Library Services Platforms: The state of the art Marshall Breeding Independent Consultant, Author, Founder and Publisher, Library Technology Guides http://www.librarytechnology.org/ http://twitter.com/mbreeding October 24, 2017 Internet Librarian 2017

Description Breeding coined the term “Library Services Platforms” to describe the new genre of products for the management of library collections and operations which differs substantially from the long-standing category of integrated library systems. This session includes an updated view of the characteristics of library services platforms, how they differ from ILS, as well as status of the current products and projects. Those that follow a hybrid model or which partially incorporate the characteristics are also discussed. Breeding shares his insights as to whether library services platforms have lived up to their promises.

Library Systems Trends

Integrated Library Systems Longstanding model of library automation Emerged during the era when libraries were dominated by print materials Modular organization persistent across vendors and products: Cataloging – Circulation – Acquisitions – Serials Management – Catalog Bibliographic + Transactional databases

Evolution of the ILS Persistent through multiple cycles of technology: Mainframe – Terminal Client/Server with graphical interfaces Client/Server with Web interfaces Functionality continually evolves Well established for print resource management

Scope of management ILS: Print + ebooks ERM (electronic resource management) subscriptions to e-resources and open access content Link Resolver: Knowledgebase + OpenURL link server Digital asset management: digital images, video, sound Archival Management System: archives + Special Collections Discovery Interface: provide access to multiple content repositories Discovery Index: article-level index for scholarly literature

Legacy: Fragmented Environment Integrated Library System for management of (mostly) print Duplicative financial systems between library and university Electronic Resource Management E-Resource knowledge base and Link Resolver A-Z e-journal lists and other finding aids Interlibrary loan (borrowing and lending) Digital Collections Management platforms (CONTENTdm, DigiTool, etc.) Separate systems for archival materials and special collections Discovery-layer services for broader access to library collections No effective integration services / interoperability among disconnected systems, non-aligned metadata schemes

Fresh Start: Opportunity to create a new model of resource management and discovery for libraries Not follow the prevailing models for organizing functionality Initial scope: Electronic + Print resource management

Launch of a new genre of products Ex Libris: Alma Universal Resource Management OCLC WorldShare Management Services Web-scale management Services ProQuest Intota Kuali OLE Open library environment

Current Products In production In development Ex Libris: Alma OCLC: WorldShare Management Services Axiell: Quria (as of Oct 2017) In development FOLIO

What counts? Meant as a descriptive term to describe a new set of products Not a value judgement The integrated library system continues as a viable model of library automation Over time these genres could converge

Library Services Platforms “This new generation of products - more appropriately called something like library services platforms rather than integrated library systems - addresses the fundamental changes that libraries have experienced over the course of the last decade or so toward more engagement with electronic and digital content. In their own distinctive ways, these recently announced or delivered systems aim to break free of the models of automation centered mostly on print materials deeply embodied by the incumbent line of integrated library systems.” Breeding, Marshall. (2011). A Cloudy Forecast for Libraries. Computers in Libraries 31 (7), 32-35.

Library Services Platform Library-specific software. Technical infrastructure to help libraries automate their internal operations, manage collections, fulfillment requests, and deliver services Services Services-oriented architecture Exposes Web services and other API’s Facilitates the services libraries offer to their users Platform General infrastructure for library automation Consistent with the concept of Platform as a Service Library programmers address the APIs of the platform to extend functionality, create connections with other systems, dynamically interact with data

Library Services Platforms New genre of resource management Workflows unified across electronic, print, and digital formats Flexible metadata management: MARC, Dublin Core, BIBFRAME, etc Deployed via web-native multi-tenant platform Built-in analytics and decision support

Library Services Platforms – Functional Manages electronic and print formats of materials Replaces multiple incumbent products Extensive Metadata Management Multiple procurement workflows Knowledgebases Built-in collection analytics Decision support for collection development

Platform characteristics Technical infrastructure to support complex business applications Delivers common services: data stores, messaging, events, workflow engine Agnostic relative to structure of higher-level applications Common UI framework Designed for multitenancy

Software as a Service Multi Tennant SaaS is the modern approach One copy of the code base serves multiple sites Software functionality delivered entirely through Web interfaces No workstation clients Upgrades and fixes deployed universally Usually in small increments

Data as a service SaaS provides opportunity for highly shared data models WorldCat: one globally shared copy that serves all libraries Primo Central: central index of articles maintained by Ex Libris shared by all libraries implementing Primo / Primo Central KnowledgeWorks database of e-journal holdings shared among all customers of Serials Solutions products General opportunity to move away from library-by-library metadata management to globally shared workflows

