Open Library Management Systems

JA-SIG Spring ConferenceThe Community Source Way

John Little, Duke UniversityApril 28, 2008

ILS Environment

• ILS does not fit modern scholarly process

• Workflows adapted to manage collections are based on outdated assumptions

ILS Environment

• Dissatisfaction among libraries with proprietary ILS• Our collections are changing more rapidly than our systems

o Datao Mass digitization

• Early efforts in the OS model have a different primary constituency.

OLMS in Academic Libraries

Convene the academic library community in the design of an Open Library Management System built on Service Oriented

Architecture model

Seeking funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

OLMS in Academic Libraries

Seeking a system that is ...• Flexible• Customizable• Meets challenging and changing complex needs of modern

academic libraries• Responsive to new technologies and to scholars'

information needs and expectations• Community-driven Open Source alternative

Steps Taken

• Email to gauge initial interest• Talks with Marshall Breeding

o "It's Time to Break the Mold of the Original ILS"o "Perceptions 2007: An International Survey of Library

Automation"• Talks with SOA consultant• Identifying Core and Advisory Partners• Developed a proposal to The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

Responses

• Over 100 libraries of all types responded quicklyo Academic Libraries: large/small, public/private,

archive/national• Mostly positive• Partners self identified participation level

Service Oriented Architecture

SOA Design Approach• Software pieces are built independently• Can be interchanged or repurposed• Can be combined to create new systems and services• Business leaders and IT leaders work together

o A business methodologyo A technology approach

SOA Process

1.Create a high-level map of how the business should work2.Deconstruct workflows3.Define reusable services4.Recouple the services into a system that meets our

requirements

http://www.sun.com/products/soa/img/ig_soa_before_after.gif

Hasn't this problem been solved!?

• Current open source projects do address aspects of the ILS limitations

• Great place to start• We think there is more work to be done in rethinking

completely the library management systems needed by academic libraries

• We expect the projects now in progress will inform our work

• When a software development project follows, we hope the best pieces can be used (SOA)

OLMS Process

• Creating a proposal to The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation• Hold a series of 6 workshops over 12 months• Assembled a strong team

o Core and Advisory Partners attend all/most meetingso 3 community discussion meetings/webcastso This will reflect a full range of library needs

• Release a draft for general comment• Report

What will we do?

• Initial SOA training with an expert consultanto Design higher-level workflows for major library

operations• Next series of meetings

o Focus on more extended SOA Trainingo Meeting common goals/needso Training in library business process modeling

• Each meeting will be followed by partners convening working groups o Conduct workflow analysis o Produce business process specifications

• Ongoing sharing of goals and progress

How you can help?

We invite the academic library community to participate in this process and influence the design document.• Website being developed

o General info, working documents, progress reportso Channels for individuals to comment and offer feedbacko Upcoming presentations, materials

• Three webcasts - open to anyone, no cost• Project Partners will give presentations at other meetings

Questions

1.How do we take advantage of work already done, but not limit our thinking to products/projects already underway? (DLF Discovery API, Evergreen, IR)

2.What is the right level of innovation (perfect vision vs. getting something done)?

3.What is feasible in terms of the workshops?4.What are some best practices which help focus the

approach on a more narrow/common set of services?5.What are the characteristics of successful community

source workshops? What should be avoided?6.How do we best leverage expertise from this group?

Questions, Continued...

1.What startup issues are important? What governance models work at this point?

2.To what degree are the hypothesis and knowledge "preordained"? Is this more than a mapping exercise?

3.What are the best ways to hold ourselves accountable for milestones?

4.What are some ways to collaborate outside of meetings?

We want to meet true needs not design the impossible -- how do we find that balance?