1. Preparing for the Next Phase of Library Automation:
Current Realities and Future Trends
Marshall Breeding
Director for Innovative Technology and Research
Vanderbilt University Library
Founder and Publisher, Library Technology Guides
28 November 2011
University of Georgia Librarians

2. Abstract
Fundamental shifts in academic libraries have transpired over the last decades that demand new models of support from their automation systems. Increased emphasis on delivering access to electronic resources and digital collections, with lingering, though diminishing, involvement with print collections requires automation platforms capable of providing a more equitable balance in management of all types of resources. Breeding will describe the emerging products and services for library automation that aim to address these new realities.

3. Library Technology Guides

4. International Perceptions Survey

5. ARL Member Libraries – ILS

6. ARL Member Libraries – Discovery

7. Mergers and Acquisitions

8. Library Journal Automation Marketplace
Published annually in April 1 issue
Based on data provided by each vendor
Focused primarily on North America
Context of global library automation market

9. LJ Automation Marketplace
Annual Industry report published in Library Journal:
2011: New Frontier: battle intensifies to win hearts, minds and tech dollars
2010: New Models, Core Systems
2009: Investing in the Future
2008: Opportunity out of turmoil
2007: An industry redefined
2006: Reshuffling the deck
2005: Gradual evolution
2004: Migration down, innovation up
2003: The competition heats up
2002: Capturing the migrating customer

10. The New Frontier…
new phase of competition following a period of research and development that aimed to provide alternatives to libraries, both in back-end automation and end user discovery. A variety of new solutions have emerged, often representing quite different conceptual models. In a continued trend, librarians seek solutions that immediately improve the experiences of their users, especially via discovery products.

11. Key Context: Academic Libraries in Transition
Shift from Print > Electronic
E-journal transition largely complete
E-books now in play (consultation > reading)
Increasing emphasis on subscribed content, especially articles and databases
Academic libraries seeing long-term declines in print circulation
Need better tools for managing electronic resources
Need better tools for access to complex multi-format collections
Strong emphasis on digitizing local collections
Demands for enterprise integration and interoperability

12. Key Context: Technologies in transition
XML / Web services / Service-oriented Architecture
Beyond Web 2.0
Integration of social computing into core infrastructure
Local computing shifting to cloud platforms
Application Service Provider offerings standard
New expectations for multi-tenant software-as-a-service
Full spectrum of devices
full-scale / net book / tablet / mobile
Mobile the current focus, but is only one example of device and interface cycles

13. Key Text: Changed expectations in metadata management
Moving away from individual record-by-record creation
Life cycle of metadata
Metadata follows the supply chain, improved and enhanced along the way as needed
Manage metadata in bulk when possible
E-book collections
Highly shared metadata
E-journal knowledge bases, e.g.
Great interest in moving toward semantic web and open linked data
Very little progress in linked data for operational systems
AACR2 > RDA
MARC > RDF?

14. Status Quo Sustainable?
ILS for management of (mostly) print
Duplicative financial systems between library and campus
Electronic Resource Management (non-integrated with ILS)
OpenURL Link Resolver w/ knowledge base for access to full-text electronic articles
Digital Collections Management platforms (CONTENTdm, DigiTool, etc.)
Institutional Repositories (DSpace, Fedora, etc.)
Discovery-layer services for broader access to library collections
No effective integration services / interoperability among disconnected systems, non-aligned metadata schemes

15. Phase of realignment
Strong need to realign library automation with current library realities
Legacy library systems reinforce workflows no longer in step with library priorities.
Need systems that allow libraries to allocate personnel in proper proportion to collection
Separate automation platforms for print and electronic have not proven successful

16. Academic Library Issues
Greater concern with electronic resources
Management: Need for consolidated approach that balances print, digital, and electronic workflows
Access: discovery interfaces that maximize the value of investments in electronic content

17. Public Library Issues Enhance the experience of library patrons
Management and access to physical resources
Self-service through the Web portal:
View current loans, perform holds, renewals, pay fines and fees
Self-service in the physical library
RFID-based self-issue and returns
Helps the library deploy service personnel for highest impact

