The genre of library services platforms helps libraries manage their collection materials and automate many aspects of their operations by addressing a wider range of resources. They take advantage of current technology architectures compared to the integrated library systems that have previously dominated. This seminal category of library technology products has gained momentum in recent years and is positioned to reshape how libraries acquire, manage, and provide access to their collections as they go forward into the next decade. This issue of Library Technology Reports explores this new category of library software, including its functional and technical characteristics. The issues covered include differences with integrated library systems, which remain viable for many libraries and continue to see development along their own trajectory an up-to-date assessment of library services platforms, ranging from those that have well-established track records to those that remain under development the relationship between library services platforms and discovery services a general overview of major products, discussing their high-level organization of functionality, and adoption patterns relative to size and types a look at libraries that have implemented platforms and how these libraries perceive their performance.

Interfacing with library collections has changed drastically in the past several years, now integrating not only with the ILS but other local and external resources. Offering valuable guidance for effectively evaluating discovery systems, this issue of Library Technology Reports is filled with information on recent trends and the current state of the art in discovery. Breeding surveyed discovery vendors and 396 libraries on overall satisfaction and perceived effectiveness, and this report details his findings and conclusions. Focusing on the dominant index-based web scale discovery systems for academic and research libraries, and the emergent e-book lending functionality for public libraries, this report covers EBSCO, Ex Libris, OCLC, and Serial Solutions descriptions of their resource coverage Librarian comments on coverage from eight different products Product profiles of four major web-scale discovery services, six general discovery interfaces, and three integrated discovery and portal services APIs for e-book integration from Overdrive, 3M Cloud Library, and Baker & Taylor s Axis 360 Insight into the competitive environment that impedes comprehensive article-level indexing

Library Technology Reports May/June 2011 v.47 no.4 This report elaborates on the results of Marshall Breeding's 2010 survey of libraries' satisfaction with their sutomation products, and examines trends that have emerged over the four years the survey has been conducted. Chapter 1 details the survey methodology and limits, and outlines its findings. Chapter 2 delves into respondents' comments to explore the themes that may be motivating libraries' ratings of their systems. These include concerns about cost, relationships with consortia, and varying expectations for functionality. Libraries' mixed feelings on open source options are also discussed. Chapter 3 then examines the numerical data, looking at satisfaction for major ILS products and vendors. Different library types (public and academic) and sizes are compared. Respondents' comments provide some context for these ratings. Chapter 3 also examines trends in satisfaction and interest in open source over time; satisfaction is flat or slightly increasing, whereas the picture for open source is complicated. Finally, by comparing 2007 and 2010 data, Chapter 3 finds that libraries' vendor loyalty ratings do indiate the future likelihood of migration. Chapter 4 examines in depth a few major ILS vendors, which span a range of library types and satisfaction ratings, and speculatse on the reasons for these ratings.

Library Technology Reports v.44 no.8 For at least the last two decades, libraries have overwhelmingly obtained their core automation systems from specialized vendors who offer the software through licenses that allow the company to retain exclusive access to the underlying source code. In recent years, open source software has become an increasingly popular alternative. The underlying program code is made available for anyone to inspect, repair, or improve. The open source software movement has entered the library automation industry, introducing a new set of integrated library systems and a clique of companies offering a business model based on service and support rather than software license fees. This issue of Library Technology Reports provides an overview of this new aspect of the library automation industry and provides detailed information about the major open source integrated library systems and the companies that support them.

Supplementing your local collection through resource sharing is a smart way to ensure your library has the resources to satisfy the needs of your users. Marshall Breeding's new Library Technology Report explores technologies and strategies for sharing resources, helping you streamline workflows and improve resource-sharing services. Covering key strategies like interlibrary loan, consortial borrowing, document delivery, and shared collections, you'll also learn about such trends and services as: OCLC WorldCat Resource Sharing, and other systems that facilitate cooperative, reciprocal lending System-to-system communications that allow integrated systems to interact with resource-sharing environments Technical components that reliably automate patron requests, routing to suppliers with tools for tracking, reporting, and staff intervention as needed Specialised applications that simplify document delivery, such as Ariel, Odyssey, or OCLC s Article Exchange How the NISO Circulation Interchange Protocol (NCIP) can enable borrowing among consortial libraries using separate integrated library systems The Orbis Cascade Alliance consortium, examined using a case study

In response to public libraries’ interest in proactive marketing of their programs, services, and collections, a variety of new products have been introduced. Each takes a different approach in providing libraries with sophisticated tools to support marketing campaigns or other initiatives to strengthen engagement with their communities. Many involve harvesting data and producing analytics and visualizations that aim to provide insight into the strategic performance of the library and the effectiveness of its marketing efforts.

While propriety software continues to dominate, open source solutions are presenting an alternative to libraries. This issue of Library Technology Reports provides you with an outline of the major open source integrated library systems and library services platforms and their influence on the broader library technology industry. The advantages and disadvantages of both open source and proprietary software will be explored in the report. Breeding begins this issue of Library Technology Reports by presenting an overview of open source resource management solutions and introducing the current landscape of these products in the industry. The chapters following closely examine the open source resource management systems Koha, Evergreen, TIND, and FOLIO. The report concludes by exploring the impact of open source products on the library automation environment.

The prospect of a new automation system can be daunting. When do the benefits of moving to something new surpass the deficits of keeping the status quo? Can the products on the market deliver what libraries need to survive and prosper? Are those based on open source more flexible than proprietary systems? What about those deployed in the cloud? These and dozens more questions arise when libraries enter a selection process. Knowing the options is key to arriving at the best answers for your own organization. Marshall Breeding, who has followed the ins and outs of library technology for more than 30 years, gathers together a roster of fellow experts in the field to offer new practioners, library decision makers, and budgeting staff a comprehensive survey of what’s out there. Providing substance beyond the buzzwords and hype, this guide quickly brings readers up to speed while providing practical advice on such topics as RFPs: what they are, how to write them and tips for getting bids; standards, interoperability, and trends in resource sharing; distinguishing between infrastructure-as-service, software-as-service, and platform-as-service when it comes to cloud computing; what you need to know to start planning for cloud computing; how library service platforms differ from the traditional ILS; and factors to consider when comparing e-book platforms . Armed with this book’s clear-sighted perspective, libraries will be empowered to make informed and responsible decisions concerning their technology infrastructure.

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