Working toward a new model of library automation: Opportunities to break free from the traditional mould Marshall Breeding Director for Innovative Technologies.

Working toward a new Working toward a new model of library model of library automation: automation:

Opportunities to break Opportunities to break free from the traditional free from the traditional

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

AbstractAbstract

Libraries today find themselves facing many challenges in the Libraries today find themselves facing many challenges in the way that they deliver content and services to their users. way that they deliver content and services to their users. Relative to the pace of change on the Web, the automation Relative to the pace of change on the Web, the automation products available to libraries have evolved rather slowly. products available to libraries have evolved rather slowly. Much more rapid change is in order. Breeding will review the Much more rapid change is in order. Breeding will review the current state of the library automation arena and suggest current state of the library automation arena and suggest some of the possible strategies for achieving a new some of the possible strategies for achieving a new generation of library automation products more in tune with generation of library automation products more in tune with current and future challenges. These strategies include a current and future challenges. These strategies include a reworking the basic models of library automation systems, reworking the basic models of library automation systems, working toward more open systems, and engendering more working toward more open systems, and engendering more effective partnerships with vendors. We're already seeing effective partnerships with vendors. We're already seeing incredible progress on the front of next-generation catalogs. incredible progress on the front of next-generation catalogs. The presentation will include analysis of the current state of The presentation will include analysis of the current state of the library automation industry, a review of the technologies the library automation industry, a review of the technologies that show promise for supporting next-generation libraries, that show promise for supporting next-generation libraries, and perspective on the recent open source LMS alternatives. and perspective on the recent open source LMS alternatives.

The Current MoldThe Current Mold

Technology LandscapeTechnology Landscape

• Most ILS products from commercial Most ILS products from commercial vendors maturevendors mature– None less than a decade oldNone less than a decade old– Approaching end of life cycle?Approaching end of life cycle?

• Evolved systemsEvolved systems

• No success in launching new systems in No success in launching new systems in the commercial spherethe commercial sphere– Horizon 8.0Horizon 8.0– TaosTaos

Current VintageCurrent Vintage

• ALEPH 500ALEPH 500 19961996• Voyager Voyager 19951995• UnicornUnicorn 19821982• PolarisPolaris 19971997• VirtuaVirtua 19951995• KohaKoha 19991999• Library.SolutionLibrary.Solution 19971997• EvergreenEvergreen 20042004• TalisTalis 19921992

Business LandscapeBusiness Landscape• Library Journal Automated System Marketplace:Library Journal Automated System Marketplace:

– An Industry redefined (April 1, 2007)An Industry redefined (April 1, 2007)

• An increasingly consolidated industryAn increasingly consolidated industry• Moving out of a previous phase of fragmentation where Moving out of a previous phase of fragmentation where

many companies expend energies producing decreasingly many companies expend energies producing decreasingly differentiated systems in a limited marketplacedifferentiated systems in a limited marketplace

• VC and Private Equity playing a stronger role then ever VC and Private Equity playing a stronger role then ever beforebefore

• Narrowing of product options Narrowing of product options • Increasing dissatisfaction with purely commercial, closed Increasing dissatisfaction with purely commercial, closed

source optionssource options• Open Source opportunities rise to challenge the grip of Open Source opportunities rise to challenge the grip of

traditional commercial modeltraditional commercial model

Other Business Other Business ObservationsObservations• Level of innovation falls below expectations, Level of innovation falls below expectations,

despite deep resources and large development despite deep resources and large development teams.teams.

• Companies struggle to keep up with ILS Companies struggle to keep up with ILS enhancements and R&D for new innovations.enhancements and R&D for new innovations.

• Pressure within companies to reduce costs, Pressure within companies to reduce costs, increase revenue increase revenue

• Pressure from libraries for more innovative Pressure from libraries for more innovative productsproducts

• Some companies investing in technology; Some companies investing in technology; expanding marketsexpanding markets

ILS Migration TrendsILS Migration Trends

• Can’t expect rapid changes through a Can’t expect rapid changes through a new generation of ILSnew generation of ILS

• Few voluntary lateral migrationsFew voluntary lateral migrations

• Forced MigrationsForced Migrations– Vendor abandonmentVendor abandonment– Need to move from legacy systemsNeed to move from legacy systems– Exit from bad marriages with vendorsExit from bad marriages with vendors– Exit from bad marriages with consortiaExit from bad marriages with consortia

Role of the ILS in Library Role of the ILS in Library Automation StrategiesAutomation Strategies• It’s never been harder to justify It’s never been harder to justify

investments in ILSinvestments in ILS

• Need for products focused on Need for products focused on electronic content and user experienceelectronic content and user experience– Next-gen interfacesNext-gen interfaces– Federated searchFederated search– LinkingLinking– Electronic Resource ManagementElectronic Resource Management

A new direction in library A new direction in library automationautomation

• A successful pitch for new A successful pitch for new automation software is one that automation software is one that enables significant transformation enables significant transformation toward current visions of the library.toward current visions of the library.

