquisitionsCataloging
Staff Interfaces:
End User Interfaces:
Data Stores:
Functionalmodules:
Core application closed.
Third party developers code against the published APIs or RDBMS tables.
Programmer access:
Published APIs
Open Source / Open API Model
Circulation AcquisitionsCataloging
Staff Interfaces:
End User Interfaces:
Data Stores:
Functionalmodules:
Core application closed.
Third party developers code against the published APIs or RDBMS tables.
Programmer access:
Published APIs
Depth of Openness
Evaluate level of access to a products data stores and functional elements:
– Open source vs Traditional licenses
Some traditional vendors have well established API implementations
– SirsiDynix Unicorn (API available to authorized customer sites that take training program)
– Ex Libris: consistent deployment of APIs in major products, recent strategic initiative: “Open Platform Program”
– Innovative Interfaces: Patron API; Encore Web services
Universal open APIs?
Some progress on API to support discovery layer interfaces, but no comprehensive framework yet.
Many industry protocols work like APIs: – Z39.50, SRU/W, NCIP, OAI-PMH, OpenURL, etd
It would be ideal if there were an open set of APIs that were implemented by all automation system products.
– Third party components and add-ons would then work across all products.
Opportunity out of the Upheavals
More options– Commercial + Open Source
More vendors– New open source support companies provide new
competition More library involvement
– Libraries re-energized to make significant contributions to the body of library automation software
Traditionally licensed and open source automation systems will co-exist. We have an interest in the success of both alternatives.
Part III. Moving toward new generation of library automation
Rethinking the ILS
Fundamental assumption: Print + Digital = Hybrid libraries Traditional ILS model not adequate for hybrid libraries Libraries currently moving toward surrounding core ILS with
additional modules to handle electronic content New discovery layer interfaces replacing or supplementing ILS
OPACS Working toward a new model of library automation
– Monolithic legacy architectures replaced by fabric of SOA applications
– Comprehensive Resource Management
“It's Time to Break the Mold of the Original ILS” Computers in Libraries Nov/Dec 2007
ILS: a legacy concept?
ILS = Integrated Library System (Cataloging + Circulation + OPAC + Serials + Acquisitions)
Focused on print and physical inventory Electronic content at the Journal Title or collection
level Emerged in the 1960’s – 1970’s Functionality has evolved and expanded, but basic
concepts and modules remain intact Note: Some companies work toward evolving the ILS to
competently handle both print and digital content (e.g. Innovative Interfaces)
ILS: ever diminishing role
Many libraries putting much less emphasis on ILS Just an inventory system for physical materials Investments in electronic content increasing Management of e-content handled outside of the ILS Yet: libraries need comprehensive business
automation more than ever. Mandate for more efficient operations. Do more with less.
Dis-integration of Library Automation Functionality
ILS -- Print and Physical inventory OpenURL Link resolver Federated Search Electronic Resource Management Module Discovery layer interface
Is non-integrated automation sustainable?
Major burden on library personnel Serial procurement / installation / configuration /
maintenance cycles take many years to result in a comprehensive environment
Inefficient data models Disjointed interfaces for library users Very long cycle to gain comprehensive automation
New genre of discovery layer interfaces
Traditional ILS OPAC inadequate for today’s Web-savvy library users
Scope too narrow Complex, non-intuitive interface Yet: Necessary for some types of research Working toward a single point of entry for all
the content and services offered by the library
Common Next-Gen Interface features
Decoupled interface Advanced search engines Relevancy ranked results Faceted Navigation Graphically enriched displays Real-time interaction with ILS Advanced user services and information
delivery features
Current Products
Encore (Innovative Interfaces) Primo (Ex Libris) Aquabrowser (Bowker / Serials Solutions) WorldCat Local (OCLC) BiblioCommons Visualizer (VTLS) eXtensive Catalog (University of Rochester) VUFind (open source / Villanova University) Scriblio (open source)
http://www.librarytechnology.org/discovery.pl
Deep search
Entering post-metadata search era Increasing opportunities to search the full contents
– Google Library Print, Google Publisher, Open Content Alliance, Microsoft Live Book Search, etc.
