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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 PublicSouth Western Academic Libraries Co-

operative 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, McDonnell

Douglas URICA, SLS

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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 functionsLibrary 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 originallyALEPH 500 – from Israeli firm Ex LibrisALICE – from Softlink, AustraliaCAIRS/LMS- UKDynix/Horizon – USDS Galaxy – UKGeac – ADVANCE from CanadaHeritage – 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, UKOLIB – Fretwell Downing, UKTalis – BLCMP, UKUnicorn – Sirsi, USVoyager – Endeavor, USVTLS - USJuliet 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 companiesFederated searching Reference linking using OpenURLImproved user interfacesWeb 2.0Move to open systems architectureMove to open source softwareConsortial working and outsourcingUK 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.htmPlus 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 user-friendly 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 GalaxyDS 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 feeUsed by public libraries, University and college libraries,

Special libraries: medical, government, legal

Developed by: Juliet LeevesE-mail: julietleeves@tiscali.co.uk

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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 methodologySeven suppliers on long list following

Briefing Document etcThree 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/fundingopportunities/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.htm

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.