1 Open Source Library Automation US Context and Opportunities for Engagement by UK Higher Education JISC and SCONUL Library Management Systems Study Consultation.

11

Open Source Library Open Source Library AutomationAutomationUS Context and US Context and

Opportunities for Engagement Opportunities for Engagement by UK Higher Educationby UK Higher Education

JISC and SCONUL Library Management Systems Study Consultation Event June 27, 2008

Marshall BreedingMarshall BreedingDirector for Innovative Technologies and ResearchDirector for Innovative Technologies and ResearchVanderbilt UniversityVanderbilt Universityhttp://staffweb.library.vanderbilt.edu/breedinghttp://www.librarytechnology.org/

Slide:Slide:22

FocusFocus

JISC and SCONUL have arranged a follow JISC and SCONUL have arranged a follow up 'workshop' day in London on Friday up 'workshop' day in London on Friday 27th June. Would you be able to able to 27th June. Would you be able to able to make a virtual contribution with a short make a virtual contribution with a short presentation on the Open Source LMS presentation on the Open Source LMS context in the US. The particular issue context in the US. The particular issue we'd like to address is how the domain we'd like to address is how the domain (and 'pan HE organisations like JISC and (and 'pan HE organisations like JISC and SCONUL) might best engage in the SCONUL) might best engage in the development and future direction of  development and future direction of  Open Source LMS. Open Source LMS.

Slide:Slide:33

Report findings Report findings 1.1.4

……Systems Approaches – Key technological responses include development of open interfaces within a Service Oriented Architecture and developing Web 2.0 models. However, the implementation of an open source LMS is not yet regarded as beneficial. Whilst there is widespread use of Information Environment services from JISC Data Centre’s such as EDINA and MIMAS, further development of open interfaces is required.

Slide:Slide:44

Findings Findings 1.7.2

The procurement and implementation of an Open Source LMS is not workable for most institutions in the current climate, largely because of the staff capacity and support overheads, but also because the mission criticality of library systems requires users and procurers to have confidence in a robust system. However, Open Source developments are a valuable catalyst for change in terms of exploring possibilities and pushing boundaries for the community.

Slide:Slide:55

2.3.2 Key trends influencing vendors Open Source – ranging from a means of

adding value around a vendor LMS to the basis for complete and competing LMS solutions; however, current US experience indicates that Open Source does not mean a cheaper LMS, nor a more interoperable one. It is therefore not surprising that no survey respondents considered an Open Source LMS a likely possibility, whilst nearly 20% had no interest at all in Open Source.

66

Open Source LMS Open Source LMS movement in North movement in North AmericaAmerica

Slide:Slide:77

Early LMS Early LMS developmentdevelopment A heritage of local library development of A heritage of local library development of

LMS softwareLMS software Several LMS created in Universities and other Several LMS created in Universities and other

library settingslibrary settings NOTIS (Northwestern University) – VTLS NOTIS (Northwestern University) – VTLS

(Virginia Tech) – PALS (Minnesota (Virginia Tech) – PALS (Minnesota consortium) – LIAS (Penn State) – GLADIS consortium) – LIAS (Penn State) – GLADIS (UC Berkeley) – LIS (Georgetown)(UC Berkeley) – LIS (Georgetown)

Precursor to open sourcePrecursor to open source– Developed by libraries or university IT, shared with Developed by libraries or university IT, shared with

peer institutionspeer institutions Many systems later commercializedMany systems later commercialized

Slide:Slide:88

Commercial LMS PhaseCommercial LMS Phase

1980’s through ~20061980’s through ~2006 Almost complete dominance by Almost complete dominance by

commercial vendors offering commercial vendors offering traditionally licensed library traditionally licensed library management systemsmanagement systems

Specialized vendorsSpecialized vendors Business model based on up-front Business model based on up-front

software license fees, annual software license fees, annual payments (~15%) for upgrades and payments (~15%) for upgrades and support, optional paid servicessupport, optional paid services

Slide:Slide:99

Current Open Source Current Open Source MovementMovement Primarily in the public library Primarily in the public library

spacespace Early interest by Academic Early interest by Academic

librarieslibraries Development efforts underway to Development efforts underway to

extend open source LMS products extend open source LMS products for use by academic librariesfor use by academic libraries

