ILS/LSP – DigitalKoans

"2024 Library Systems Report"

At the behest of top-tier libraries, the race is on to create bibliographic and discovery environments supporting BIBFRAME and other linked data concepts. Companies will likely soon complete enhancements to support BIBFRAME, but the level of demand for these products remains to be seen.

The real unknown is AI. While many companies featured in this year’s and last year’s reports have announced ongoing plans to add generative AI to their offerings, this technology has not yet been integrated in any significant way. As the industry continues to work on harnessing AI in ways that limit bias and error, libraries can anticipate more prominent use of this technology in products within the next year or so.

https://tinyurl.com/3tskaycd

2024 Fedora Technology Assessment Report

The Fedora Program Team, in collaboration with the Technology Working Group, designed a project to understand the specific Fedora-related priorities of using institutions, along with the capacity and available resources of both individuals and institutions to contribute to the Fedora community between 2024 and 2026. They collaborated with the Research and Innovation Division at Lyrasis to survey Fedora users. Responses were collected between November 2023 and January 31, 2024, and analyzed by Leigh A. Grinstead, Senior Digital Services Consultant from Lyrasis, an independent, nonprofit, research group.

https://tinyurl.com/2s4b4rec

"The University of North Carolina Selects Ex Libris Library Solutions"

As part of its transition to Ex Libris library platforms, UNC will implement:

Alma and Primo

Leganto, Ex Libris’ course resource management system

Library Mobile, Ex Libris’ integrated mobile library app and

Rapido, Ex Libris’ interlibrary loan system

http://tinyurl.com/rvumvpeh

"Stanford University Adopts FOLIO Library Services Platform"

Stanford’s FOLIO upgrade marks the first time Stanford has migrated to a new library services platform in over 20 years. To move from two separate legacy software systems to FOLIO, Stanford’s Library Systems team migrated bibliographic and holdings data for over 12 million library items, along with data for orders, patrons, loans, and requests. Stanford’s Digital Library Systems and Services team developed several integrations between FOLIO and other systems, including Stanford’s Searchworks discovery layer and a custom internal tool for managing vendor-supplied bibliographic data.

Most of the over 100 FOLIO libraries worldwide rely on a vendor to host the FOLIO software. Stanford opted for a self-hosting model, setting up a local environment that runs FOLIO.

In another notable aspect of Stanford’s FOLIO migration, five major library units (Stanford Libraries, Graduate School of Business Library, Hoover Institution Library and Archives, Lane Medical Library, and Robert Crown Law Library) collaborated to harmonize workflows in FOLIO and to train 400 staff members in the technical and patron-facing service areas. . . .

Caia Software & Solutions developed a robust remote storage management integration to meet Stanford’s remote storage requirements that are not handled out-of-the-box in FOLIO. The integration automatically updates FOLIO inventory records as items are moved in and out of Stanford’s remote storage facility using the CaiaSoft storage management application.

https://tinyurl.com/yc5zvv83

| Research Data Publication and Citation Bibliography | Research Data Sharing and Reuse Bibliography | Research Data Curation and Management Bibliography | Digital Scholarship |

"A Very Small Pond: Discovery Systems That Can Be Used with FOLIO in Academic Libraries"

FOLIO, an open source library services platform, does not have a front end patron interface for searching and using library materials. Any library installing FOLIO will need at least one other software to perform those functions. This article evaluates which systems, in a limited marketplace, are available for academic libraries to use with FOLIO.

https://journal.code4lib.org/articles/17433

"Guest Post — Do Libraries Still Dream Unified Dreams? Part 1"

Yet the old library dream of a unified library system remains strong. Ex Libris, the biggest technology services provider in the academic library sector for library management systems, is increasingly coupling its flagships Alma and Primo VE together. Most other large providers work towards similar unified platforms. Koha ILS, previously focused more on print material, recently created its own, internal ERM module rather than integrating with other more specialized software. Even the new open-source software platform FOLIO, where modularity is one of its key components, is often branded as a unified solution (though with choice among its movable parts).

https://bit.ly/41D4Fe8

"2023 Library Systems Report: The Advance of Open Systems"

Interest in open systems has been growing within the library world for at least 15 years, and recent procurements reflect important breakthroughs. The selection of the open source library services platform (LSP) FOLIO by Library of Congress (LC), the MOBIUS consortium, the National Library of Australia, and others has solidified FOLIO’s position as a major competitor in the market. . . .

