open source in libraries: current trends and issues marshall breeding founder and publisher, library...
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OPEN SOURCE IN LIBRARIES:
Current Trends and Issues
Marshall BreedingFounder and Publisher, Library Technology Guideshttp://www.librarytechnology.org/http://twitter.com/mbreeding
October 22, 2012 Internet Librarian 2012
Abstract
Libraries have a natural affinity with open source software, and many have implemented it for their strategic automation infrastructure, including ILS and discovery systems. In his analysis of the library automation industry, Breeding tracks the pace of adoption of open source library automation. Come hear his perspectives on the current and emerging trends of open source in the industry relative to proprietary products and how it fares relative to broader trends such as comprehensive resource management, cloud computing, and new-generation discovery.
Context: Basic library automation trends
Transition away from legacy Integrated Library System model Transition into new genre of Library Services
Platforms Large-scale consolidation of automation: regional,
state-wide, national Converged workflows: Print, electronic, digital Increased reliance on cloud technologies: multi-
tenant software-as-a-service Enterprise-level infrastructure Platform of open APIs for customized functionality
and interoperability
Adoption Patterns by Libraries
Recent ILS Industry Contracts
Company Product 2009 2010
2011
OCLC WorldShare Management Services 184
Innovative Interfaces Sierra 206
Ex Libris Alma 8 24
SirsiDynix Symphony - 126 122
Innovative Interfaces, Inc.
Millennium 45 39 32
The Library Corporation
Library.Solution 30 43 48
Ex Libris Aleph 47 39 25
VTLS Inc. Virtua 18 22 13
Polaris Library Systems
Polaris ILS 33 23 53
Biblionix Apollo 55 87 79
ByWater Solutions Koha 7 44 54
PTFS LibLime LibLime Academic Koha 7
PTFS LibLime LibLime Koha 44 27
Equinox Software Evergreen 18 15 21
Equinox Software Koha 6
ILS Installations in the United States
Installations
Libraries
Branches
Percent
Any ILS 5786 14132 24044
Koha 46 586 10994.57
%
Evergreen 292 670 10004.16
%
OPALS 137 438 8893.70
%Total Open Source
12.43%
ILS Selections 2011
Contracts
Libraries
Branches Percent
Any ILS 617 1510 2381
Koha 67 225 335 14.07%
Evergreen 12 110 179 7.52%
OPALS 70 201 208 8.74%Total Open Source 30.32%
ILS Selections 2011 (Public)
Selections
Libraries
Branches
Percent
Any ILS 295 979 1744
Koha 28 165 26615.25
%
Evergreen 7 100 168 9.63%
OPALS 0 2 2 0.11%Total Open Source
25.00%
ILS Contracts 2011 (Public)
Contracts
Libraries
Branches
Percent
Any ILS 295 979 1744
Koha 28 165 2669.49
%
Evergreen 7 100 1682.37
%
OPALS 0 2 20.00
%Total Open Source
11.86%
Perceptions of Open Source
Perceptions Survey – Open Source Interest
Perceptions Survey – Perceived functionality
Perceptions Survey – ILS Satisfaction
Business Models
Commercial involvement
Almost all installations of open source ILS products in the United States involve contracts with commercial companies
A very small minority of independent installations
Some non-profits offering open source support: LYRASIS, Amigos
Consortial arrangement: Consortial office provides support to
libraries Commercial firm provides support to
consortial office
The business of open source Many Commercial companies with
interest in open source library automation products
Revenue sources Conversion of data from incumbent system Installation / configuration Training Support / Help desk Hosting Sponsored Development
Proprietary software business model
Software License Fee Conversion, Installation, training Annual maintenance for upgrades,
service, support (~15 percent) Hosting (optional)
Software as a service (multi-tenant)
Open source or proprietary All-inclusive subscription fee
Hosting Maintenance (always up-to-date) Support Annual fee scaled to the size and
complexity of library
Development ResourcesCompany Dev Sup Sales Admin Other Total
Ex Libris 170 231 54 44 13 512Follett Software Company 87 143 86 49 0 365Innovative Interfaces, Inc. 83 158 43 24 3 311SirsiDynix Corporation 84 166 51 23 56 380Serials Solutions 80 50 46 4 57 237Axiell 57 66 34 35 34 226The Library Corporation 39 91 28 13 28 199Polaris Library Systems 27 42 15 2 86VTLS Inc. 24 48 12 8 18 110
KohaByWater Solutions 3 12 3 3 1 13Catalyst IT 3 BibLibre 4 3 Koha Total (estimated) 15PTFS 5 16 8 8 155
EvergreenEquinox Software 6 5 2 3 5 21
Models of Openness
Closed Systems
CirculationAcquisitionsCataloging
Staff Interfaces:
End User Interfaces:
Data Stores:
Functionalmodules:
No programmable Access to the system.