Slide:Slide:1010

Existing Open Source Existing Open Source ILS productsILS products Koha (Mostly public, some Koha (Mostly public, some

academic)academic) Evergreen (Mostly public, 1 Evergreen (Mostly public, 1

academic)academic) OPALS (K-12 school)OPALS (K-12 school) NewGenLib (India / developing NewGenLib (India / developing

world)world)

Slide:Slide:1111

Companies focused on Companies focused on support of Open Source support of Open Source library softwarelibrary software LibLimeLibLime

– Support services for KohaSupport services for Koha– Emerged from Nelsonville Public LibraryEmerged from Nelsonville Public Library

Equinox SoftwareEquinox Software– Support services for EvergreenSupport services for Evergreen– Emerged from Georgia Public Library ServiceEmerged from Georgia Public Library Service

Care AffiliatesCare Affiliates– MasterKey federated searchMasterKey federated search– Open TranslatorsOpen Translators

Index Data Index Data – Software development and consulting servicesSoftware development and consulting services– YAZ Z39.50 toolkit – Metaproxy – Pazpar2 -- ZebraYAZ Z39.50 toolkit – Metaproxy – Pazpar2 -- Zebra

Slide:Slide:1212

Academic library Academic library adoption of Open adoption of Open Source ILSSource ILS WALDO consortiumWALDO consortium

CIL “Open source ILS gains ground” (Feb 2008)CIL “Open source ILS gains ground” (Feb 2008)http://www.librarytechnology.org/ltg-displaytext.pl?RC=13147http://www.librarytechnology.org/ltg-displaytext.pl?RC=13147

University of Prince Edward IslandUniversity of Prince Edward Island– Robertson Library – four week migration Robertson Library – four week migration

from Unicorn to Evergreen (sans serials from Unicorn to Evergreen (sans serials and acquisitions).and acquisitions).

Conifer projectConifer project– Laurentian University, McMaster Laurentian University, McMaster

University, and the University of Windsor. University, and the University of Windsor. – Proposed implementation in 2009Proposed implementation in 2009

Slide:Slide:1313

US Open Source US Open Source PerspectivePerspective Despite the recent flurry of activity in the Despite the recent flurry of activity in the

public library arena, few academic libraries public library arena, few academic libraries have made commitments to open source LMShave made commitments to open source LMS– No open source ILS among ARLsNo open source ILS among ARLs– http://www.librarytechnology.org/arl.plhttp://www.librarytechnology.org/arl.pl

Locally developed systems transitioning to Locally developed systems transitioning to commercial systems:commercial systems:– UC Berkeley: GLADIS > MillenniumUC Berkeley: GLADIS > Millennium– Univ of Texas > Local system > MillenniumUniv of Texas > Local system > Millennium– UCLA: Local > VoyagerUCLA: Local > Voyager

More fervor for open source LMS in academic More fervor for open source LMS in academic libraries Canada than USlibraries Canada than US– Conifer consortium – UPEI Robertson Library Conifer consortium – UPEI Robertson Library

Slide:Slide:1414

UK / US DifferencesUK / US Differences

More libraries in the US able to make system More libraries in the US able to make system decisions outside of regulated procurement decisions outside of regulated procurement processesprocesses

Many outspoken advocates for open source Many outspoken advocates for open source software in US library professionsoftware in US library profession

Open source software has become the Open source software has become the politically correct positionpolitically correct position

Higher level of frustration with the incumbent Higher level of frustration with the incumbent vendor situationvendor situation– More libraries disrupted by product decisions made More libraries disrupted by product decisions made

in the environment of mergers & acquisitions and in the environment of mergers & acquisitions and private equity buy-outs. private equity buy-outs.