18. Cloud Computing Major trend in Information Technology
Few organizations have core competence in large-scale computer infrastructure management
Essentially outsourcing of server housing and management
Usually based on a consumption-based business model
Most new automation products delivered through some flavor of cloud computing
Many flavors to suit business needs: public, private, hybrid

19. Library Automation in the Cloud
Almost all library automation vendors offer some form of cloud-based services
Server management moves from library to Vendor
Subscription-based business model
Comprehensive annual subscription payment
Offsets local server purchase and maintenance
Offsets some local technology support

20. Application Service Provider
Vendor hosting of client/server ILS
Technically Application Service Provider though marketed as SaaS
Continued reliance on Graphical Clients deployed on each staff workstation that need to be updated and synched
Vendor maintains individual instances for each library / site

21. 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

22. 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
Global Knowledgebase of e-journal holdings shared among all customers of SFX
General opportunity to move away from library-by- library metadata management to globally shared workflows

23. Infrastructure as a Service
Access to hardware provisioned from remote providers
Examples:
Amazon Elastic Compute (EC2)
Cloud and Simple Storage Service (S3)
Many library automation vendors use IaaS to deploy their offerings

24. Rethinking library automation
Fundamental assumption: Print + Electronic + Digital
Traditional print-dominant ILS model not adequate for current and future library realities
Libraries currently involved with a core ILS surrounded by additional modules to handle electronic content
New discovery layer interfaces replacing or supplementing ILS OPACS
Cloud technologies offer potential for new levels of efficiency and cooperation
“It's Time to Break the Mold of the Original ILS” Computers in Libraries Nov/Dec 2007

25. Competing Models of Library Automation
Traditional Proprietary Commercial ILS
Aleph, Voyager, Millennium, Symphony, Polaris,
BOOK-IT, DDELibra, Libra.se
LIBERO, Amlib, Spydus, TOTALS II
Traditional Open Source ILS
Evergreen, Koha
New generation unified resource management
Ex Libris Alma, Kuali OLE, OCLC Web-scale Management Services
Cloud-based automation systems
Ex Libris Alma
OCLC Web-scale: Management Service
Serials Solutions: Web-Scale Management Solution

26. Comprehensive Resource Management
No longer sensible to use different software platforms for managing different types of library materials
-- ILS + ERM + OpenURL Resolver + Digital Asset management, etc. very inefficient model
++ Flexible platform capable of managing multiple type of library materials, multiple metadata formats, with appropriate workflows

27. 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

28. Legacy LMS Model Interfaces Business Logic Data Stores BIB
Staff Interfaces:
Public Interfaces:
Interfaces
Business Logic
Circulation
Cataloging
Acquisitions
Serials
Online Catalog
Data Stores
BIB
Holding / Items
Circ Transact
User
Vendor
$$$
Funds
Policies

29. Application Programming Interfaces
Legacy ILS Model / API `
Staff Interfaces:
Public Interfaces:
Interfaces
Application Programming Interfaces
Business Logic
Circulation
Cataloging
Acquisitions
Serials
Online Catalog
Data Stores
BIB
Holding / Items
Circ Transact
User
Vendor
$$$
Funds
Policies

30. Legacy ILS Model + protocol
Circulation
BIB
Staff Interfaces:
Holding / Items
Circ Transact
User
Vendor
Policies
$$$
Funds
Cataloging
Acquisitions
Serials
Online Catalog
Public Interfaces:
Application Programming Interfaces
Interlibrary Loan
System
Protocols: SIP2 NCIP Z39.50 OAI-PMH
Self-Check

31. Legacy ILS Model / External API
Circulation
BIB
Staff Interfaces:
Holding / Items
Circ Transact
User
Vendor
Policies
$$$
Funds
Cataloging
Acquisitions
Serials
Online Catalog
Public Interfaces:
Application Programming Interfaces / Web Services
External Systems & Services
Flexible Interoperability
Protocols: SIP2 NCIP Z39.50 OAI-PMH

