Integrated library system
Encyclopedia
An integrated library system (ILS), also known as a library management system (LMS),
is an enterprise resource planning
system for a library
, used to track items owned, orders made, bills paid, and patrons who have borrowed.
An ILS usually comprises a relational database
, software to interact with that database, and two graphical user interface
s (one for patrons, one for staff). Most ILSes separate software functions into discrete programs called modules, each of them integrated with a unified interface. Examples of modules might include:
Each patron and item has a unique ID in the database that allows the ILS to track its activity.
Larger libraries use an ILS to order and acquire, receive and invoice, catalog, circulate, track and shelve materials. Smaller libraries, such as those in private homes or non-profit organizations (like churches or synagogues, for instance), often forgo the expense and maintenance required to run an ILS, and instead use a library computer system
.
s.
Since the late 1980s, windowing system
s and multi-tasking have allowed the integration of business functions. Instead of having to open up separate applications, library staff could now use a single application with multiple functional modules.
As the Internet
grew, ILS vendors offered more functionality related to computer networks. major ILS systems offer web-based portals where library users can log in to view their account, renew their books, and authenticate themselves for access to online database
s.
In recent years some libraries have turned to major open source ILSs such as Koha
and Evergreen
. Common reasons noted were to avoid vendor lock in, avoid license fees, and participate in software development. Librarytechnology.org does an annual survey of over 1,500 libraries and noted in 2008 2% of those surveyed used open source ILS, in 2009 the number increased to 8% and in 2010(most recent year available) 12% of the libraries polled had adopted open source ILSs.
Proprietary
Legacy
is an enterprise resource planning
Enterprise resource planning
Enterprise resource planning systems integrate internal and external management information across an entire organization, embracing finance/accounting, manufacturing, sales and service, customer relationship management, etc. ERP systems automate this activity with an integrated software application...
system for a library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
, used to track items owned, orders made, bills paid, and patrons who have borrowed.
An ILS usually comprises a relational database
Relational database
A relational database is a database that conforms to relational model theory. The software used in a relational database is called a relational database management system . Colloquial use of the term "relational database" may refer to the RDBMS software, or the relational database itself...
, software to interact with that database, and two graphical user interface
Graphical user interface
In computing, a graphical user interface is a type of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices with images rather than text commands. GUIs can be used in computers, hand-held devices such as MP3 players, portable media players or gaming devices, household appliances and...
s (one for patrons, one for staff). Most ILSes separate software functions into discrete programs called modules, each of them integrated with a unified interface. Examples of modules might include:
- acquisitions (ordering, receiving, and invoicing materials)
- catalogingLibrary catalogA library catalog is a register of all bibliographic items found in a library or group of libraries, such as a network of libraries at several locations...
(classifying and indexing materials) - circulation (lending materials to patrons and receiving them back)
- serialSerial (literature)In literature, a serial is a publishing format by which a single large work, most often a work of narrative fiction, is presented in contiguous installments—also known as numbers, parts, or fascicles—either issued as separate publications or appearing in sequential issues of a single periodical...
s (tracking magazine and newspaper holdings) - the OPAC (public interface for users)
Each patron and item has a unique ID in the database that allows the ILS to track its activity.
Larger libraries use an ILS to order and acquire, receive and invoice, catalog, circulate, track and shelve materials. Smaller libraries, such as those in private homes or non-profit organizations (like churches or synagogues, for instance), often forgo the expense and maintenance required to run an ILS, and instead use a library computer system
Library computer system
A library computer system is the software used to catalog, track circulation and inventory a library's assets. It is intended for home, church, private enterprise or other small to medium sized collections...
.
History
Librarians often referred to ILSs as library automation systems or automated systems in the 1970s and early 1980s. Before the advent of computers, libraries usually used a card catalog to index their holdings. Computers came into use to automate the card catalog, thus the term automation system. Automation of the catalog saves the labor involved in resorting the card catalog, keeping it up-to-date with respect to the collection, etc. Other tasks automated include checking-out and checking-in books, generating statistics and reports, acquisitions and subscriptions, indexing journal articles and linking to them, as well as tracking interlibrary loanInterlibrary loan
Interlibrary loan is a service whereby a user of one library can borrow books or receive photocopies of documents that are owned by another library...
s.
Since the late 1980s, windowing system
Windowing system
A windowing system is a component of a graphical user interface , and more specifically of a desktop environment, which supports the implementation of window managers, and provides basic support for graphics hardware, pointing devices such as mice, and keyboards...
s and multi-tasking have allowed the integration of business functions. Instead of having to open up separate applications, library staff could now use a single application with multiple functional modules.
As the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
grew, ILS vendors offered more functionality related to computer networks. major ILS systems offer web-based portals where library users can log in to view their account, renew their books, and authenticate themselves for access to online database
Bibliographic database
A bibliographic database is a database of bibliographic records, an organized digital collection of references to published literature, including journal and newspaper articles, conference proceedings, reports, government and legal publications, patents, books, etc...
s.