Slide:Slide:1515

Duke-led initiative for Duke-led initiative for open library open library environmentenvironment ““Open Library Environment” (OLE)Open Library Environment” (OLE) Proposed funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Proposed funding from the Andrew W. Mellon

FoundationFoundation Convene the academic library community in

the design of an Open Library Management System built on Service Oriented Architecture model

1-year to develop requirements and conceptual model for a next-generation

Possible follow-on project to build specified system

Lynne O’Brien, Principal Investigator

Slide:Slide:1616

Duke OLE participants

CoreCore Duke UniversityDuke University Univ of PennsylvaniaUniv of Pennsylvania Univ of KansasUniv of Kansas Lehigh UnivLehigh Univ National Library of National Library of

AustraliaAustralia Library and Archives Library and Archives

CanadaCanada Marshall BreedingMarshall Breeding

AdvisoryAdvisory Univ of ChicagoUniv of Chicago ORBIS Cascade ORBIS Cascade

AllianceAlliance Whittier CollegeWhittier College Univ of FloridaUniv of Florida Rutgers UnivRutgers Univ Univ of MarylandUniv of Maryland

Slide:Slide:1717

Other aspects of Other aspects of OpennessOpenness Open DataOpen Data Development of industry-standard Development of industry-standard

APIsAPIs Open content knowledgebasesOpen content knowledgebases

Slide:Slide:1818

DLF ILS Discovery DLF ILS Discovery Interface Interface Committee charged by the Digital Library Committee charged by the Digital Library

Federation to create open interfaces Federation to create open interfaces between the LMS and the emerging genre between the LMS and the emerging genre of discovery-layer interfaces (eg: Primo, of discovery-layer interfaces (eg: Primo, Encore, AquaBrowser, VUFind, eXtensible Encore, AquaBrowser, VUFind, eXtensible Catalog, ect.)Catalog, ect.)

““Berkeley accord” following 7 Mar 2008 Berkeley accord” following 7 Mar 2008 meeting involving committee and meeting involving committee and potential implementers.potential implementers.

Bindings include OAI-PMH, OpenURL, etc Bindings include OAI-PMH, OpenURL, etc to accomplish harvesting and back-linkingto accomplish harvesting and back-linking

Slide:Slide:1919

Opportunities for Opportunities for engagementengagement UK open source initiatives? UK open source initiatives?

– Not recommended in LMS reportNot recommended in LMS report UK can provide input and influence to UK can provide input and influence to

the open source developments in the open source developments in North America while it evaluates its North America while it evaluates its applicability.applicability.

Help the open source LMS movement Help the open source LMS movement mature to a more responsible level.mature to a more responsible level.

Focus on other aspects of “openness”Focus on other aspects of “openness”

Slide:Slide:2020

Involvement with Involvement with Commercial open source Commercial open source companies?companies? LMS Report advises against LMS Report advises against

changing systems nowchanging systems now Current open source LMS not Current open source LMS not

functionally transformative functionally transformative Model for enhancement involve Model for enhancement involve

“sponsorship” of development “sponsorship” of development taskstasks

Slide:Slide:2121

UK representation in UK representation in OLE?OLE? We want to find a way for any interested We want to find a way for any interested

party to participate in some capacityparty to participate in some capacity– Three meetings will be held as Web castsThree meetings will be held as Web casts– An open listserv will be established once the An open listserv will be established once the

project is officially underwayproject is officially underway– Possible regional meetings hosted at core libraries Possible regional meetings hosted at core libraries

which will be open for individuals to attend at their which will be open for individuals to attend at their own expenseown expense

Some seats held open in the official project Some seats held open in the official project workshops. Possible invitations to others workshops. Possible invitations to others beyond the original participants that want to beyond the original participants that want to contribute in a significant waycontribute in a significant way

Slide:Slide:2222

Service-oriented Service-oriented architecturearchitecture Engage in efforts to capture Engage in efforts to capture

library workflows in terms of SOA library workflows in terms of SOA conceptsconcepts

Prompt vendors to deepen Prompt vendors to deepen adoption of SOAadoption of SOA

Focus any efforts involving open Focus any efforts involving open source development on SOA source development on SOA components.components.

Slide:Slide:2323

Questions and Questions and CommentsComments

Marshall BreedingMarshall BreedingVanderbilt UniversityVanderbilt University

[email protected]@vanderbilt.edu

http://www.librarytechnology.orghttp://www.librarytechnology.org