clsc555 webliography

CLSC 555 INFORMATION SYSTEMS WEBLIOGRAPHY: Integrated Library Systems
by
Louis Abramovitz

ILS Information Portals
- Library HQ.com
  produced by Intergraph Corporation and Sirsi
  This is an information portal with numerous links to library automation resources in general and ILS in particular. Highlights include library automation bibliographies, consultant listings and sample RFPs for client/server integrated library systems. This well-organized site provides one-stop information shopping for both experienced information professionals and relative newcomers seeking a basic orientation. However, because the site is a joint venture of Intergraph and Sirsi, both of which arguably have vested interests in the sale of their products, the advice may not be entirely objective. There are also several broken links to e-journals and other resources.
- Integrated Library Systems Reports
  produced by Mary Dzurinko and Nina Platt
  This portal is essentially a librarian’s toolkit, containing technology plans, an online citation database to ILS articles and industry white papers. The authors are, respectively, the editor of AALL’s Technical Services Law Librarian and a consultant/contributor to Law Office Computing. This is a commendable effort to provide nuts-and-bolts type information. Unfortunately, it appears that the site was last updated in 2001. This may explain why a number of links to external sources are no longer valid.
Industry Trends and News
- Migration Down, Innovation Up: Automation Systems Marketplace 2004
  by Marshall Breeding
  The latest annual market update from Library Journal, by a well-known writer and consultant on library automation. This article provides a very good overview and background information on the ILS market, including statistics regarding different market segments, corporate mergers and recent system migration trends. Unfortunately, company sales data are reported only for a handful of vendors, so it is difficult to meaningfully assess the stability of individual vendors relative to previous years’ reports.
- Biblio Tech Review
  produced by Biblio Tech Limited Publishing (UK)
  This site provides a compilation of ILS-related industry news and announcements (for example, which library picked what vendor), with the search function aided by a list of popular keywords. Also helpful is a set of relatively jargon-free technical briefings, which should give librarians just the right amount of information to better understand and appreciate the importance of emerging technologies, such as Z39.50. One drawback is that the news and announcements consist largely of vendor-initiated press releases, rather than objective information as to why libraries went with these vendors in the first place.
ILS Case Studies
- Turning Patrons into Partners
  by Terry Ryan, UCLA
  This article presents a case study delineating UCLA’s systematic approach to gathering input from patrons as part of the ILS selection process. While the techniques described might be adaptable to other libraries’ particular circumstances, the amount of time and resources committed here might be an unaffordable luxury for smaller colleges, or in many public or special library settings.
- The Centrality of the Integrated Library System
  by Laura Maquignaz, Victoria University (Australia)
  This paper was presented at the 2004 Victorian Association for Library Automation (Australia) conference. It is focused on the expectations from ILS vendors and offers some good insights. The downside is that the paper and conference are heavily skewed toward ILS in one area, namely, the academic library environment.
- Working Together to Expand and Extend the Functionality of Your ILMS
  by Chris Thewlis, Civica Proprietary Limited
  Another report from the above-mentioned conference. This article, written by a principal with an internationally known specialized software solutions group, makes a strong case for the importance of having a collaborative working relationship with one's ILS vendor. At the same time, the author seems to be stating the obvious here, namely, that vendors and libraries are not just entities, but people.
Open Source Systems
- Open Source Systems for Libraries
  by Dan Chudnov, OSSL
  This Web portal is part of the nonprofit OSSL’s mission, namely, to cultivate the collaborative power of open source software engineering to build better and free systems for use in libraries. Valuable aspects of the site include listings of free software and systems designed for libraries, an ILS bibliography and a listserv for general discussions. But it unfortunately does not appear to have a good internal site search tool. In addition, the listings of free software and systems are for bricks-and-mortar libraries only, so it may not prove as useful for digital libraries.
- Open Source Initiative
  produced by the Open Source Initiative (OSI)
  This website offers information about successful software products that have these properties and about OSI’s certification mark and program. OSI is a non-profit corporation which manages and promotes the Open Source definition. This site may be helpful in terms of providing some broad perspective on open source. But it may not be as applicable to library professionals as the OSSL site (listed above), as it focuses on industry-wide initiatives.