•Can’t keep doing the same thing Can’t keep doing the same thing in the same wayin the same way

An age of less integrated An age of less integrated systemssystems

• Increasingly dis-integrated Increasingly dis-integrated environmentenvironment

• Core ILS supplemented by:Core ILS supplemented by:– OpenURL Link ResolversOpenURL Link Resolvers– Metasearch / Federated SearchMetasearch / Federated Search– Electronic Resource ManagementElectronic Resource Management– Next Generation Library InterfacesNext Generation Library Interfaces

No longer an ILS-centric No longer an ILS-centric industryindustry• Portion of revenues derived from core ILS Portion of revenues derived from core ILS

products diminishing relative to other library products diminishing relative to other library tech productstech products

• Many companies and organizations that don’t Many companies and organizations that don’t offer an ILS are involved in library automation:offer an ILS are involved in library automation:– OCLCOCLC– Cambridge Information Group / BowkerCambridge Information Group / Bowker

•Serials Solutions – Syndetic Solutions – AquaBrowser, etcSerials Solutions – Syndetic Solutions – AquaBrowser, etc

– WebFeatWebFeat– Muse GlobalMuse Global

Open Source AlternativesOpen Source Alternatives

• Explosive interest in Open Source driven by Explosive interest in Open Source driven by disillusionment with current vendorsdisillusionment with current vendors

• Beginning to emerge as a practical optionBeginning to emerge as a practical option

• TOC (Total Cost of Ownership) still roughly TOC (Total Cost of Ownership) still roughly equal to proprietary commercial modelequal to proprietary commercial model

• Open Source still a risky AlternativeOpen Source still a risky Alternative

• Commercial/Proprietary options also a riskCommercial/Proprietary options also a risk

Open Source InitiativesOpen Source Initiatives

• Multiple projects to develop Open Source ILSMultiple projects to develop Open Source ILS– Koha ZoomKoha Zoom– EvergreenEvergreen– OPALS-NA (K-12 Schools)OPALS-NA (K-12 Schools)– Delft Libraries Delft Libraries

• Multiple projects to develop Open Source Multiple projects to develop Open Source Next-gen CatalogsNext-gen Catalogs– VU Find (Villanova University)VU Find (Villanova University)– C4 prototype (University of Rochester River C4 prototype (University of Rochester River

Campus Libraries)Campus Libraries)

Market share / PerspectiveMarket share / Perspective

• Open Source ILS implementations still a very Open Source ILS implementations still a very small percentage of the total picturesmall percentage of the total picture

• Initial set of successful implementations will Initial set of successful implementations will likely serve as a catalyst to pave the way for likely serve as a catalyst to pave the way for othersothers

• Successful implementations in wider range of Successful implementations in wider range of libraries:libraries:– State-wide consortium (Evergreen)State-wide consortium (Evergreen)– Multi-site public library systems (Koha)Multi-site public library systems (Koha)– School district consortia (OPALS-NA)School district consortia (OPALS-NA)

Open Source CompaniesOpen Source Companies

• Index DataIndex Data– Founded 1994; No ILS; A variety of other open source Founded 1994; No ILS; A variety of other open source

products to support libraries: search engines, federated products to support libraries: search engines, federated search, Z39.50 toolkit, etcsearch, Z39.50 toolkit, etc

• LibLimeLibLime– Founded 2005. Provides development and support services Founded 2005. Provides development and support services

for Koha ILS. Acquired original developers of Koha in Feb for Koha ILS. Acquired original developers of Koha in Feb 2007.2007.

• Equinox. Equinox. – Founded Feb 2007; staff formerly associated with GPLS Founded Feb 2007; staff formerly associated with GPLS

Pines development teamPines development team

• Care AffiliatesCare Affiliates– Founded June 2007; headed by industry veteran Carl Grant.Founded June 2007; headed by industry veteran Carl Grant.

Impact of Open SourceImpact of Open Source

• Formidable competition to Formidable competition to commercial closed-source productscommercial closed-source products

• Pressure to increase innovationPressure to increase innovation

• Pressure to decrease costsPressure to decrease costs

• Pressure to make commercial Pressure to make commercial systems more opensystems more open

• Disrupts the status quoDisrupts the status quo

Open source ILS Open source ILS BenchmarksBenchmarks• Most decisions to adopt Open Source ILS based on Most decisions to adopt Open Source ILS based on

philosophical reasonsphilosophical reasons• Open Source ILS will enter the main stream once its Open Source ILS will enter the main stream once its

products begin to win through objective procurement products begin to win through objective procurement processesprocesses– Hold open source ILS to the same standards as the Hold open source ILS to the same standards as the

commercial productscommercial products– Hold the open source ILS companies to the same standards:Hold the open source ILS companies to the same standards:

• Adequate customer support ratios, financial stability, service Adequate customer support ratios, financial stability, service level agreements, etc.level agreements, etc.