– High-quality metadata will improve search precision Commercial search providers already offer “search inside the
book” No comprehensive full text search for books quite yet Beginning to appear in library search environments
– U of Mich (http://mblog.lib.umich.edu/blt/archives/2008/05/search_full-tex.html ) Deep search highly improved by high-quality metadataSee: Systems Librarian, May 2008 “Beyond the current generation of next-generation interfaces: deeper search”
Architecture and Standards
Need to have an standard approach for connecting new generation interfaces with ILS and other repositories
Proprietary and ad hoc methods currently prevail Digital Library Federation
– ILS-Discovery Interface Grouphttp://www.librarytechnology.org/blog.pl?ThreadID=43
Initial foray into a broader set of protocols that open up other aspects of the ILS
Moving toward a new Generation of Library Automation
Are Legacy ILS concepts sustainable? New automation environment based on
current library realities and modern technology platforms
Equal footing for digital and print Service oriented architecture
Breaking down the modules
Traditional ILS– Cataloging– Circulation– Online Catalog– Acquisitions– Serials control– Reporting
Modern approach: SOA
Service Oriented Architecture
http://www.sun.com/products/soa/benefits.jsp
Legacy ILS + e-content modules
FederatedSearch
FederatedSearch
Circulation Acquisitions
Cataloging Serials
OpenURLLinking
OpenURLLinking
Electronic Resource
MgmtSystem
Electronic Resource
MgmtSystem
Staff Interfaces:
End User Interfaces:
Data Stores:
Functionalmodules:
SOA model for business automation
Underlying data repositories– Local or Global
Reusable business services Composite business applications
SOA for library workflow processes
Data Stores:
ReusableBusiness Services
CompositeApplications
Granulartasks:
Comprehensive Resource Management
Broad conceptual approach that proposes a library automation environment that spans all types of content that comprise library collections.
Traditional ILS vendors: Under development but no public announcements
Open Source projects in early phases Projection: 2-3 years until we begin see library
automation systems that follow this approach. 5-7 years for wider adoption.
Open Library Environment (OLE) project
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation – Research in Information Technology program– Solicited proposal / Lead institution
Duke University selected to lead project Core Participants: Kansas University, Lehigh
University, National Library of Australia, Library and Archives Canada, University of Pennsylvania, Marshall Breeding
Advisory Participants: University of Chicago, Wittier College, University of Maryland, ORBIS Cascade Alliance, Rutgers University
http://www.mellon.org/grant_programs/programs/rit
OLE Project Status
Phase I to create requirements underway. Kick-off Meeting at Duke
– Project scope, SOA training Regular online meetings Meeting at Rutgers:
– Training in business process modeling – More SOA
Regional workshops– Business Process Modeling for library workflows
Jan meeting at Lehigh Feb meeting at University of Kansas Final report due end of July Organize Phase II – Build Project
– Open source reference implementation
Ex Libris Universal Resource Management
Next generation system Management of digital and print resources Forward path for both Voyager and ALEPH
OCLC
WorldCat local in pilot phase Additional WorldCat-based automation
services under development?
Innovative Interfaces
Evolutionary path to next-generation automation
Suite of products already offers comprehensive automation– Millennium – Electronic Resource Management– Research Pro – federated search– Encore– Encore Web services API
Is there a future for the ILS?
Yes – libraries need efficient business process automation more than ever
No – not if ILS means the current legacy model based on print Revolutionary and evolutionary approaches will compete, both
working to address major shifts in library missions. Urgent need to reinvent library automation Opportunities abound for existing commercial providers and
open source initiatives. Opportunities for libraries to take a more direct role in
reshaping the automation products they use
Questions and Discussion