Most libraries still use proprietary software for their core systems. In the US, about 10% of academic libraries and 17% of public libraries use an open source integrated library system (ILS). But the barriers to these products—real and perceived—have largely collapsed. Functionality gaps have narrowed across major open source products like Koha, Evergreen, and now FOLIO, after long periods of development.

https://bit.ly/3nh8Tdl

"Library Systems Report 2018"

Marshall Breeding has published "Library Systems Report 2018" in American Libraries.

Here's an excerpt:

LSPs [Library Services Platform] are now the mainstream approach for supporting resource management and daily operations of academic libraries. These products have not yet become ubiquitous, though they continue to dominate in new procurement scenarios. A significant proportion of academic libraries rely on longstanding ILS implementations. A large portion of these libraries are engaged in selection processes that will culminate in the continuing decline of the ILS in this sector.

Research Data Curation Bibliography, Version 9 | Digital Curation and Digital Preservation Works | Open Access Works | Digital Scholarship | Digital Scholarship Sitemap

"All Systems Go: Library Systems Landscape 2016"

Matt Enis has published "All Systems Go: Library Systems Landscape 2016" in Library Journal.

Here's an excerpt:

The year saw an evolving process of innovation, integration, and iteration, as companies and products morph into next-level services.

Digital Scholarship | Digital Scholarship Sitemap

"Library Systems Landscape 2015"

Matt Enis has published "Library Systems Landscape 2015" in Library Journal.

Here's an excerpt:

This second edition of Library Systems Landscape, the successor to LJ's annual Automation Marketplace feature, will examine the impact of recent mergers, the continued adoption of next-generation library services platforms, the emergence of mobile-optimized staff clients, and new partnerships and feature development in the open source arena.

Digital Scholarship | Digital Scholarship Sitemap

Perceptions 2014: An International Survey of Library Automation

Marshall Breeding. has released Perceptions 2014: An International Survey of Library Automation .

Here's an excerpt:

This eighth annual Library Automation Perceptions Report provides evaluative ratings submitted by individuals representing over three thousand libraries from 80 countries describing experiences with 154 different automation products, including both proprietary and open source systems. The survey results include 994 narrative comments providing candid statements—both positive and negative—about the products and companies involved or statements of intent regarding future automation plans. This report analyzes the results of the survey, presents a variety of statistical tables based on the data collected, and provides some initial observations. It aims to provide information to libraries as they evaluate their options for strategic technology products and to the organizations involved in providing these products and services as constructive criticism to help guide improvements.

Digital Scholarship | Digital Scholarship Sitemap

Innovative Acquires VTLS

Innovative has acquired VTLS.

Here's an excerpt from the announcement:

Innovative, a global leader in library technology, announced today that it has acquired VTLS, a library automation solutions provider to customers in 44 countries. The combined companies will be led by Innovative CEO Kim Massana. VTLS's products include Virtua, VITAL, Chamo, MozGo and FasTrac. . . .

The company's current offices in Blacksburg, Virginia; Barcelona, Spain; and Selangor, Malaysia will be retained and become Innovative centers for operations, along with Syracuse, New York; Dublin, Ireland; and Noida, India. Emeryville, California will remain the company's corporate headquarters.

As part of the transition, VTLS flagship products will be rebranded, incorporating the company name into the product name including VTLS-Virtua, VTLS-VITAL, and VTLS-Chamo Discovery.

Digital Scholarship | Digital Scholarship Publications Overview | Sitemap

Perceptions 2013: An International Survey of Library Automation

Marshall Breeding has released Perceptions 2013: An International Survey of Library Automation.

Here's an excerpt :

This seventh annual Library Automation Perceptions Report provides evaluative ratings submitted by individuals representing over three thousand libraries from 53 countries describing experiences with 136 different automation products, including both proprietary and open source systems. The survey results include 730 narrative comments providing candid statements—both positive and negative—bout the products and companies involved or statements of intent regarding future automation plans. This report analyzes the results of the survey, presents a variety of statistical tables based on the data collected, and provides some initial observations. It aims to provide information to libraries as they evaluate their options for strategic technology products and to the organizations involved in providing these products and services as constructive criticism to help guide improvements.

Digital Scholarship | Digital Scholarship Publications Overview | Sitemap

What Did "Library Automation" Look Like in 1968?

Information Technology and Libraries has made the 1968 volume of the Journal of Library Automation available.

Check out "The Development and Administration of Automated Systems in Academic Libraries" to see how far we have come.

| Digital Scholarship Overview | Digital Scholarship |

NISO Releases Cost of Resource Exchange (CORE) Protocol

NISO has released the Cost of Resource Exchange (CORE) Protocol (NISO RP-10-2010).