• Well-document total cost of ownership statements Well-document total cost of ownership statements that can be compared to other vendor price quotesthat can be compared to other vendor price quotes

• Do the Open Source ILS products offer a new vision?Do the Open Source ILS products offer a new vision?

Working toward a new ILS Working toward a new ILS VisionVision

• How libraries work has changed dramatically How libraries work has changed dramatically over the last 20 years.over the last 20 years.

• ILS built largely on workflows cast more than 25 ILS built largely on workflows cast more than 25 years agoyears ago

• Based on assumptions that have long since Based on assumptions that have long since changedchanged

• Digital resources represent at least half of most Digital resources represent at least half of most academic libraries collection budgetsacademic libraries collection budgets

• The automation needs of libraries today is The automation needs of libraries today is broader than that provided by the legacy ILSbroader than that provided by the legacy ILS

Libraries ready for a new Libraries ready for a new coursecourse

• Level of dissatisfaction with the current slate of Level of dissatisfaction with the current slate of ILS products is very high.ILS products is very high.

• Large monolithic systems are unwieldy—very Large monolithic systems are unwieldy—very complex to install, administer and maintain.complex to install, administer and maintain.

• Continue to be large gaps in functionalityContinue to be large gaps in functionality– Interlibrary loanInterlibrary loan– Collection developmentCollection development– Preservation: print / digitalPreservation: print / digital– Book bindingBook binding– Remote storage operationsRemote storage operations

Less Proprietary / More OpenLess Proprietary / More Open

• Libraries demand more opennessLibraries demand more openness• Open source movement greatest challenge Open source movement greatest challenge

to current slate of commercial ILS productsto current slate of commercial ILS products• Demand for open access to dataDemand for open access to data

– API’s essentialAPI’s essential– Beyond proprietary APIsBeyond proprietary APIs– Ideal: Industry-standard set of API’s Ideal: Industry-standard set of API’s

implemented by all systemsimplemented by all systems– Current NISO effort to define API for an ILS for Current NISO effort to define API for an ILS for

decoupled catalogsdecoupled catalogs

Open but Commercial?Open but Commercial?

• As library values evolve toward open As library values evolve toward open solutions, commercial companies will see solutions, commercial companies will see increasing advantages in adopting more increasing advantages in adopting more open strategiesopen strategies

• Open DataOpen Data– Well documented database schemasWell documented database schemas– APIs for access to all system functionalityAPIs for access to all system functionality

• More customizability; better integrationMore customizability; better integration• Open Source Software?Open Source Software?• Key differentiation lies in service and supportKey differentiation lies in service and support

Comprehensive automationComprehensive automation

• Need the ability to automation all aspects Need the ability to automation all aspects of library workof library work

• Suite of interoperable modulesSuite of interoperable modules

• Single point of management for each Single point of management for each category of informationcategory of information

• Not necessarily through a single Not necessarily through a single monolithic systemmonolithic system

More lightweight approachMore lightweight approach

• More elegant and efficientMore elegant and efficient

• Easier to install and administerEasier to install and administer

• Automation systems that can be operated Automation systems that can be operated with fewer number of technical staffwith fewer number of technical staff

Redefining the bordersRedefining the borders

• Many artificial distinctions prevail in the legacy Many artificial distinctions prevail in the legacy ILS modelILS model

• Online catalog / library portal / institutional portalOnline catalog / library portal / institutional portal• Circulation / ILL / Direct consortial borrowing / Circulation / ILL / Direct consortial borrowing /

remote storageremote storage• Collection Development / Acquisitions / budget Collection Development / Acquisitions / budget

administrationadministration• Library acquisitions / Institutional ERPLibrary acquisitions / Institutional ERP

• Cataloging / Metadata document ingestion for Cataloging / Metadata document ingestion for digital collectionsdigital collections

• Digital / Print workflowsDigital / Print workflows

Separation of front-end from Separation of front-end from back-end back-end

• ILS OPAC not necessarily best library ILS OPAC not necessarily best library interfaceinterface

• Many efforts already underway to offer Many efforts already underway to offer alternativesalternatives

• Too many of the resources that belong in Too many of the resources that belong in the interface are out of the ILS scopethe interface are out of the ILS scope

• Technology cycles faster for front-end than Technology cycles faster for front-end than for back-end processes.for back-end processes.

