Transcript Videoconferencing

Library management systems:
current issues and developments
Lucy A. Tedd,
Lecturer, Department of Information
Studies, Aberystwyth
Editor: Program: electronic library and
information systems
June 2007
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Brief historical overview
Early/mid 1960s – some experimentation
with punched card systems for
management of cataloguing,
acquisitions and circulation processes.
e.g. Southampton U., Camden, West
Sussex, Newcastle U.
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Birth of Program- News of
computers in British university
libraries
Founded in 1966 by Richard Kimber, then
a Lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast
“A new wave of enthusiasm is sweeping
over the world of libraries in Britain.
Librarians see that it is possible to use
computers for most clerical operations
in libraries.”
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Local systems – 1970s
Several instances of successful use of
parent-body computers
Improved computer technology- rise of
minicomputers which could be acquired
by the library
Development of data collection devices ALS, Plessey etc.
Better communication between librarians
and computer people
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Co-operative systems –
1970s
Birmingham Libraries Co-operative
Mechanisation Project (BLCMP)
Aston U., Birmingham U., Birmingham Public
South Western Academic Libraries Cooperative Mechanisation Project (SWALCAP)
Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter universities
OCLC – for college libraries in Ohio, US
+++
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Early 1980s
Development of ‘turnkey stand-alone’
systems- mainly for circulation control
ALS Module 4, BLCMP Circo, CLSI-Libs
100, Geac, Plessey Module 4,
Development of OPACs – Online Public
Access Catalogues and linking of these
to computer-based circulation systems
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Integrated library management
systems – 1980s
Modules for:
Cataloguing materials
Using the catalogue (OPAC)
Circulation control
Acquisitions and order processing
Serials control ( possibly)
Interlibrary loans (possibly)
e.g. BLS, DS, Dynix, IBM – DOBIS/LIBIS,
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.. and some more key features
Consistency and integrity of data across
all applications
Transactions should update ‘status’ and
be immediately viewable
Should be ease of movement between
functions
Library systems: a buyer’s guide
Juliet Leeves, Aldershot: Gower: 1987 and
1989
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LMS in the 1990s
- Move to industry-standard software for database
management etc.
- Start of self-issue machines for issue and discharge
- Communications with users by e-mail and text
message
- Improved accessibility of OPACs
- Use of Z39.50 – to enable searching across several
OPACs
- Consortial developments e.g ELFNI (Northern
Ireland), Foursite (now Libraries West)
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Examples of 1990s systems
Adlib - UK originally
ALEPH 500 – from Israeli firm Ex Libris
ALICE – from Softlink, Australia
CAIRS/LMS- UK
Dynix/Horizon – US
DS Galaxy – UK
Geac – ADVANCE from Canada
Heritage – UK (developed from early work in Cairns
Library, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford)
Innopac/Millennium –Innovative Interfaces, US
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.. and more LMSs of the 1990s
LIBERTAS – from SLS, UK
OLIB – Fretwell Downing, UK
Talis – BLCMP, UK
Unicorn – Sirsi, US
Voyager – Endeavor, US
VTLS - US
Juliet Leeves with Rosemary Russell, libsys;uk: A directory of library
systems in the United Kingdom. London: Library Information
Technology Centre, 1995
Lucy Tedd, Library management systems in British Librarianship and
Information Work 1991-2000. Aldershot, Ashgate, 2007
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Some key developments of
the 2000s
Mergers, acquisitions and private equity
New products from merged companies
Federated searching
Reference linking using OpenURL
Improved user interfaces
Web 2.0
Move to open systems architecture
Move to open source software
Consortial working and outsourcing
UK Core Specification for LMS
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Mergers and acquisitions and
private equity firms
Ex Libris acquired by Francisco Partners in 2006
who then also acquired Endeavor from Elsevier
Fretwell Downing Informatics acquired by OCLC in
2006
Geac acquired by Golden Gate in 2005, then became
known as Extensity which in turn was acquired
by Infor
Sirsi and Dynix merge to SirsiDynix in 2005 and
acquired by Vista Equity Partners in 2006
Talis – change from not-for-profit ‘outlook’ to a new
company Talis Group in 2006
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New products e.g. Symphony
from SirsiDynix
• A single, holistic library technology platform
• Incorporates open, industry-standard
technologies,
• Powerful portal and search solutions
• Comprehensive integrated library management
and productivity solutions
• Unicode support
• Advanced business intelligence and reporting
tools +++++
Sirsi Dynix – press release at American Library
Association conference 2007
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Federated search products
e.g. Primo – from Ex Libris
“ Primo unlocks library potential by
providing users with a universal solution
for the discovery and delivery of print and
digital information sources regardless of
format and location”
http://www.exlibrisgroup.com/primo.htm
Plus some federated search modules from
other companies (e.g. MuseGlobal,
WebFeat) incorporated into LMSs
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Reference linking using
OpenURL
Links from LMS to full-text of journal
articles etc. and other electronic
content is increasingly important in
Higher Education libraries. Ex Libris’
SFX product is probably the market
leader – and this can often be
‘plugged in’ to other LMS
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Improved interfaces
e.g. Encore from Innovative Interfaces
“ Millennium's integrated tools for authentication, federated
searching, and link resolution will be pulled seamlessly into
Encore. In this way, patrons arrive at what they need
without an extended search path, complex searching
strategies, or the need to know a specific solution to their
information need. More importantly, libraries will be able to
deliver this service without the need for extensive
programming resources and technology expertise.