Here's an excerpt from the press release:

NISO is pleased to announce the publication of its latest Recommended Practice, CORE: Cost of Resource Exchange Protocol (NISO RP-10-2010). This Recommended Practice defines an XML schema to facilitate the exchange of financial information related to the acquisition of library resources between systems, such as an ILS and an ERMS.

CORE identifies a compact yet useful structure for query and delivery of relevant acquisitions data. "Sharing acquisitions information between systems has always been a difficult problem," said Ted Koppel, Agent Verso (ILS) Product Manager, Auto-Graphics, Inc. and co-chair of the CORE Working Group. "The rise of ERM systems made this problem even more acute. I'm glad that we, through the CORE Recommended Practice, have created a mechanism for data sharing, reuse, and delivery." Co-chair Ed Riding, Catalog Program Manager at the LDS Church History Library, added, "The CORE Recommended Practice provides a solution for libraries attempting to avoid duplicate entry and for systems developers intent on not reinventing the wheel. I look forward to the development of systems that can easily pull cost information from one another and believe CORE can help facilitate that."

CORE was originally intended for publication as a NISO standard. However, following a draft period of trial use that ended March 2010, the CORE Working Group and NISO's Business Information Topic Committee voted to approve the document as a Recommended Practice. This decision was in part based on the lack of uptake during the trial period as a result of recent economic conditions, and was motivated by the high interest in having CORE available for both current and future development as demand for the exchange of cost information increases. Making the CORE protocol available as a Recommended Practice allows ILS and ERM vendors, subscription agents, open-source providers, and other system developers to now implement the XML framework for exchanging cost information between systems. "I am pleased that CORE is now available for systems developers to begin using in order to facilitate the exchange of cost information between systems in a library environment," commented Todd Carpenter, NISO's Managing Director.

OCLC’s Web-Scale Library Management Services Available to Early Adopters on 7/1/10

Early adopters will be able to implement OCLC's Web-Scale Library Management Services starting on 7/1/10.

Here's an excerpt from the press release:

Beginning July 1, OCLC will work with libraries that are interested and prepared to implement Web-based services for acquisitions and circulation. This will be followed by successive updates for subscription and license management, and cooperative intelligence—analysis and recommendations based on statistics and workflow evaluation among participating libraries. The cloud computing environment and agile development methodology will facilitate incremental updates while minimizing impact to library operations.

Faced with scarce resources, disparate systems and local maintenance issues during a time when demand for library services has never been higher, OCLC members have made it clear that new, innovative responses are needed to meet these challenges. For the past eight months, OCLC has worked with an Advisory Council and six libraries and library groups as pilots for Web-scale management services. These groups have provided advice to OCLC on an overall direction, offered new ideas that were not in the original development plan, and validated strategic positioning for the service. . . .

OCLC Web-scale Management Services offer a next-generation choice for traditional, back-office operations. Moving these functions to the Web alongside cataloging and discovery activities allows libraries to lower the total cost of ownership for management services, automate critical operations, reduce support costs and free resources for high-priority services. It will also allow libraries and industry partners to develop unique and innovative workflow solutions that can then be shared across the profession.

"OCLC is extending our well established metadata management, resource sharing and discovery services to include the back-office management components of acquisitions and circulation which will allow libraries to extend their use of WorldCat for full library management functions and improved workflow,” said Andrew Pace, Executive Director, OCLC Networked Library Services. “This is a natural extension of OCLC’s mission to help libraries share costs and extend the power of cooperation."

Perceptions 2009: An International Survey of Library Automation

Marshall Breeding has released Perceptions 2009: An International Survey of Library Automation.

Here's an excerpt:

Libraries make significant investments in technology in order to automate their libraries and deliver information resources and services through their Web sites. The integrated library system (ILS) for most libraries represents the most critical component of a its technology infrastructure and can do the most to help or hinder a library in fulfilling its mission to serve its patrons and in operating efficiently. As libraries consider their automation strategies, such as moving to a new ILS, it’s helpful to have as much data as possible to make an informed decision. One aspect of that data might involve some measure of the perceptions of libraries that use that those products regarding such things as the quality of the ILS, the company involved, and its customer support. In order to produce data that portrays some of the general perceptions that libraries have about these questions, I have conducted a major survey for the last three years. This survey records each library's satisfaction level with their ILS and the company involved and probes at levels of interest in open source ILS products, one of the major issues brewing in the industry. The survey aims not only to provide libraries with helpful information regarding the products in the field, but might also serve as a tool for the companies involved to glean information on areas of strengths and weaknesses that will help them make any needed improvements.

