Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Next Generation Library Automation Its Impact on the Serials Community Marshall Breeding Director for Innovative Technologies and Research Vanderbilt University NASIG Conference June 6, 2008

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Abstract In the upcoming years, we anticipate major changes in the realm of library automation. The upheavals have begun, with many different movements challenging the models of library automation that have prevailed for decades. The monolithic integrated library system continues to diminish in importance as libraries move toward a transition to a loosely coupled suite of applications. While the ILS continues to play a role-though ever smaller-libraries are making investments in a new generation of automation products, especially next generation interfaces more comprehensive in scope and better equipped to handle full-text electronic content. Electronic resource management systems struggle as a genre of automation products designed to handle the specialized task of helping libraries make sense of their explosively growing collections of subscribed electronic content. Sparked by recent industry events, libraries demand openness at a higher level than ever before, expressed through a tsunami of activity in the adoption of open source library automation software and in demands for open access to library data to enable better local control and integration with third party products. Specialists in serials need to be aware of, and provide input into, the emerging visions of library automation.

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Part I. The Upheavals

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Upheavals Industry Consolidation Abrupt termination of major library automation products Increased industry control by external financial investors Demise of the traditional OPAC Frustration with ILS products and vendors Open Source alternatives hit the mainstream Breeding, Marshall: Perceptions 2007 an international survey of library automation. January 2008.

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 ILS Industry in Transition Consolidation through mergers and acquisitions have resulted in a fewer number of players; larger companies Uncomfortable level of product narrowing Increased ownership by external interests Yet: Some companies and products continue on solid ground Breeding, Marshall “Automation system marketplace 2008: Opportunity Out of Turmoil” Library Journal. April 1, 2008.

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Product and Technology Trends Innovation below expectations Conventional ILS less tenable Proliferation of products related to e-content management New genre of discovery-layer interfaces

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Web 2.0 / Collaborative Computing Currently implemented ad hoc Many libraries putting up blogs, wikis, and fostering engagement in social networking sites Proliferation of silos with no integration or interoperability with larger library Web presence Next Gen: Build social and collaborative features into core automation components

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Part II. Open Source ILS Movement

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Demand for Openness Open Source – Alternative to traditionally licensed software Open Systems – Software that doesn’t hold data hostage Open Content – Open access platforms for scholarly content – Institutional Repositories – Bibliographic Services – OpenURL / ERMS Knowledgebases?

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Open Source Software An Emerging Trend in the Global ILS Arena

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Open Source Alternatives Explosive interest in Open Source driven by disillusionment with current vendors Beginning to emerge as a practical option TOC (Total Cost of Ownership) still roughly equal to proprietary commercial model Still a risky strategy for libraries

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 An industry in turmoil Disruptions and business decisions to narrow options have fueled the open source movement Benefit to libraries in having additional options Traditionally licensed and open source ILS alternatives will coexist in the ILS arena

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Open Source ILS enters the mainstream Earlier era of pioneering efforts to ILS shifting into one where open source alternatives fall in the mainstream Off-the-shelf, commercially supported product available Still a minority player, but gaining ground

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Open Source ILS options Koha – Commercial support from LibLime Evergreen – Commercial support from Equinox Software OPALS – Commercial support from Media Flex

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Business case for Open Source ILS Comparative total cost of ownership Evaluate features and functionality Evaluate technology platform and conceptual models Are they next-generation systems or open source version of legacy models? “Making a Business Case for Open Source ILS.” Marshall Breeding, Computers in Libraries March

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Observations on Open Source ILS Current Open Source ILS products lack Serials and Acquisitions Modules Initial wave of Open Source ILS commitments happened in the public library arena. Recent activity among academic libraries: – WALDO Consortium (Voyager > Koha) – University of Prince Edward Island (Unicorn > Evergreen) Do the current open source ILS products provide a new model of automation, or an open source version of what we already have?

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 More Open Systems Pressure for traditionally licensed products to become more open APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) let libraries access and manipulate their data outside of delivered software Some progress on API to support discovery layer interfaces, but no comprehensive framework yet.

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Implications of Open Source ILS Some libraries moving from traditionally licensed products to open source products with commercial support plans Disruption of ILS industry – new pressures on incumbent vendors to deliver more innovation and to satisfy concerns for openness New competition / More options

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Opportunity out of the Upheavals More options – Commercial + Open Source More vendors – New open source support companies provide new competition More library involvement – Libraries re-energized to make significant contributions to the body of library automation software Traditionally licensed and open source automation systems will co-exist. We have an interest in the success of both alternatives.

