Web-scale management services

To truly deliver network-level services—and not simply Internet hosted solutions of current library services—new system architectures and workflows must be engineered to support global transaction rates and collaboration. When this happens, library management services will accrue benefits on a par with OCLC Cataloging and OCLC Resource Sharing.

OCLC's vision is similar to Software as a Service (SaaS) but is distinguished by the cooperative "network effect" of all libraries using the same, shared hardware, services and data, rather than the alternative model of hosting hardware and software on behalf of individual libraries. Libraries would subscribe to Web-scale management services that include modular management functionality. Moreover, libraries would benefit from the network-level integration of numerous services that are not currently part of traditional integrated library systems, e.g., Knowledge Base Integration, WorldCat Collection Analysis, WorldCat Selection, WorldCat Local, etc..

Broadly, the benefits of this approach are:

• Increased visibility and accessibility of libraries' collections for patrons, combined with;
• Networked technical services and collection management that reduces duplication of effort, supported by;
• Streamlined workflows, realigned and optimized to fully benefit from network participation
• Cooperative intelligence and improved service levels enabled by the large-scale aggregation of usage data.

A truly cooperative, next-generation solution

The new Web-scale management services will combine all of the features often used to describe the next-generation of library management services and will leverage the global participation of OCLC libraries, resulting in:

• A Web-based platform for all basic library management functionality
• Reduced Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and increased efficiency through a unified management platform for all types of materials, regardless of format or method of acquisition
• A flexible and customizable workflow platform
• Network effects by sharing applications and data between libraries
• Concentrated data registries and repositories
• A Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) for interoperability with local environments and 3rd party business process systems (e.g., financial management, HR systems, and course management)

WorldCat Local represents the first step toward this next-generation solution. And WorldCat Local "quick start" gives hundreds of libraries an easier way to evaluate OCLC's Web-scale management services.

Web-scale management services

Web-Scale Circulation and Delivery: Circulation and delivery functionality will include the basic necessities for check-in, check-out, holds, and patron self-service with which libraries are familiar. The system will include basic configuration for inventory management, including patron profiles, item types, and library/branch locations and profiles.

Web-Scale Print and Electronic Acquisitions: "Acquisitions" is used to describe all print and licensed inventory management: monographs, serials, electronic collections, and licensed materials. Acquisitions will include basic Electronic Resource Management (ERM) functionality, including vendor/provider management, and metadata management.

Web-Scale License Management: The license management service and any supporting software are designed to support electronic resource librarians in negotiating and recording licenses together with the resources they cover. License management also supports library operations in situations in which compliance with a license is at issue.

Web-Scale Self-Configuration: A Configuration User Interface and Framework that will enable library-staff to configure OCLC products, allowing library staff to enter product configuration in one place and avoid duplication of the same data for different OCLC products.

Web-Scale Workflow: The Workflow component defines an extensible Domain Specific Language (DSL) for creating library process definitions. A process definition consists of activities and transitions between them.

Web-Scale Cooperative Intelligence: Business Intelligence will aggregate the datasets created by the network effects of the platform to create new and compelling collection management tools for libraries. Possible areas include management tools to evaluate consortial funds, collection management and development, usage statistics, real-time circulation data, collection shifting, recommender services, profile sharing and enhanced resource information.

Advisory Council

A Library Advisory Council will advise OCLC as it develops the first Web-scale cooperative library management service.  The Council comprises the following leaders from the library community:

• Helene Blowers, Digital Strategy Director, Columbus Metropolitan Library
• John Helmer, Executive Director, Orbis Cascade Alliance
• Jan Ison, Executive Director, Lincoln Trail Libraries System
• R. David Lankes, Associate Professor, Syracuse University
• Sarah McHugh, Statewide Projects Librarian, Montana State Library
• Mary Piorun, Associate Director, University of Massachusetts Medical Center Library
• Tim Rogers, Executive Director, NCLIVE
• John Teskey, Director of Libraries, University of New Brunswick
• Andrew Pace, OCLC, ex officio

Read the full news release about the Advisory Council.

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