Resource Management Models Category Integrated Library System Progressive integrated library System Library Services Platform Resources managed Physical Print, electronic Electronic, Physical Technology platform Server-based Multi-tenant SaaS Knowledgebases None e-holdings, bibliographic Patron interfaces Browser-based Staff interfaces Graphical Desktop (Java Swing, Windows, Mac OS) Procurement models Purchase Purchase, license license Hosting option Local install, ASP SaaS Only Interoperability Batch transfer, proprietary API Batch transfer, RESTful APIs, APIs (mostly RESTful) Products SirsiDynix Symphony, Millennium, Polaris Sierra, SirsiDynix Symphony/BLUEcloud, Polaris, Apollo WorldShare Management Services, Alma, FOLIO Development strategy Brownfield Greenfield

Product Development Timeline https://librarytechnology.org/chron/libraryservicesplatforms.pl/

LSP Sales + Installations Library Services Platforms Total Contracts Install Product Company 2016 2015 2014 Alma Ex Libris 132 88 43 829 WorldShare Management Services OCLC 83 68 79 440

Weighted annual sales reports Alma: https://librarytechnology.org//guides/ils-annual-sales- report.pl?Product=Alma&Year=2016 OCLC WorldShare Management Services https://librarytechnology.org//guides/ils-annual-sales- report.pl?Product=WorldShare%20Management%20Services&Year=2 016

Ex Libris Alma Strategic resource management platform from Ex Libris Adopted primarily by academic and research libraries, national libraries, consortia, networks Global multitenant platform deployed across multiple global data centers

ProQuest acquires Ex Libris December 2015 “Ex Libris, A ProQuest Company” Ex Libris becomes the primary technology business unit for ProQuest Matti Shem Tov subsequently named as President and CEO of ProQuest Product portfolio = Ex Libris + ProQuest Workflow Solutions

Ex Libris Product suite ProQuest Workflow Solutions Alma Primo SFX Alma Analytics Leganto Voyager Aleph CampusM Rosetta Intota v.2 Summon 360 Link 360 Resource Manager Intota Assessment SIPX Commitment to existing development and support timelines for all products used by libraries as production systems

ProQuest – EBSCO dynamic EBSCO Information Service Content: ProQuest platform Ex Libris + PQ product suite Alma Primo, Summon Strategy of platform bundling: Alma + Primo EBSCOhost EBSCO Discovery Service Strategy of Integrating discovery into all other platforms Open Source Strategy: FOLIO Koha

Elsevier recent acquisitions Bepress: institutional repository (Aug 2017) Mendeley: research collaboration platform (April 2013) Pure: research information management system (Aug 2012) Social Science Research Network (May 2016) NewsFlo: track news coverage of scientific research (Jan 2015) Plum Analytics: measure impact of research (Feb 2017)

Ex Libris Knowledgebase and Index Strategy Interfaces and applications will remain, with internal content components consolidated Summon index will be extended with unique content from Primo Central New consolidated index will power both Summon and Primo ProQuest knowledge base will be extended with unique content from SFX / Alma knowledgebase New knowledge base will power Alma, SFX, 360 Link, etc

Alma discovery strategy Primo bundled with Alma by default Tight integration, shared knowledgebases Summon now offered as a supported patron interface Active support for open source discovery: Blacklight, VuFind Other options possible via APIs

Ex Libris Dominating Academic Library Tech Alma receiving strong reception Large Academic libraries Multi-campus Systems Consortia Proven ability to support collaboration among institutions through shared infrastructure

Academic Shared Infrastructure Projects selecting Alma Orbis Cascade Alliance (37 libraries) WHELF: Academic libraries in Wales BIBSYS: 89 National, Academic, Special libraries in Norway California State University (23 campuses) University of Georgia system: all public universities Detroit Area Library Network Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges Österreichische Bibliothekenverbund und Service Gesellschaft in Austria

Alma Migration Report

Alma Implementations by Type

Alma Implementations by Size

ALMA Perceptions scores

Ex Libris moving beyond Alma Alma continues to evolve in functionality, but now considered by Ex Libris a stable and robust system Leverage the platform to address other pressing needs of academic institutions, even beyond the library Leganto: integration of library resources into learning management systems SIPX: Management of course materials and copyright management Management of research data campusM platform: mobile-friendly content management platform for academic institutions

OCLC WorldShare Management Services Strategic resource management platform developed by OCLC Other apps built on the WorldShare Platform: WorldShare License Manager WorldShare Interlibrary Loan Tipasa ILL management system (replaces ILLiad)