Captive to the userInterfaces supplied by the developer
Programmer access:
Standard RDBM Systems
CirculationAcquisitionsCataloging
Staff Interfaces:
End User Interfaces:
Data Stores:
Functionalmodules:
Database administrators can access data stores involved with the system:
Read-only?Read/write?
Developer shares database schema
Programmer access:
Open Source Model
CirculationAcquisitionsCataloging
Staff Interfaces:
End User Interfaces:
Data Stores:
Functionalmodules:
All aspects of the system available to inspection and modification.
Programmer access:
Open API Model
CirculationAcquisitionsCataloging
Staff Interfaces:
End User Interfaces:
Data Stores:
Functionalmodules:
Core application closed.
Third party developers code against the published APIs or RDBMS tables.
Programmer access:
Published APIs
Open Source / Open API Model
CirculationAcquisitionsCataloging
Staff Interfaces:
End User Interfaces:
Data Stores:
Functionalmodules:
Core application closed.
Third party developers code against the published APIs or RDBMS tables.
Programmer access:
Published APIs
Application with API abstraction layer
Core Functionality / Business Logic
Application Programming Interfaces
Public Interfac
e
Staff Interfac
e
ReportsModule
Delivered Interfaces
API abstraction layer
Core Software
Data stores
RDMS API
Application API exposed to External Applications
Core Functionality / Business Logic
Application Programming Interfaces
Public Interfac
e
Staff Interfa
ce
Reports
ModuleDelivered Interfaces
API abstraction layer
Core Software
Data stores
RDMS API
External applicatio
ns
Application API exposed to External Applications
Core Functionality / Business Logic
Application Programming Interfaces
Public Interfac
e
Staff Interfa
ce
Reports
ModuleDelivered
Interfaces use proprietary programming
Core Software
Data stores
RDMS API
External applicatio
ns
Legacy LMS Model
Circulation
BIB
Staff Interfaces:
Holding / Items
CircTransact
User Vendor Policies$$$
Funds
Cataloging Acquisitions Serials OnlineCatalog
Public Interfaces:
Interfaces
BusinessLogic
DataStores
`
Legacy ILS Model / API
Circulation
BIB
Staff Interfaces:
Holding / Items
CircTransact
User Vendor Policies$$$
Funds
Cataloging Acquisitions Serials OnlineCatalog
Public Interfaces:
Interfaces
BusinessLogic
DataStores
Application Programming Interfaces
Legacy ILS Model + protocol
Circulation
BIB
Staff Interfaces:
Holding / Items
CircTransact
User Vendor Policies$$$
Funds
CatalogingAcquisitions Serials OnlineCatalog
Public Interfaces:
Application Programming Interfaces
Protocols: SIP2 NCIP Z39.50 OAI-PMH
Self-Check
Self-Check
Interlibrary
LoanSystem
Interlibrary
LoanSystem
Legacy ILS Model / External API
Circulation
BIB
Staff Interfaces:
Holding / Items
CircTransact
User Vendor Policies$$$
Funds
CatalogingAcquisitions Serials OnlineCatalog
Public Interfaces:
Application Programming Interfaces / Web Services
Protocols: SIP2 NCIP Z39.50 OAI-PMH
ExternalSystems
& Services
ExternalSystems
& Services
Flexible Interoperability
Con
solid
ate
d in
dex
Search Engine
Unified Presentation LayerSearch:
Digital Coll
ProQuest
EBSCO…
JSTOR
Other Resour
ces
New Library Management Model
`
API Layer
Library Services Platform
LearningManageme
nt
LearningManageme
nt
Enterprise ResourcePlanning
Enterprise ResourcePlanning
StockManageme
nt
StockManageme
nt
Self-Check /
Automated Return
Self-Check /
Automated Return
Authentication
Service
Authentication
Service
Smart Cad /
Payment systems
Smart Cad /
Payment systems
Discovery
Service
Open source version of legacy models?
or New opportunities to support
modern libraries?