Indiana University Gets $2.38 Million Grant from Mellon Foundation for Kuali OLE

Indiana University has been awarded a $2.38 Million Grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for the Kuali OLE (Open Library Environment) project.

Here's an excerpt from the press release:

IU will lead the Kuali OLE (Open Library Environment) project, a partnership of research libraries dedicated to managing increasingly digital resources and collections. Together, these libraries will develop "community source" software that will be made available to libraries worldwide.

Kuali OLE (pronounced Oh-LAY) partners include Indiana University; Florida Consortium (University of Florida representing Florida International University, Florida State University, New College of Florida, Rollins College, University of Central Florida, University of Miami, University of South Florida and the Florida Center for Library Automation); Lehigh University; Triangle Research Libraries Network (represented by Duke University and North Carolina State University); University of Chicago; University of Maryland; University of Michigan; and the University of Pennsylvania.

Large academic research libraries such as these manage and provide access to millions of items, using software to track interrelated transactions that range from ordering and paying for items to loaning materials to library patrons.

As the nature of library collections expands to include more digital materials—including leased electronic journals and digitized photograph collections—libraries are increasingly interested in developing management software for these resources, said Interim Ruth Lilly Dean of University Libraries Carolyn Walters.

"Libraries now create, lease and share digital materials, but the systems in place for cataloging and tracking these items are based on print collections," said Walters. "With this project, we benefit from working together with a community of academic libraries that want to change the way that information is managed in the scholarly environment."

"Research libraries are in dire need of systems that can support the management of research collections for the next-generation scholar," said Robert H. McDonald, executive director for the project and IU's associate dean for library technologies. "This approach demonstrates the best of open-source software development, directed partnership resource needs, and a market of commercial support providers to truly align with the needs of research libraries within the higher education environment."

More than 200 libraries, educational institutions, professional organizations and businesses laid the groundwork for the Kuali OLE project by participating in the original OLE project, a design phase that was supported by an earlier grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and led by Duke University.

Open Library Environment (OLE) Becomes Kuali Foundation Project

The Open Library Environment (OLE) project has become a Kuali Foundation project.

Here's an excerpt from the press release:

The Kuali Foundation, Inc., is pleased to announce that a group of leading academic research libraries is partnering in the Kuali Open Library Environment (OLE) (pronounced Oh-LAY) project to develop software created specifically for the complex business management and workflow operations of academic and research libraries. . . .

More than 300 libraries, educational institutions, professional organizations, and businesses participated in some phase of planning for the OLE project, which was supported by a planning grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and led by Duke University. Based on that broad insight, OLE will create a next-generation library system that breaks away from print-based workflows and reflects the changing nature of library materials and new approaches to scholarly work. The project is designed to work well with other enterprise systems and to be easily modified to suit the needs of different institutions.

Consistent with the values of the Kuali Foundation, the resulting software will be made freely available to libraries around the world, which will then also contribute their expertise and enhancements through community processes that work for the library community. The project will build on the far-reaching expertise of its current and future partners. . . .

Integrated library systems, composed of relational databases and the application software to support them, are used to track materials within library collections, from ordering and paying for them to loaning them to library patrons. Because large academic research libraries are responsible for managing and providing access to millions of items, the need to be more proactive in software development is especially acute in light of the workflow needed to manage and curate a varied digital collection that includes leased electronic journal content and owned special collections. . . .

Kuali OLE partners include Indiana University (lead); Florida Consortium (University of Florida representing Florida International University, Florida State University, New College of Florida, Rollins College, University of Central Florida, University of Miami, University of South Florida, the Florida Center for Library Automation); Lehigh University; Triangle Research Libraries Network, represented by Duke University and North Carolina State University; University of Chicago; University of Maryland; University of Michigan; and the University of Pennsylvania.

OCLC Presentations on Digital Curation and Web-scale Management Services

Below are streaming video OCLC presentations from ALA Annual 2009 on digital curation and Web-scale Management Services.

Integrating Technical Services and Preservation Workflows: "Mainstreaming Digital Resources. After an introduction from Geri Bunker Ingram of OCLC, Amy Rudersdorf (Director, Digital Information Management Program, The State Library of North Carolina) discusses integrating a whole host of systems into a digital curation workflow, including OCLC's Connexion tools, Digital Archive, WorldCat, Digital Collection Gateway and CONTENTdm."
OCLC Web-scale Management Services: "Presentation by Andrew Pace, OCLC Executive Director for Networked Library Services, ALA Annual 2009. Web-scale cooperative library management services, network-level tools for managing library collections through circulation and delivery, print and licensed acquisitions, and license management. These services complement existing OCLC Web-scale services, such as cataloging, resource sharing, and integrated discovery."