WMS Adoption 440 implementations reported as of the end of 2016 In the United States, the majority are mid-sized academic libraries Includes 3 members of the Association of Research Libraries Many larger libraries in Europe National Libraries: Library and Archives Canada

WMS Migration Report

WMS Implementations by Type

WMS Implementations by Size

WMS Perceptions scores

FOLIO Open source library services platform Designed for multitenancy Microservices architecture Designed for multiple deployments In development

EBSCO Supports new Open Source Project FOLIO the Future of the Library is Open https://www.folio.org/ A community collaboration to develop an open source Library Services Platform designed for innovation. American Libraries feature: https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2016/04/22/ ebsco-kuali-open-source-project/

Possible motivating factors Initially oriented to academic libraries Academic libraries interested in Library Services Platform Narrow options (Ex Libris Alma, OCLC WorldShare Management Services) Unbundle Discovery from Resource Management Choice for patron-facing services Alternative functional approach based on apps and modules

Technology Microservices architecture Modular Enables choice for discovery Pluggable modules Not monolithic

General Technology Trends

Fundamental technology shift Mainframe computing Client/Server Cloud Computing http://www.flickr.com/photos/carrick/61952845/ http://soacloudcomputing.blogspot.com/2008/10/cloud-computing.html http://www.javaworld.com/javaworld/jw-10-2001/jw-1019-jxta.html

Software Development Styles Monolithic Applications Codebase of application deployed as a single bundle of executables and libraries on a unified platform Microservices Architecture Multiple independent software components orchestrated to form a unified application Common infrastructure: User interface toolkit API Gateway Persistence layer

} Monolithic Application: Enterprise SOA Model Scripts/ Third Party Systems User Interfaces API endpoints Web service Presentation Layer Application software Business Logic } Reusable Composable Services Enterprise Service Bus Database Engine Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table

Microservice conceptual model Data Store Request Response REST / HTTPS Web service Run time libraries Application software Service components

Microservices-based Application Scripts/ Third Party Systems User Interfaces API endpoints Presentation Layer / UI Toolkit API Gateway Microservice Data Store Web service Run time libraries Application software Service components Microservice Data Store Web service Run time libraries Application software Service components Microservice Data Store Web service Run time libraries Application software Service components Microservice Data Store Web service Run time libraries Application software Service components Microservice Data Store Web service Run time libraries Application software Service components Microservice Data Store Web service Run time libraries Application software Service components Microservice Data Store Web service Run time libraries Application software Service components Microservice Data Store Web service Run time libraries Application software Service components Microservice Data Store Web service Run time libraries Application software Service components Microservice Data Store Web service Run time libraries Application software Service components Persistence / System Layer

Open Systems Achieving openness has risen as the key driver behind library technology strategies Libraries need to do more with their data Ability to improve customer experience and operational efficiencies Demand for Interoperability Open source – full access to internal program of the application Open API’s – expose programmatic interfaces to data and functionality

FOLIO Platform

Organization Independent foundation Financial support from EBSCO http://www.openlibraryfoundation.org/ Financial support from EBSCO Index Data contracted for Initial development Community support from Open Library Environment (formerly Kuali OLE) Synergy with Global Open Knowledgebase (GOKb)

EBSCO Involvement Not owned by EBSCO EBSCO provides financial and in-kind resources Governed through independent non-profit Participation by Kuali OLE Engage with developers from libraries, consortia, and commercial entities EBSCO will provide hosting services Based on modules and pluggable apps

Timeline Aug 2016: Release of base platform to developers 2017-2018: Initial versions available for early adopters Implementable tools and modules will be available prior to a comprehensive system

Quria Open source library services platform for public libraries Fresh start for development of technology infrastructure for public libraries Digital first design Program and event management Customer service module Built-in analytics Now in production at the Drammen Public Library in Norway See: Breeding, Marshall. (2016). Axiell Launches Quria: New Library Services Platform for Public Libraries. Smart Libraries Newsletter 36 (7), 3-6.

Hybrid products

SirsiDynix BLUEcloud New set of web-based modules deployed on a multitenant platform Continues to rely on Symphony or Horizon ILS for data management and core business logic

Innovative Sierra Technology uplift for Millennium Open source database (PostgreSQL) New Java-based graphical interface Service layers consumed by internal and external interfaces Phased release of APIs for access to data and functionality Retains the basic modular structure of Millennium Each instance operates on its own hardware configuration Not multitenant

The current state of the art Two well-established products Two new projects in development Transition to new technology infrastructure important strategically, difficult operationally Initial focus on academic libraries spreading to Public libraries Evolution of ILS products to more resemble Library Services Platforms

Questions and discussion