Is Open Source ILS transformative
Opening up Library Systems through Web Services and SOA: Hype or Reality?
This report aims to assess the current slate of major
library automation systems in regard to their
ability to provide openness through APIs, Web services, and the
adoption of SOA.
Library Technology Reports Nov/Dec Issue 2009 by Marshall Breeding
Opening up Library Systems through Web Services and SOA: Hype or Reality?
“We also note that the two open source systems lag behind proprietary systems in terms of customer-facing APIs that result in tangible activities which extend functionality or enable interoperability.”
Library Technology Reports Nov/Dec Issue 2009 by Marshall Breeding
Opening up Library Systems through Web Services and SOA: Hype or Reality?
“The APIs available to library programmers continue to be
quirky and less than comprehensive, even from
the vendors with the strongest offerings in this
area.”
Library Technology Reports Nov/Dec Issue 2009 by Marshall Breeding
Conclusion: many opportunities Open source vs proprietary software New models of library automation that better
integrate physical and electronic content New discovery interfaces to improve end-
user experiences Large-scale systems that enable broad based
resource sharing Cloud-based library automation will blur
many distinctions between open source and proprietary software development
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
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
Current Open Source ILS Products
Competing Models of Library Automation
Traditional Proprietary Commercial ILS (print centric) Millennium, Symphony, Polaris
Traditional Open Source ILS (print centric) Evergreen, Koha
Hybrid Approach Sierra Services Platform (Innovative Interfaces)
Library Services Platforms Ex Libris Alma, Serials Solutions Alma, Kuali
OLE, OCLC WorldShare Management Services
Koha
Originally developed in 1999 for small group of libraries in New Zealand, Horowhenua Library Trust by Katipo Communications, production use by Jan 2000
Gained widespread use in the United States around 2004-05 and has seen steady growth in use
Wide international adoption Used in many thousands of libraries. 1,573
represented in lib-web-cats, with many large groups not yet registered.
Companies involved with Koha
ByWater Solutions. Provides hosting and support services for libraries in the United States
PTFS – LibLime. Provides development, hosting, and support for “LibLime Academic Koha” and “LibLime Koha”
PTFS Europe. Service, hosting and support for Koha in the United Kingdom and parts of Europe.
BibLibre. Provides development, hosting and support primarily to libraries in France Catalist IT: provides development, hosting and support for libraries in Australia an
New Zealand Libéo: Service and suppor for Koha to libraries in Canada Equinox Software, Inc. Provides development, support, and hosting for Koha to
libraries in the United States. Most of the company’s business is based on Evergreen. Orex. Service and support for Koha in Spain Organizadatos: Service and support for Koha in Columbia and other parts of Latin
America Librotech: Based in Norway to promote and provide service and support for Koha in
Scandinavia. Katipo Communications. Service and support for Koha in New Zealand. Previously
sold its interests in Koha to LibLime, but has since reinstated its involvement.
National Projects to deploy Koha
Philippines: A systematic effort to install Koha in the public libraries sponsored by the state libraries
Spain: Koha-Kobli http://kobli.bage.es/
Argentina. CONABIP (Comisión Nacional de Bibliotecas Populares) Customized version of Koha: DigiBepe http://www.conabip.gob.ar/faq/digibepe
Evergreen
Originally developed by the Georgia Public Library System for the PINES consortium of public libraries in Georgia
PINES includes most of the small and mid-sized public libraries in Georgia, but not the largest urban areas (Atlanta, Cobb County, etc)
Equinox Software, Inc. launched as a separate company in Feb 2007, including most of the team that originally created Evergreen within GPLS.
Evergreen now used in over 1,000 libraries, primarily in the United States and Canada. Some recent international deployments
Evergreen Worldwide
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
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
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 18-24 months High level of investment and commitment to
implementation
Comparative Issues:
Koha: (ILS) Used in a wide range of library sizes and types Very broad international deployment with translations into
many languages Many support companies in various countries and regions
Evergreen (ILS) Created initially for library consortia, and has since followed
that pattern. Very few instances for single libraries Concentrated in US, Canada, initial deployments in Europe Perceived as more complex to implement than Koha
Kuali OLE: (LSP) Enterprise-level software for academic and research libraries No libraries yet in production
Questions and discussion