1. Library Services Platforms:
a new paradigm for library automation
Marshall Breeding
Independent Consultant, Author,
Founder and Publisher, Library Technology Guides
24 January 2018
15th Annual Lecture on Informatics

2. Description
Library services platforms represent a relatively recent model of library automation which differs in many ways from the traditional integrated library system.  Breeding will discuss the key characteristics of this new genre library management software, including the way they address functionality and the technologies embodied.  The presentation will include an overview of the major products from OCLC and Ex Libris as well as the open source FOLIO project still in its development phase. 

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. Integrated (for print) Library System
Staff Interfaces:
Public Interfaces:
Interfaces
Business Logic
Circulation
Cataloging
Acquisitions
Serials
Online Catalog
Data Stores
BIB
Holding / Items
Circ Transact
User
Vendor
$$$
Funds
Policies

8. ILS / ERM: Dual Systems Model
Circulation
BIB
Staff Interfaces:
Holding / Items
Circ Transact
User
Vendor
Policies
$$$
Funds
Cataloging
Acquisitions
Serials
Online Catalog
Public Interfaces:
Application Programming Interfaces `
E-resource Procurement
License Management
Protocols: CORE
E-Journal Titles
Vendors
License Terms

9. Common approach for ERM
Circulation
BIB
Staff Interfaces:
Holding / Items
Circ Transact
User
Vendor
Policies
$$$
Funds
Cataloging
Acquisitions
Serials
Online Catalog
Public Interfaces:
Application Programming Interfaces
Budget
License Terms
Titles / Holdings
Vendors
Access Details

10. 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

11. Cycles of fragmentation > unification
Early Phase: Modular automation
Integrated Library Systems
Proliferation of systems to manage electronic resources and digital collections
Current unification phase: library services platforms bring together print and electronic resource management
Next phase? Bring archival and digital assets under common management platform

12. Comprehensive Resource Management
Simplify resource management through platform consolidation
ILS + ERM + OpenURL Resolver + Digital Asset management, etc. very inefficient model
Consolidation requires a flexible platform capable of managing multiple type of library materials, multiple metadata formats, with appropriate workflows

13. 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),

14. 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

15. Library Services Platforms – Functional
Manages electronic and print formats of materials
Replaces multiple incumbent products
Flexible Metadata Management spanning multiple schemas
Procurement workflows appropriate for each type of library asset: purchased physical items, licensed resources, demand-driven acquisitions, etc.
Knowledgebases
Built-in collection analytics
Decision support for collection development

16. 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

17. Knowledge bases
Electronic Resource Management based on collective database of the body of e-content rather than library-by-library management
LSP extends knowledge base model to all resources
Make links or associations from local holdings to common bibliographic records
WorldShare Management Services – based on WorldCat Bibliographic records
Ex Libris Alma – includes Community Zone of shared records and resources

18. Support for BIBFRAME
New bibliographic framework based on mapping MARC concepts and data into linked data model
No direct support for BIBFRAME in either integrated library systems or library services platforms
Developers are involved in BIBFRAME initiative
Operational implementations will come once the model has stabilized
Current phase of experimental projects and prototypes
Applies differently to discovery versus resource management

19. Library Services Platforms – Technical
Beyond Client/Server Computing
Multi-tenant platforms
Web-based interfaces
Services-oriented architecture
Exposes APIs for extensibility and interoperability
Interoperable

20. New Library Management Model
Consolidated index
Unified Presentation Layer
Search:
Digital Coll
ProQuest
EBSCO …
JSTOR
Other Resources
Self-Check / Automated Return `
API Layer
Library Services Platform
Discovery Service
Stock Management
Enterprise Resource Planning
Smart Cad / Payment systems
Learning Management
Authentication Service

21. Cycle of adoption and deployment
Mid point of a cycle of transition that will last a decade
Stable and relatively mature products available now
New projects in development phase (FOLIO)
Now in mass deployment phase
Over the course of the next decade, academic libraries will replace their current legacy products with new platforms
Not just a change of technology but a substantial change in the ways that libraries manage their resources and deliver their services

22. Relationship with Discovery
Discovery and Management solutions will increasingly be implemented as matched sets
Ex Libris: Primo (or Summon) / Alma
OCLC: WorldCat Discovery Service / WorldShare Platform
EBSCO Discovery Service: Works with any Resource management system
Both depend on an ecosystem of interrelated knowledge bases
API’s exposed to mix and match, but efficiencies and synergies are lost

23. Web-scale Index-based Discovery
ILS Data
Web-scale Index-based Discovery
(2009- present)
Digital Collections
Search:
Web Site Content
Institutional Repositories
Search Results
Aggregated Content packages
Consolidated Index …
E-Journals
Your title is covered up with the ILS data content – DISCO instead of Discovery
Usage-generated Data
Customer Profile
Reference Sources
Pre-built harvesting and indexing

24. Demise of the local catalog
Many library services platforms do not include the concept of an online catalog dedicated to local physical inventory
Designed for discovery services as public-facing interface
Implication: Discovery service must incorporate detailed functionality for local materials and related services

25. Discovery Strategy Options
Integrated suite: discovery and management systems from the same provider
Open source discovery + Library Services Platform
VuFind or Blacklight
Discovery layer + ERM with separate ILS for print collection

26. Current Products In production In development Ex Libris: Alma
OCLC: WorldShare Management Services
In development
Axiell: Quria
FOLIO

27. 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

28. Product Development Timeline

29. 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

30. ProQuest acquires Ex Libris
December 2015
“Ex Libris, A ProQuest Company”
Ex Libris becomes the primary technology business unit for ProQuest
Matti Shem Tov reports to ProQuest CEO Kurt Sanford
Product portfolio = Ex Libris + ProQuest Workflow Solutions

31. 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

32. 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

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

34. Ex Libris Knowledgebase and Indexe 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

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

36. 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

37. Academic Shared Infrastructure Projects selecting Alma
Orbis Cascade Alliance (37 libraries)
WHELF: Academic libraries in Wales
BIBSYS: 205 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

38. Alma Migration Report

39. Alma Implementations by Type

40. Alma Implementations by Size

41. 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

42. 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)

43. WMS Migration Report

44. WMS Implementations by Type

45. WMS Implementations by Size

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

47. EBSCO Supports new Open Source Project
FOLIO
the Future of the Library is Open
A community collaboration to develop an open source Library Services Platform designed for innovation.
American Libraries feature:
ebsco-kuali-open-source-project/

48. 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

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

50. } 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

51. 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

52. FOLIO Platform

53. Organization Independent foundation Financial support from EBSCO
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)

54. 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

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

56. 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

57. Questions and discussion