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

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

The Current Mold

Technology Landscape Most ILS products from commercial vendors mature Most ILS products from commercial vendors mature –None less than a decade old –Approaching end of life cycle? Evolved systems Evolved systems No success in launching new systems in the commercial sphere No success in launching new systems in the commercial sphere –Horizon 8.0 –Taos

Current Vintage ALEPH ALEPH Voyager 1995 Voyager 1995 Unicorn1982 Unicorn1982 Polaris1997 Polaris1997 Virtua1995 Virtua1995 Koha1999 Koha1999 Library.Solution1997 Library.Solution1997 Evergreen2004 Evergreen2004 Talis1992 Talis1992

Business Landscape Library Journal Automated System Marketplace: Library Journal Automated System Marketplace: –An Industry redefined (April 1, 2007) An increasingly consolidated industry An increasingly consolidated industry Moving out of a previous phase of fragmentation where many companies expend energies producing decreasingly differentiated systems in a limited marketplace Moving out of a previous phase of fragmentation where many companies expend energies producing decreasingly differentiated systems in a limited marketplace VC and Private Equity playing a stronger role then ever before VC and Private Equity playing a stronger role then ever before Narrowing of product options Narrowing of product options Increasing dissatisfaction with purely commercial, closed source options Increasing dissatisfaction with purely commercial, closed source options Open Source opportunities rise to challenge the grip of traditional commercial model Open Source opportunities rise to challenge the grip of traditional commercial model

Other Business Observations Level of innovation falls below expectations, despite deep resources and large development teams. Level of innovation falls below expectations, despite deep resources and large development teams. Companies struggle to keep up with ILS enhancements and R&D for new innovations. Companies struggle to keep up with ILS enhancements and R&D for new innovations. Pressure within companies to reduce costs, increase revenue Pressure within companies to reduce costs, increase revenue Pressure from libraries for more innovative products Pressure from libraries for more innovative products Some companies investing in technology; expanding markets Some companies investing in technology; expanding markets

ILS Migration Trends Can’t expect rapid changes through a new generation of ILS Can’t expect rapid changes through a new generation of ILS Few voluntary lateral migrations Few voluntary lateral migrations Forced Migrations Forced Migrations –Vendor abandonment –Need to move from legacy systems –Exit from bad marriages with vendors –Exit from bad marriages with consortia

Role of the ILS in Library Automation Strategies It’s never been harder to justify investments in ILS It’s never been harder to justify investments in ILS Need for products focused on electronic content and user experience Need for products focused on electronic content and user experience –Next-gen interfaces –Federated search –Linking –Electronic Resource Management

A new direction in library automation A successful pitch for new automation software is one that enables significant transformation toward current visions of the library. A successful pitch for new automation software is one that enables significant transformation toward current visions of the library. Can’t keep doing the same thing in the same way Can’t keep doing the same thing in the same way

An age of less integrated systems Increasingly dis-integrated environment Increasingly dis-integrated environment Core ILS supplemented by: Core ILS supplemented by: –OpenURL Link Resolvers –Metasearch / Federated Search –Electronic Resource Management –Next Generation Library Interfaces

No longer an ILS-centric industry Portion of revenues derived from core ILS products diminishing relative to other library tech products Portion of revenues derived from core ILS products diminishing relative to other library tech products Many companies and organizations that don’t offer an ILS are involved in library automation: Many companies and organizations that don’t offer an ILS are involved in library automation: –OCLC –Cambridge Information Group / Bowker Serials Solutions – Syndetic Solutions – AquaBrowser, etc Serials Solutions – Syndetic Solutions – AquaBrowser, etc –WebFeat –Muse Global

Open Source Alternatives Explosive interest in Open Source driven by disillusionment with current vendors Explosive interest in Open Source driven by disillusionment with current vendors Beginning to emerge as a practical option Beginning to emerge as a practical option TOC (Total Cost of Ownership) still roughly equal to proprietary commercial model TOC (Total Cost of Ownership) still roughly equal to proprietary commercial model Open Source still a risky Alternative Open Source still a risky Alternative Commercial/Proprietary options also a risk Commercial/Proprietary options also a risk

Open Source Initiatives Multiple projects to develop Open Source ILS Multiple projects to develop Open Source ILS –Koha Zoom –Evergreen –OPALS-NA (K-12 Schools) –Delft Libraries Multiple projects to develop Open Source Next- gen Catalogs Multiple projects to develop Open Source Next- gen Catalogs –VU Find (Villanova University) –C4 prototype (University of Rochester River Campus Libraries)