Draft: The Open Library Environment Project Final Report

The Open Library Environment Project has released a draft of the The Open Library Environment Project Final Report.

Here's an excerpt:

With funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Open Library Environment project (OLE Project) convened a multi-national group of libraries to analyze library business processes and to define a next-generation library technology platform. The resulting OLE platform is predicated on Service Oriented Architecture and a community-source model of development and governance. Over 300 libraries, educational institutions, professional organizations and business participated in some phase of the project. Using input from those participants, the project planners produced an OLE design framework that embeds libraries directly in the key processes of scholarship generation, knowledge management, teaching and learning by utilizing existing enterprise systems where appropriate and by delivering new services built on connections between the library's business systems and other technology systems.

The OLE Project met all of its objectives and was completed on time and within budget. Project members are now in discussions with potential investing partners who will develop and deploy this new library technology platform. Although this is an especially difficult time for libraries to launch new projects and commit funding for them, project planners continue to hear from the library community that it is more critical than ever to create the technology infrastructure that can help libraries serve as a primary nexus of scholarly information management.

Podcast: “Library 2.0 Gang 06/09: Library System Suppliers View of OCLC Web-Scale”

In the "Library 2.0 Gang 06/09: Library System Suppliers View of OCLC Web-Scale" podcast, vendor representatives from Axiell, Ex Libris, and LibLime discuss OCLC's Web-Scale Management Services.

Here's an excerpt from the post:

The initial reactions to hearing the announcement included "why did they take so long" and guarded "uh-ho." There were several aspects of, and reactions to, the announcement in the conversation—from welcoming the initiative, the inevitable move of library functionality to the cloud, questions about the size of library that would use it, the cost model, and of course issues about data and API availability.

Podcast: Library 2.0 Gang Discuss Cloud Computing and Libraries

In "Library 2.0 Gang 05/09: Cloud Computing Libraries and OCLC," Marshall Breeding, Frances Haugen, Paul Miller, and Richard Wallis discuss cloud computing and libraries. They also discuss OCLC's Web-Scale Management Services.

Marshall Breeding Explains OCLC’s New Web-Scale Management Services

In "Breaking Down the Components of OCLC’s New Library System," noted ILS expert Marshall Breeding clearly explains OCLC's Web-Scale Management Services.

ILS as SaaS (Software as a Service): OCLC Announces Web-Scale Management Services

OCLC has announced web-scale management services.

Here's an excerpt from the press release:

Libraries that subscribe to FirstSearch WorldCat will get the WorldCat Local "quick start" service as part of their subscription at no additional charge. WorldCat Local "quick start" offers libraries a locally branded catalog interface and simple search box that presents localized search results for print and electronic content along with the ability to search the entire WorldCat database and other resources via the Web.

OCLC plans to release Web-scale delivery and circulation, print and electronic acquisitions, and license management components to WorldCat Local, continuing the integration of library management services to create the Web-scale, cooperative library service. OCLC will begin piloting the Web-scale management service components this year.

This new library service design will support library management for print, electronic and licensed materials built on a new, Web-scale architecture that provides streamlined workflows and cooperative solutions. This Web-scale solution will not only include the functionality of disparate systems, it will interoperate with third-party business process systems, such as finance and human resources, and will reduce the total cost of ownership for libraries. The cooperative nature of the platform will create network effects for libraries with enhanced discovery, resource sharing, and metadata management, and through sharing collection management information, identity management, and collective intelligence fueled by data shared through the cooperative and with partners. . . .

OCLC will work with the more than 1,000 libraries and partners that are currently using OCLC library management systems in Europe and Asia Pacific to help build this service. OCLC will continue to develop and support its existing systems in Europe and Asia Pacific. OCLC will accelerate efforts to create robust data-exchange capabilities between OCLC library management systems and the WorldCat platform. Libraries and partners using current OCLC library management systems will be able to participate in this new development by add

In July 2009, libraries will be able to start using WorldCat.org as their user interface for the OCLC FirstSearch service, providing integrated access through a single search box to NetLibrary eBooks and eAudiobooks, Electronic Collections Online eJournals, OCLC FirstSearch databases, ArchiveGrid archival collection descriptions and CAMIO (the Catalog of Art Museum Images Online). At the same time, OCLC will add an enhanced, comprehensive search capability to WorldCat Local, which will return all print, electronic and licensed content available to the library from any location. OCLC will pilot WorldCat Local circulation and acquisitions services later this year.