Encore's integration with Millennium also means libraries
can focus on shaping the patron experience rather than
establishing interoperation between service elements.”
http://www.iii.com/news/pr_template.php?id=290
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Millennium at Aston University
We chose Millennium because it was the most userfriendly of the systems that we looked at for both
customers and library staff. The inclusion of
functionality that our users expect from sites
such as Google, such as Did you mean…?, was a
key factor in our decision," says Dr. Nick Smith,
Director of Library and Information Services. "It
will also provide us with all of the advanced
technical features that one would expect from a
modern system."
Innovative Press release 18.6.07
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Web 2.0
Social networking, blogs, wikis,
‘folksonomies’ etc.
Role in LMS??
Paul Miller, a ‘technology evangelist’ at
Talis is working in this area
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Move to Open Systems
Architecture
e.g. DS and Open Galaxy
DS has spent much time in 2000s developing an
‘open’ architecture to allow communication with
3rd party data, different front-end software (e.g.
links to PDAs), cross-database searching with
DScovery. DS perceives LMS being integrated
with other local authority technology ‘services’ –
and personalisation of interfaces etc. for users.
DS supplies only to UK public library market and
has about 30% of that market share
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Open Source Software for LMS
Beginning to be considered by some
e.g. Complementary and Alternative Medicine
LIS at Royal Homoeopathic Hospital, London
considering Koha from New Zealand
(http://www.koha.org)
“We are using a commercial company for the
installation, including new code, and ongoing
support. However, larger libraries with
dedicated systems support staff might be able
to do this in-house.”
e-mail on lis-link from Gerhard Bissels 25.6.07
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Consortial working and
outsourcing
e.g. SELMS - South East Library
Management using Civica to
provide a range of library
services, including LMS based
on its Spydus product.
http://www.civicaplc.com/AUS/Sectors/Library/
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Choosing an LMS – United
Kingdom Core Specification
Addresses the core of an LMS – stock control and
OPAC
Frees staff to concentrate on the differences between
systems
One-off licence fee
Used by public libraries, University and college libraries,
Special libraries: medical, government, legal
Developed by: Juliet Leeves
E-mail: [email protected]
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Case study: National Library of
Wales
LMS history
- For printed books 1980s – URICA,
1990s – Geac ADVANCE
- For archives, photographs, theses
etc – CAIRS/LMS
- ++ many smaller/ ‘bespoke’ systems
for specialist collections
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NLW – Requirements
Requirement:
New information management system
to manage all operations , including
public access to all collections.
Improved resource discovery and
successful delivery of digital
resources, and adherence to
international standards
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NLW – Procurement process
Use of PRINCE2 project methodology
Seven suppliers on long list following
Briefing Document etc
Three suppliers (Ex Libris, Geac and VTLS)
on short list following Request for
Proposal
VTLS chosen following Risk Assessment
and Best and Final Offers
(VTLS was also chosen for Oxford
University/ Bodleian Library)
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Post implementation evaluation
of LMS implementation
VERY little happens – or is reported in this
area
One exception – Martin Myhill at University
of Exeter has suggested a possible
approach
Martin Myhill (2004), “Snakes and ladders:
towards a post-maturity evaluation index
of integrated library system
ownership”,Program: electronic library
and information systems 38(2) 110-119
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JISC/SCONUL evaluation and
horizon scan
The current LMS landscape in higher
education in the UK will be evaluated
by a project funded by JISC and
SCONUL and due to start in July
2007.
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/fundingopportuni
ties/funding_calls/2007/06/ims.aspx
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JISC/SCONUL Scan Aims
Evaluate the current situation within the LMS market in terms
of products, satisfaction, service differentiation and
requirements
Evaluate procurement and cost issues, including a survey of
academic library plans
Conduct a horizon scan to determine what developments are
taking place elsewhere which are already, or might, impact
on future developments
Assess the use of service oriented approaches and adoption
of standards in terms of academic library requirements,
readiness and product match
Make recommendations on how the academic library sector
can engage with LMS and issues concerning the JISC
Information Environment and the e-framework for education
and research
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Where to find information?
Multimedia Information and Technology Group website - 30
systems in UK http://www.mmit.org.uk/libsystems.htm
Library Technology Guides - 19 systems noted as being
available in UK http://www.librarytechnology.org/
CILIP training events e.g.
http://www.cilip.org.uk/training/training/2007/ict/selectinglms.h
tm
CILIP – Library Management Systems Showcase
Marshall Breeding , “ An industry redefined”, Library Journal, April 1 2007, pp.36-48
Alison Felstead, “Library systems marketplace: a digest of current literature”,
Program: electronic library and information systems 38(2), 2004, pp. 88-96
Lucy Tedd (2007), Library management systems in J.H. Bowman (ed.) British
Librarianship and Information Work 2001-5. Aldershot:Ashgate, 2007.
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