Market share / Perspective Open Source ILS implementations still a very small percentage of the total picture Open Source ILS implementations still a very small percentage of the total picture Initial set of successful implementations will likely serve as a catalyst to pave the way for others Initial set of successful implementations will likely serve as a catalyst to pave the way for others Successful implementations in wider range of libraries: Successful implementations in wider range of libraries: –State-wide consortium (Evergreen) –Multi-site public library systems (Koha) –School district consortia (OPALS-NA)

Open Source Companies Index Data Index Data –Founded 1994; No ILS; A variety of other open source products to support libraries: search engines, federated search, Z39.50 toolkit, etc LibLime LibLime –Founded Provides development and support services for Koha ILS. Acquired original developers of Koha in Feb Equinox. Equinox. –Founded Feb 2007; staff formerly associated with GPLS Pines development team Care Affiliates Care Affiliates –Founded June 2007; headed by industry veteran Carl Grant.

Impact of Open Source Formidable competition to commercial closed-source products Formidable competition to commercial closed-source products Pressure to increase innovation Pressure to increase innovation Pressure to decrease costs Pressure to decrease costs Pressure to make commercial systems more open Pressure to make commercial systems more open Disrupts the status quo Disrupts the status quo

Open source ILS Benchmarks Most decisions to adopt Open Source ILS based on philosophical reasons Most decisions to adopt Open Source ILS based on philosophical reasons Open Source ILS will enter the main stream once its products begin to win through objective procurement processes Open Source ILS will enter the main stream once its products begin to win through objective procurement processes –Hold open source ILS to the same standards as the commercial products –Hold the open source ILS companies to the same standards: Adequate customer support ratios, financial stability, service level agreements, etc. Adequate customer support ratios, financial stability, service level agreements, etc. Well-document total cost of ownership statements that can be compared to other vendor price quotes Well-document total cost of ownership statements that 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 Vision How libraries work has changed dramatically over the last 20 years. How libraries work has changed dramatically over the last 20 years. ILS built largely on workflows cast more than 25 years ago ILS built largely on workflows cast more than 25 years ago Based on assumptions that have long since changed Based on assumptions that have long since changed Digital resources represent at least half of most academic libraries collection budgets Digital resources represent at least half of most academic libraries collection budgets The automation needs of libraries today is broader than that provided by the legacy ILS The automation needs of libraries today is broader than that provided by the legacy ILS

Libraries ready for a new course Level of dissatisfaction with the current slate of ILS products is very high. Level of dissatisfaction with the current slate of ILS products is very high. Large monolithic systems are unwieldy—very complex to install, administer and maintain. Large monolithic systems are unwieldy—very complex to install, administer and maintain. Continue to be large gaps in functionality Continue to be large gaps in functionality –Interlibrary loan –Collection development –Preservation: print / digital –Book binding –Remote storage operations

Less Proprietary / More Open Libraries demand more openness Libraries demand more openness Open source movement greatest challenge to current slate of commercial ILS products Open source movement greatest challenge to current slate of commercial ILS products Demand for open access to data Demand for open access to data –API’s essential –Beyond proprietary APIs –Ideal: Industry-standard set of API’s implemented by all systems –Current NISO effort to define API for an ILS for decoupled catalogs

Open but Commercial? As library values evolve toward open solutions, commercial companies will see increasing advantages in adopting more open strategies As library values evolve toward open solutions, commercial companies will see increasing advantages in adopting more open strategies Open Data Open Data –Well documented database schemas –APIs for access to all system functionality More customizability; better integration More customizability; better integration Open Source Software? Open Source Software? Key differentiation lies in service and support Key differentiation lies in service and support

Comprehensive automation Need the ability to automation all aspects of library work Need the ability to automation all aspects of library work Suite of interoperable modules Suite of interoperable modules Single point of management for each category of information Single point of management for each category of information Not necessarily through a single monolithic system Not necessarily through a single monolithic system

More lightweight approach More elegant and efficient More elegant and efficient Easier to install and administer Easier to install and administer Automation systems that can be operated with fewer number of technical staff Automation systems that can be operated with fewer number of technical staff

Redefining the borders Many artificial distinctions prevail in the legacy ILS model Many artificial distinctions prevail in the legacy ILS model Online catalog / library portal / institutional portal Online catalog / library portal / institutional portal Circulation / ILL / Direct consortial borrowing / remote storage Circulation / ILL / Direct consortial borrowing / remote storage Collection Development / Acquisitions / budget administration Collection Development / Acquisitions / budget administration Library acquisitions / Institutional ERP Library acquisitions / Institutional ERP Cataloging / Metadata document ingestion for digital collections Cataloging / Metadata document ingestion for digital collections Digital / Print workflows Digital / Print workflows

Separation of front-end from back- end ILS OPAC not necessarily best library interface ILS OPAC not necessarily best library interface Many efforts already underway to offer alternatives Many efforts already underway to offer alternatives Too many of the resources that belong in the interface are out of the ILS scope Too many of the resources that belong in the interface are out of the ILS scope Technology cycles faster for front-end than for back-end processes. Technology cycles faster for front-end than for back-end processes.

