1. Library Services Platforms:
The state of the art
Marshall Breeding
Independent Consultant, Author,
Founder and Publisher, Library Technology Guides
October 24, 2017
Internet Librarian 2017

2. 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.

3. Library Systems Trends

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

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

11. 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

12. 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),

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

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. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. Product Development Timeline

21. 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

22. Weighted annual sales reports
Alma:
report.pl?Product=Alma&Year=2016
OCLC WorldShare Management Services
report.pl?Product=WorldShare%20Management%20Services&Year=2 016

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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)

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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

32. Alma Migration Report

33. Alma Implementations by Type

34. Alma Implementations by Size

35. ALMA Perceptions scores

36. 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

37. 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)

38. 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

39. WMS Migration Report

40. WMS Implementations by Type

41. WMS Implementations by Size

42. WMS Perceptions scores

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

44. 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/

45. 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

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

47. General Technology Trends

48. Fundamental technology shift
Mainframe computing
Client/Server
Cloud Computing

49. 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

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

52. 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

53. 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

54. FOLIO Platform

55. 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)

56. 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

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

58. 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.

59. Hybrid products

60. 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

61. 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

62. 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

63. Questions and discussion