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

33. Library Services Platform
Possible new term for the successor to the ILS
ILS now viewed as print-centric
Next Generation systems must serve as platforms to connect external systems as well as to deliver internal functionality
Delivered Functionality + library created extensions + interoperability

34. Kuali OLE
Mellon funded project to create new enterprise level automation platform for research libraries
1-year planning project led by Duke University
Manage resources of all formats
More than an ILS / Less than an ILS
Community Source / Open Source
Indiana University; Florida Consortium (University of Florida representing Florida International University, Florida State University, New College of Florida, Rollins College, University of Central Florida, University of Miami, University of South Florida, the Florida Center for Library Automation); Lehigh University; Triangle Research Libraries Network, represented by Duke University and North Carolina State University; University of Chicago; University of Maryland; University of Michigan; and the University of Pennsylvania.

35. OLE Project: Phase I Planning and Design Phase
Develop Vision + Blueprint
Work with consultants with expertise in SOA and BPM
Instill community ownership of OLE
Recruit partners for Phase II

36. Kuali OLE Project: Phase II
2-year build project led by Indiana University
$2.38 million from Mellon matched by capital and in-kind contributions by development partners
Community source reference implementation
Create software based on OLE blueprint from current project
Early software in months
High level of investment and commitment to implementation

37. Kuali OLE technology stack
Kuali Rice, middleware: forms routing, messaging, integrations, identity, queues, alerts, audit.
Kuali Financial Subsystem (subset)
Java SDK
Spring Framework
Struts
Apache OJB
Oracle DB

38. Kuali OLE Market Projection
Initial market impact limited to development partner libraries
Indiana University; University of Chicago, University of Pennsylvania, Lehigh University, selected FCLA institutions, Duke, NCSU,
Do not anticipate significant growth in adoption until system well-proven in partner institutions
Issues: generally under-resourced (12-24 developers)
Architected for local installation, not cloud deployment
Limited opportunity for shared metadata and data stores
No pre-integrated discovery

39. New Generation Library Management Options

40. OCLC Web-scale Management Services
Full complement of automation functionality delivered through enhanced WorldCat platform
Cataloging: (initially Connexion)
Discovery: WorldCat Local
Resource Sharing: OCLC ILL
Circulation: new functionality based on holding and item record extensions
Acquisitions: Globally shared vendor file
License management for content subscriptions
APIs to extend functionality and support interoperability
In Challenge to ILS Industry, OCLC Extends WorldCat Local To Launch New Library System
Marshall Breeding, Library Journal 4/23/2009

41. OCLC WMS technology stack
Java 6
Apache 2
Tomcat 6
MySQL 5.1
Suse Linux
jBPM 4
WebSphere MQ 6
Mule 2

42. OCLC WMS Market Position
38 libraries in production
Small public, special, academic (not UTC)
BIBSYS consortium in Norway (platform for local development)
Mostly targeting mid-sized libraries
Large potential migration through acquired companies: Bond, Amlib, Fretwell Downing, Sisis, PICA (LBS, CBS)
WorldCat Local Libraries
[RiverShare libraries]

43. Serials Solutions Web-scale Management Solution
New automation platform announced at ALA Annual
Extends automation models in existing products oriented to electronic subscriptions to print and digital materials
Software as a service
Goal to allow the library to unplug their ILS
Print component based on shared bibliographic database
Initially targets mid-sized academic libraries
Initial availability planned for end of 2012

44. Serials Solutions: Product concept
Knowledge base approach to automation
Extend KnowledgeWorks to print
Tap existing resources
Books in Print, MARC updating service
Generally available sources: LC, BL, etc.