Service-oriented ArchitectureService-oriented Architecture

• Work toward a service-oriented business Work toward a service-oriented business applicationapplication

• Suite of light-weight applicationsSuite of light-weight applications

• Flexibility to evolve in step with changes in Flexibility to evolve in step with changes in library services and practiceslibrary services and practices

Enterprise interoperabilityEnterprise interoperability

• Interoperate with non-library Interoperate with non-library applicationsapplications

• Course managementCourse management

• Accounting, finance, ERM Accounting, finance, ERM applicationsapplications

• External authentication servicesExternal authentication services

• Other portal implementationsOther portal implementations

Massively consolidated Massively consolidated implementationsimplementations

• State/Province-wide ILS State/Province-wide ILS implementationsimplementations

• Increased reliance on consortiaIncreased reliance on consortia

• Increased Software as a Service / ASP Increased Software as a Service / ASP options hosted by vendorsoptions hosted by vendors

• Radical simplification of library Radical simplification of library policies affecting services offered to policies affecting services offered to patronspatrons

Fitting into the Global Fitting into the Global EnterpriseEnterprise• Leverage capabilities of search engines: Leverage capabilities of search engines:

– Google, Google Scholar, Microsoft Live, Ask, Google, Google Scholar, Microsoft Live, Ask, etcetc

• OCLC WorldCatOCLC WorldCat

• Sort out the relationships between the Sort out the relationships between the global enterprise and local systemsglobal enterprise and local systems

• Leverage the content in enterprise Leverage the content in enterprise discovery systems to drive users toward discovery systems to drive users toward library resourceslibrary resources

Revise assumptions regarding Revise assumptions regarding MetadataMetadata• Reliance on MARC widely questionedReliance on MARC widely questioned• XML widely deployedXML widely deployed• The next-gen ILS must natively support many The next-gen ILS must natively support many

flavors of metadata: MARC, Dublin Core, Onix, flavors of metadata: MARC, Dublin Core, Onix, METS, etcMETS, etc

• Library of Congress Subject Headings vs FASTLibrary of Congress Subject Headings vs FAST• Approaching a post-metadata where discovery Approaching a post-metadata where discovery

systems operate on actual digital objects systems operate on actual digital objects themselves, not metadata about themthemselves, not metadata about them– High-quality metadata will always improve discoveryHigh-quality metadata will always improve discovery

• Incorporate content from mass digitization effortsIncorporate content from mass digitization efforts• Increasing proportions of rich media content: Increasing proportions of rich media content:

audio, videoaudio, video

Competing in an crowded field Competing in an crowded field of information providersof information providers

• Commercial Web destinations increasingly Commercial Web destinations increasingly overlap with services offered by librariesoverlap with services offered by libraries

• Expectations of users set by their Expectations of users set by their experiences with commercial destinationsexperiences with commercial destinations

• Web-based library services need to be on Web-based library services need to be on the same levelthe same level

• Pressure to revamp library interfaces, Pressure to revamp library interfaces, discovery, and delivery toolsdiscovery, and delivery tools

New models of Software New models of Software DevelopmentDevelopment

• Role of commercial partners Role of commercial partners – Break out of marketing / consumer modelBreak out of marketing / consumer model– Substantial dialog that shapes the Substantial dialog that shapes the

direction of product developmentdirection of product development

• Increased partnershipsIncreased partnerships

• Accelerated development cyclesAccelerated development cycles

• Cost-effective / realistic cost Cost-effective / realistic cost expectationsexpectations

Evolution vs RevolutionEvolution vs Revolution

• What we have today is a result of 35 years What we have today is a result of 35 years of evolutionof evolution

• Is it possible to break free of the constraints Is it possible to break free of the constraints of these evolved systems toward a new of these evolved systems toward a new generation that will offer a fresh approach?generation that will offer a fresh approach?

• Are libraries now willing to let go of the of Are libraries now willing to let go of the of ILS legacy of times past and move forward ILS legacy of times past and move forward with library automation cast in a new with library automation cast in a new mould.mould.

A unique opportunityA unique opportunity

• Web 2.0 has invigorated libraries toward Web 2.0 has invigorated libraries toward more open and collaborative strategiesmore open and collaborative strategies

• Service Oriented Architecture provides a Service Oriented Architecture provides a platform for assembling library systems more platform for assembling library systems more in tune with the needs of today’s librariesin tune with the needs of today’s libraries

• Intense interest by both libraries and vendors Intense interest by both libraries and vendors to catch up and move forward in delivering to catch up and move forward in delivering library interfaces that work better for today’s library interfaces that work better for today’s Web-savvy usersWeb-savvy users

Questions / CommentsQuestions / Comments