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Part III. Moving toward new generation of library automation

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Rethinking the ILS Fundamental assumption: Print + Digital = Hybrid libraries Traditional ILS model not adequate for hybrid libraries Libraries currently moving toward surrounding core ILS with additional modules to handle electronic content New discovery layer interfaces replacing or supplementing ILS OPACS Working toward a new model of library automation – Monolithic legacy architectures replaced by fabric of SOA applications – Comprehensive Resource Management “It's Time to Break the Mold of the Original ILS” Computers in Libraries Nov/Dec 2007

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 ILS: a legacy concept ILS = Integrated Library System (Cataloging + Circulation + OPAC + Serials + Acquisitions) Focused on print and physical inventory Electronic content at the Journal Title or collection level Emerged in the 1960’s – 1970’s Functionality has evolved and expanded, but basic concepts and modules remain intact Note: Some companies work toward evolving the ILS to competently handle both print and digital content (e.g. Innovative Interfaces)

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 ILS: ever diminishing role Many libraries putting much less emphasis on ILS Just an inventory system for physical materials Investments in electronic content increasing Management of e-content handled outside of the ILS Yet: libraries need comprehensive business automation more than ever. Mandate for more efficient operations. Do more with less.

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Dis-integration of Library Automation Functionality ILS -- Print and Physical inventory OpenURL Link resolver Federated Search Electronic Resource Management Module – More about this later Discovery layer interface

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Is non-integrated automation sustainable? Major burden on library personnel Serial procurement / installation / configuration / maintenance cycles take many years to result in a comprehensive environment Inefficient data models Disjointed interfaces for library users Very long cycle to gain comprehensive automation

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Electronic Resource Management Systems Automation Module specifically designed to manage a library’s subscriptions to electronic content Managed approach for all aspects of electronic subscription content – Product coverage, license terms, cost, payment and procurement data, vendor data, use data COUNTER compliant use statistics SUSHI for automated gathering of use statistics

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Electronic Resource Management Systems Promising but troubled genre of software designed to manage e-content Extending ILS acquisitions to handle license terms and other aspects of electronic subscriptions Very slow adoption by libraries Complex integration issues Products launched in Increased adoption expected in next 2 years

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Profile-based e-content management Reliance on a knowledgebase that describes the contents of all available publisher packages and aggregated content offerings Ability to identify individual titles and articles available to library users based on a profile of the library’s current subscriptions OpenURL link resolvers and ERM products both depend on the knowledgebase Synchronization of ILS through MARC update services Efficacy of these products depends as much on the accuracy and currency of the knowledgebase than the quality of the software

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 ERM Deployments Product Innovative ERM Verde360 Resource Manager TDNet Open ERAM Company Innovative Interfaces Ex LibrisSerials Solutions TDNet Introduced June 2002 June 2004 October 2005 Number Sold Not disclosed Number in Production Use Not disclosed “Helping you buy: Electronic Resource Management Systems” Computers in Libraries: July 2008 issue

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 E-Journal Knowledge bases Commercial Serials Solutions – (KnowledgeWorks) Ex Libris – (SFX Global Knowledgebase) TD Net Openly Informatics / OCLC Community JAKE: jointly administered knowledge environment was an collaborative project Now defunct. Displaced by commercial ventures.

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 New genre of discovery layer interfaces Traditional ILS OPAC inadequate for today’s Web-savvy library users Scope too narrow Complex, non-intuitive interface Yet: Necessary for some types of research Working toward a single point of entry for all the content and services offered by the library

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Common Next-Gen Interface features Decoupled interface Advanced search engines Relevancy ranked results Faceted Navigation Graphically enriched displays Real-time interaction with ILS Advanced user services and information delivery features

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Current Products Primo (Ex Libris) Encore (Innovative Interfaces) Aquabrowser (Bowker / Serials Solutions) WorldCat Local (OCLC) Visualizer (VTLS) eXtensive Catalog (University of Rochester) VUFind (open source / Villanova University) Scriblio (open source)

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Deep search Entering post-metadata search era Increasing opportunities to search the full contents – Google Library Print, Google Publisher, Open Content Alliance, Microsoft Live Book Search, etc. – High-quality metadata will improve search precision Commercial search providers already offer “search inside the book” No comprehensive full text search for books quite yet Beginning to appear in library search environments – U of Mich ( ) Deep search highly improved by high-quality metadata See: Systems Librarian, May 2008 “Beyond the current generation of next-generation interfaces: deeper search”

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Advancement of Federated Search Shift from Distributed Query to Centralized Search Federated search based on distributed query: – Shallow results – Limited scalability – Slow performance Harvest metadata or full text for creating comprehensive consolidated indexes – E.g. Google Scholar – Non-commercial efforts? – The Royal Library of using the Deep Search architecture to present items found in the Digital Article Database Service repository of 65 million articles, housed in the Technical Information Center of Denmark.