Service-oriented Architecture Work toward a service-oriented business application Work toward a service-oriented business application Suite of light-weight applications Suite of light-weight applications Flexibility to evolve in step with changes in library services and practices Flexibility to evolve in step with changes in library services and practices

Enterprise interoperability Interoperate with non-library applications Interoperate with non-library applications Course management Course management Accounting, finance, ERM applications Accounting, finance, ERM applications External authentication services External authentication services Other portal implementations Other portal implementations

Massively consolidated implementations State/Province-wide ILS implementations State/Province-wide ILS implementations Increased reliance on consortia Increased reliance on consortia Increased Software as a Service / ASP options hosted by vendors Increased Software as a Service / ASP options hosted by vendors Radical simplification of library policies affecting services offered to patrons Radical simplification of library policies affecting services offered to patrons

Fitting into the Global Enterprise Leverage capabilities of search engines: Leverage capabilities of search engines: –Google, Google Scholar, Microsoft Live, Ask, etc OCLC WorldCat OCLC WorldCat Sort out the relationships between the global enterprise and local systems Sort out the relationships between the global enterprise and local systems Leverage the content in enterprise discovery systems to drive users toward library resources Leverage the content in enterprise discovery systems to drive users toward library resources

Revise assumptions regarding Metadata Reliance on MARC widely questioned Reliance on MARC widely questioned XML widely deployed XML widely deployed The next-gen ILS must natively support many flavors of metadata: MARC, Dublin Core, Onix, METS, etc The next-gen ILS must natively support many flavors of metadata: MARC, Dublin Core, Onix, METS, etc Library of Congress Subject Headings vs FAST Library of Congress Subject Headings vs FAST Approaching a post-metadata where discovery systems operate on actual digital objects themselves, not metadata about them Approaching a post-metadata where discovery systems operate on actual digital objects themselves, not metadata about them –High-quality metadata will always improve discovery Incorporate content from mass digitization efforts Incorporate content from mass digitization efforts Increasing proportions of rich media content: audio, video Increasing proportions of rich media content: audio, video

Competing in an crowded field of information providers Commercial Web destinations increasingly overlap with services offered by libraries Commercial Web destinations increasingly overlap with services offered by libraries Expectations of users set by their experiences with commercial destinations Expectations of users set by their experiences with commercial destinations Web-based library services need to be on the same level Web-based library services need to be on the same level Pressure to revamp library interfaces, discovery, and delivery tools Pressure to revamp library interfaces, discovery, and delivery tools

New models of Software Development Role of commercial partners Role of commercial partners –Break out of marketing / consumer model –Substantial dialog that shapes the direction of product development Increased partnerships Increased partnerships Accelerated development cycles Accelerated development cycles Cost-effective / realistic cost expectations Cost-effective / realistic cost expectations

Evolution vs Revolution What we have today is a result of 35 years of evolution What we have today is a result of 35 years of evolution Is it possible to break free of the constraints of these evolved systems toward a new generation that will offer a fresh approach? Is it possible to break free of the constraints of these evolved systems toward a new generation that will offer a fresh approach? Are libraries now willing to let go of the of ILS legacy of times past and move forward with library automation cast in a new mould. Are libraries now willing to let go of the of ILS legacy of times past and move forward with library automation cast in a new mould.

A unique opportunity Web 2.0 has invigorated libraries toward more open and collaborative strategies Web 2.0 has invigorated libraries toward more open and collaborative strategies Service Oriented Architecture provides a platform for assembling library systems more in tune with the needs of today’s libraries Service Oriented Architecture provides a platform for assembling library systems more in tune with the needs of today’s libraries Intense interest by both libraries and vendors to catch up and move forward in delivering library interfaces that work better for today’s Web- savvy users Intense interest by both libraries and vendors to catch up and move forward in delivering library interfaces that work better for today’s Web- savvy users

Questions / Comments