Integrated Library Systems

Moving to the Cloud: Fair Skies or . . .

Joseph R. Matthews

September 2014

Agenda

Integrated Library System

Cloud-based Computing

A library eco-system in the Cloud

I L S

The ILS

Serials ControlCirculationOPAC

AcquisitionsCataloging

Electronic Resource Management

Digital Asset Management

Repository

Link Resolver

Authentication

Metasearch

Discovery Service

Citation Managers

Change

Library customers are at the network level

Library customers able to adopt and discard tools that make sense for them very quickly

Libraries (and vendors) seemingly unable to do anything other than operate at glacial speed (compared to network level offerings)

What’s Hot – @ the Network Level

Mobile

Cloud

Apps

Internet of

Things

Big Data

AnalyticsIntegrated Ecosystems

… the integrated library system (ILS), has not changed much for the past two decades.

Library staff becomes even more frustrated with the ILS

It is obvious we are at the tipping point for a dramatic change in the area of library automation system.

• OPAC customer must go to the information

• Web destinations deliver information

• OPAC tied to a specific place

• OPAC is good at books

Not an afterthought

Exploding digital content

Multiple & different user interfaces

ILS is library-centric

OPAC single search box?

Not a starting point

High quality data

Library data rarely repurposed – not working very hard

OPAC is really a data-driven Web site

Content Management System

Content resides in data tables

Queries assemble content

Style sheets determine how content is displayed

Same InfrastructureBibliographic and

authority recordsWeb sitesMobile devicesMulti-mediaRSS feedsXML and other

easily shared data extracts

Set My Data Free

Set Your Interface Free

Set Your Search Free

Library Services Platform

Discoverable data

Accessible data

Searchable data

User-focused systems

Single point of entry

New ways to present & share information

“. . . in an environment of change while overall

mission and values may remain the same, new

and shifting goals become the norm.

As goals shift in a changing environment, so does the

need to think about how to marshal the means to meet

them. This may need reorganization, new staff skills,

changing priorities, reallocation of staff and

resources . . .

BenefitsReduced costs

Displaces the need for local hardware and software – computing power has become a commodity

Ability to quickly add IT resources – scalability, flexibility

Mobility

Improve security

Agile (as needed) software releases

Focus on adding value

Gartner Hype Cycle for Technology

ILS in the Cloud

EOS.Web

Ex Libris Alma

Innovative Interfaces Sierra

OCLC WorldShare Management System

SirsiDynix Blue Cloud

Kuali Open Library Environment

Performance standards

System reliability

Response times

Software testing

Security features

System failures

Disaster recover

Data backup

Multiple broadband connections

UPS

Customer support

Training

Maintenance

Limits

there may be significant advantages (in terms of

both cost and efficiency) in moving more

acquisitions and licensing data and processes

to the network level where they can be shared

with other libraries.

Mix & Match

The emergence of a new genre of library services

platforms that comprehensively manage library

resources across all formats, based on service-

oriented architecture with web-based interfaces

designed for deployment through SaaS, stands to

reshape the industry over the next decade.

User Needs

The focus needs to be on the

“jobs-to-be-done”

Suggested Readings

Marshall Breeding. Cloud Computing for Libraries. Chicago: ALA Editions, 2012.

Edward Corrodo and Heather Moulaison. Getting Started with Cloud Computing: A LITA Guide. Chicago: ALA Editions, 2011.

Carl Grant. The Future of Library Systems: Library Services Platform. Information Standards Quarterly, 24 (4), Fall 2012, 4 – 15.

Robin Hastings. Making the Most of the Cloud: How to Choose and Implement the Best Services for Your Library. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2014.

Erik Mitchell. Cloud-Based Services for Your Library. Chicago: ALA Editions, 2012.

Contact

• Joe AT JoeMatthews.Org