- An Update on Open Source ILS
  by Marshall Breeding, Vanderbilt University
  A brief review of three major library open source projects. The article touches on up-and-coming Koha, and does a good job outlining pros and cons of open source. The flipside is that there is very little information to report on or analyze, because these systems have not yet been implemented in very many libraries.
ILS Vendor Information
- Library Technology Guides
  produced by Marshall Breeding, Vanderbilt University
  This extensive website is an impressive compendium, including vendor listings and news archive, a searchable library automation bibliography and more. This site has an easy to use search tool to find press releases, along with helpful information on which libraries employ different vendors’ systems. A potential downside is that newcomers to the ILS field may find themselves overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information presented, and perhaps will not know where to begin.
- Company Profiles for Automated Systems Marketplace 2004
  by Marshall Breeding
  A complete list of major vendors, including website addresses and vendor profiles. A helpful feature is that profiles list representative library customers for each vendor. Unfortunately, however, the information is not organized by library type(s) or industry segments served.
Planning and Security Issues
- Introducing New Technology Successfully Into Your Agency
  by Jane Cravens, Coyote Communications
  A succinct, well-crafted tip sheet that addresses issues related to introducing or enhancing existing computer technology. Effectively underscores the need for staff buy-in. One possible weakness is that the intended audience seems to be human services/community-based agencies, where, unlike many libraries, system requirements may be more technologically straightforward and internally-focused.
- Library Technology Planning: An Outline of the Process
  by Bob Bocher, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
  This frequently-cited website provides some useful links to actual libraries’ technology plans, which in turn relate back to ILS. This can be a good starting point for novices to the planning process. The site has some bad links, though, probably due to its not having been updated since 2000.
- Defending Your ILS Against Security Threats
  by Marshall Breeding, Vanderbilt University
  This is a good, brief article addressing the important issue of ILS security breaches. The list of specific tips/recommendations may prove helpful in educating senior management about these threats. But library staff who are responsible for one or more aspects of their organization’s ILS are probably already aware of these issues.
Professional Development/Training
- Special Interest Group--Library Technologies
  produced by the American Society for Information Science & Technology (ASIST)
  This site is hosted by members of the respected professional association ASIST. This group helps facilitate communication and building of relationships between libraries and other information providers, including developers of rapidly evolving, commercial integrated library systems. Detracting from its value, however, is that the site was last updated sometime in 2003.
- Computers in Libraries Annual Conference
  produced by Information Today
  This site contains information related to the 2005 conference. This forum may be an excellent opportunity for library professionals to interact directly with ILS vendors and to obtain first-hand information on trends affecting the field. As of this date, though, information is incomplete -- program and speakers for 2005 have not been finalized.
- LITA National Forum
  produced by the Library Information and Technology Association (LITA)
  LITA, a specialty group sponsored by the American Library Association, offers additional opportunities for librarians to learn about what is taking place in the field of library automation and ILS. Planned topics for the 2005 conference include seminars on open source, and library system technology planning and management. This site is a work in progress, however, as 2005 speakers and conference program are still in the process of being firmed up.
The Future of ILS
- The Future of Integrated Library Systems
  by Brian Kenney, Senior Editor, Library Journal
  This article presents highlights from the roundtable discussion which took place at the 2003 ACRL conference. Important trends are touched upon, such as the increasing emphasis on interoperability relative to ILS, as well as integrating different standalones to create optimal systems. A major drawback to this piece is that roundtable participants were primarily sellers of major ILS systems – so the insights presented may reflect their particular biases and corporate agendas.
- Trends in Integrated Library Systems
  by Catherine Ebenezer, Royal College of Midwives (UK)
  Free access to a paper that originally appeared in VINE. The author presents a strong argument that ILS is somewhat unique, in that it has been a recipient (rather than a driver) of technological innovation. Also provides a good explanation of the ways in which ILS will be impacted by such developments as XML and Z39.50. Disappointingly, though, open source software (arguably an important emerging issue), is touched upon just briefly and without much insight or analysis.