Pilot libraries, advisory group continue work with OCLC staff on development of Web-scale Management Services
DUBLIN, Ohio, USA, December 14, 2009
– OCLC is working closely with a Library Advisory Council and four pilot library groups to continue development of OCLC Web-scale Management Services, a next-generation Web-based suite of library management services for metadata management, acquisitions, circulation, license management, and workflow.
Pilot participants include CPC (Craven, Pamlico, Carteret) Regional Libraries in North Carolina; Idaho Commission for Libraries, including Boundary County Public Library, Payette County Public Libraries and the Cooperative Information Network (CIN); Orbis Cascade Alliance and Linfield College Libraries; and Pepperdine University Libraries. These libraries are already testing circulation and patron management modules and will continue iterative testing and product feedback as new functionality becomes available.
"Libraries are looking for new ways to address the complexities of managing disparate collections, maintaining multiple workflows and supporting increasingly complex IT environments," said Andrew Pace, OCLC Executive Director for Networked Library Services. "This is an ambitious project and it is essential that libraries are fully engaged in its development. Our collaborative effort will continue through general release and beyond because these services are being built to accommodate ongoing enhancements. We are fortunate to be able to work closely with library leaders and leading libraries to help build the first cooperative Web-scale Management Services for libraries."
The collective vision for Web-scale Management Services is to move services to the network or "cloud" whereby libraries use the same shared hardware, services and data, rather than hosting hardware and software on behalf of individual libraries. The cooperative nature of this project leverages the powerful ethos of library resource sharing - opening up opportunities for cooperative intelligence by making sharable data available to all users - a "network effect" not available when library management systems are simply hosted by another organisation.
Plans are in place to form a global advisory council in the coming months to address specific needs of libraries outside North America.
"OCLC is uniquely positioned to build services using 21st century technologies, and build them upon the great assets of the cooperative - the WorldCat database, the WorldCat Link Manager Knowledgebase and 40 years of cooperative, network-level applications", said Mr Pace.
OCLC will be treating cloud computing as a central theme at its first EMEA Regional Council Meeting in February 2010. Matt Goldner, OCLC Product and Technology Advocate will be presenting on "The opportunities that cloud computing presents for libraries" in the opening session. And a workshop will also be held during the meeting for librarians interested in learning more about OCLC's work to move library management system functionality to Web-scale. Andrew Pace will present "Web-scale Management Services: a truly 'next-generation' of library management services" on Wednesday 24 February from 09:45-12:00 PM. The Meeting is taking place at the CORPUS Congress Centre in Leiden, the Netherlands. Those libraries wishing to attend can register at: https://www3.oclc.org/app/emea/council/
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