45. Serials Solutions: Market Position
Tap existing customer base
360 Link, 360 Resource Manager
Summon
Offer comprehensive resource management for less than libraries pay for ILS maintenance
Target Libraries: Mid-sized academic

46. Deployment Schedules Alma: General release planed for early 2012
Kuali OLE: Version 1 release July 2012
Implementations to be underway at partner sites
(not necessarily ready for full ILS replacement)
OCLC Web-scale Management Services
Libraries in production in circ and acquisitions since July 2010
General release July 2011
Serials Solutions: Web-scale management solution
End of 2012

47. Decoupled Discovery?
Decoupled interfaces emerged from broken online catalogs
Poor interfaces, inadequate scope
Inefficient integration between automation and discovery platforms
New wave of more tightly integrated suites:
Ex Libris Alma > Primo
OCLC Web-scale Management Services > WorldCat Local
Serials Solutions Web-Scale Management Solution > Summon
Still possible to decouple, but more effort, worse results

48. Academic Library Automation Market Forecast
Transition to new-generation library services platforms will play out over the next decade, with peak period in 3-5 years
Proportion of market offset to open source is an unknown variable
Relative success of Kuali OLE
Enhancement of Evergreen with academic features
Penetration of Discovery Products will steadily climb

49. Software as a Service
Long-term trend/opportunity toward higher penetration
New-gen products mostly offered only through SaaS
Resistance reduced as other product categories in academic libraries shift to SaaS
General ability to shift hardware revenues/expenses from libraries & universities to library service providers

50. Challenge of academic enterprise integration
Interest in tighter integration with Academic infrastructure
Kuali Student > Kuali Financial > Kuali Rice > Kuali OLE
Blackboard > Library Management?
PeopleSoft > Library Management?

51. New models of Library Collection Discovery
From local discovery to Web-scale discovery

52. Disjointed approach to information and service delivery
Silos Prevail
Books: Library OPAC (ILS module)
Articles: Aggregated content products, e-journal collections
OpenURL linking services
E-journal finding aids (Often managed by link resolver)
Subject guides (e.g. Springshare LibGuides)
Local digital collections
ETDs, photos, rich media collections
Metasearch engines
All searched separately

53. Next-gen Catalogs or Discovery Interface
Single search box
Query tools
Did you mean
Type-ahead
Relevance ranked results
Faceted navigation
Enhanced visual displays
Cover art
Summaries, reviews,
Recommendation services

54. Discovery Interface search model
ILS Data
Discovery Interface search model
Digital Collections
Search:
Local Index
ProQuest
Search Results
EBSCOhost
MetaSearch Engine …
MLA Bibliography
ABC-CLIO
Real-time query and responses

55. Discovery Products

56. Differentiation in Discovery
Products increasingly specialized between public and academic libraries
Public libraries: emphasis on engagement with physical collection
Academic libraries: concern for discovery of heterogeneous material types, especially books + articles + digital objects

57. Discovery from Local to Web-scale
Initial products focused on technology
AquaBrowser, Endeca, Primo, Encore, VuFind,
LIBERO Uno, Civica Sorcer, Axiell Arena
Mostly locally-installed software
Current phase focused on pre-populated indexes that aim to deliver Web-scale discovery
Primo Central (Ex Libris)
Summon (Serials Solutions)
WorldCat Local (OCLC)
EBSCO Discovery Service (EBSCO)
Encore with Article Integration

58. Citations / Metadata > Full Text
Citations or structured metadata provide key data to power search & retrieval and faceted navigation
Indexing Full-text of content amplifies access
Important to understand depth indexing
Currency, dates covered, full-text or citation
Many other factors

59. Web-scale Index-based Discovery
ILS Data
Web-scale Index-based Discovery
Digital Collections
Search:
ProQuest
EBSCOhost
Search Results
Consolidated Index …
MLA Bibliography
ABC-CLIO
Pre-built harvesting and indexing

60. Challenge for Relevancy
Technically feasible to index hundreds of millions or billions of records through Lucene or SOLR
Difficult to order records in ways that make sense
Many fairly equivalent candidates returned for any given query
Must rely on use-based and social factors to improve relevancy rankings

61. Open Discovery Initiative
Project underway to address issues related to information providers, discovery service providers, and libraries
Protocols for transfer of content
Transparency of what is transferred and indexed
Rights or restrictions on how discovery services use content
Initial meeting at ALA Annual
Proposal under consideration by NISO
“Proposed New Work Item: Standards and Best Practices for Library Discovery Services Based on Indexed Search”

62. New Library Management Model
Consolidated index
Search Engine
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

63. Device Agnostic

64. Questions and discussion