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Architecture and Standards Need to have an standard approach for connecting new generation interfaces with ILS and other repositories Proprietary and ad hoc methods currently prevail Digital Library Federation – ILS-Discovery Interface Group Initial foray into a broader set of protocols that open up other aspects of the ILS

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 For more information Next Generation Library Catalogs by Marshall Breeding Library Technology Reports June/July 2007 ALA TechSource

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Moving toward a new Generation of Library Automation Legacy ILS concepts not sustainable New automation environment based on current library realities and modern technology platforms Equal footing for digital and print Service oriented architecture

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Breaking down the modules Traditional ILS – Cataloging – Circulation – Online Catalog – Acquisitions – Serials control – Reporting Modern approach: SOA

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Service Oriented Architecture

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Legacy ILS + e-content modules Federated Search Circulation Acquisitions Cataloging Serials OpenURL Linking Electronic Resource Mgmt System Staff Interfaces: End User Interfaces: Data Stores: Functional modules:

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 SOA model for business automation Underlying data repositories – Local or Global Reusable business services Composite business applications

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 SOA for library workflow processes Data Stores: Reusable Business Services Composite Applications Granular tasks:

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Web Services and the Service-Oriented Architecture Library Technology Reports – May / June 2006 By Marshall Breeding ALA TechSource The report includes conceptual descriptions of the technology as well as some technical information on how Web services are implemented. Library administrators or others that need to make decisions regarding library-related technology systems or issues will gain a perspective on the importance of this technology as well as how the implementation of Web services may relate to other library trends and initiatives.

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Current initiatives

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Comprehensive Resource Management Broad conceptual approach that proposes a library automation environment that spans all types of content that comprise library collections. Traditional ILS vendors: Under development but no public announcements Open Source projects in early phases Projection: 2-3 years until we begin see library automation systems that follow this approach. 5-7 years for wider adoption.

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Open Library Management System Andrew W. Mellon Foundation – Research in Information Technology program – Solicited proposal / Lead institution Duke University selected to lead project Core Participants: Kansas University, Lehigh University, National Library of Australia, Library and Archives Canada, University of Pennsylvania, Marshall Breeding Advisory Participants: University of Chicago, Wittier College, University of Maryland, Orbis Cascade Alliance, Rutgers University Status: Proposal complete, pending consideration from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Part IV. Impact on the Serials Community

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Opportunities for Serials Specialists Be aware of the current trends Be prepared for accelerated change cycles Help build systems based on modern business process automation principles. What would your ideal serials system look like? Provide input. Those outside the serials realm often fail to appreciate the complexities and nuances involved in your discipline. Ensure that new systems provide better support than the legacy systems Help drive current vendors toward better systems.

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Implication for Serials Move beyond title-level management Users care less about the specific journals and publishers Users expect article-level discovery Full text + metadata discovery platforms

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Delivering Serials content through new discovery layer interfaces Initially through integrated federated search modules Gradual shift toward OAI model Increased opportunities for full-text discovery Mixed-media discovery: books, serials, digital objects (metadata + full text)

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Open Source Opportunities Current Open Source ILS products are in early stage development of serials and acquisition Opportunity to help invent new models of serials control Open content approach to e-content knowledgebase?

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Serials workflows Integrate workflows between print and digital? Minimize investments in metadata / content creation for local systems only Maximize contributions to national / global level Opportunities for better automation through interoperability between the business systems of subscription agents and the library’s electronic resource management infrastructure?

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Proportional allocation of resources Print: traditional serials check-in – Claims, etc. Electronic: ERMS maintenance

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Preparing for next generation library automation Reassess workflows Separate streams for print and digital? Integrated processing of print and digital? Opportunities to take advantage of SOA- based composite business applications Assemble a more ideal set of tools for managing serials and periodicals

Breeding – NASIG June 6, 2008 Questions and Discussion