In recent years some libraries have turned to major open source ILSs such as Koha
Koha (software)
Koha is an open source Integrated Library System , used world-wide by public, school and special libraries. The name koha comes from a Māori term for a gift or donation .- Features :...
and Evergreen
Evergreen (software)
Evergreen is an open source Integrated Library System , initially developed by the for Public Information Network for Electronic Services , a statewide resource-sharing consortium with over 270 member libraries....
. Common reasons noted were to avoid vendor lock in, avoid license fees, and participate in software development. Librarytechnology.org does an annual survey of over 1,500 libraries and noted in 2008 2% of those surveyed used open source ILS, in 2009 the number increased to 8% and in 2010(most recent year available) 12% of the libraries polled had adopted open source ILSs.
Examples
Open-source- EvergreenEvergreen (software)Evergreen is an open source Integrated Library System , initially developed by the for Public Information Network for Electronic Services , a statewide resource-sharing consortium with over 270 member libraries....
- CDS InvenioCDS InvenioInvenio is an open source software package that provides the tools for management of digital assets in an institutional repository. Invenio was developed by the CERN Document Server Software Consortium, and is freely available for download. Free and paid support models are available.- History...
- KohaKoha (software)Koha is an open source Integrated Library System , used world-wide by public, school and special libraries. The name koha comes from a Māori term for a gift or donation .- Features :...
- NewGenLibNewGenLibNewGenLib is an integrated library management system developed by Verus Solutions Pvt Ltd. Domain expertise is provided by Kesavan Institute of Information and Knowledge Management in Hyderabad, India. NewGenLib version 1.0 was released in March 2005. On 9 January 2008, NewGenLib was declared Open...
- PhpMyBibliPhpMyBibliPMB is a fully featured open source integrated library system. The project was initiated by François Lemarchand in October 2002, Director of the Public Library of Agneaux; it is now maintained by PMB Services .- Features :...
- Greenstone
- OpenBiblio
Proprietary
- Ex LibrisEx LibrisEx Libris is a Latin phrase, meaning literally, "from the books". It is often used to indicate ownership of a book, as in "from the books of..." or from the library of...Ex Libris may also refer to:...
Group, Aleph and Voyager (latter acquired from Endeavor Information Systems in 2006) - Millennium, former Innopac, from Innovative Interfaces, Inc.
- SirsiDynix, Symphony -- current version and Unicorn -- a legacy system.
- Library•Solution, Library•Solution for Schools, and CARL•X from The Library Corporation
- LibraryWorldLibraryWorld- LibraryWorld :LibraryWorld is a web 2.0 integrated library system developed by LibraryWorld Inc used by more than 2,000 libraries. It performs library automation and collection management tasks and via software as a service on LibraryWorld Inc’s cloud computing platform. Public, academic, K-12...
- Insignia Library System (ILS), Insignia Software Corporation
- NOSA
- EOS InternationalEOS InternationalEOS International is a 501c3 not-profit organization founded in 2008 and dedicated to promoting appropriate technology in the developing world. EOS works primarily in Nicaragua providing rural families with access to low-cost technologies geared towards generating income and improving health...
- SydneyPLUS InternationalSydneyPLUS InternationalSydneyPLUS International is a Canadian computer company based in Richmond, British Columbia, with offices in New York and Los Angeles in the United States, and Nottingham in the UK. A private company, its staff is organized into research and development, client services, and sales and marketing...
- TalisTalis GroupTalis Group Ltd. is a software company based in Birmingham, England that develops a Semantic Web application platform and a suite of applications for the education, research and library sectors...
(UK and Ireland) - Horizon from former company DynixDynixDynix is an operating system developed by Sequent. It is a flavor of Unix based on BSD. DYNIX was replaced by DYNIX/ptx, which was based on the System V version of UNIX produced by AT&T....
, later absorbed by SirsiDynix - SLIM21, former SLIM++, from Algorhythms Consultants Pvt Ltd.
- Virtua, former VTLSVTLSVTLS Inc. is a company providing library automation software and services mostly to government and university customers. VTLS counts over 900 libraries in 32 countries. VTLS is also one of the few ISO 9001:2000 quality-certified companies within the library industry. VTLS Inc...
, from VTLS Inc. - VoyagerVoyager (library program)Voyager is an integrated library system used by more than 1,300 libraries around the world. The biggest user is the Library of Congress and many universities, museums, and community colleges use it...
from former company Endeavor Information Systems, later acquired by Ex Libris MOL, Patron and MOLIK - interface created for children
Legacy
- NOTISNOTISNOTIS was a seminal integrated library system first created at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL USA in 1968. John P. McGowan, University Librarian from 1971 to 1992, recruited Professor James S...
See also
- Library computer systemLibrary computer systemA library computer system is the software used to catalog, track circulation and inventory a library's assets. It is intended for home, church, private enterprise or other small to medium sized collections...
- OPACOPACAn Online Public Access Catalog is an online database of materials held by a library or group of libraries...
- List of next-generation catalogs
- History of Library Automation
Further reading
- Rubin, Richard E. Foundations of Library and Information Science. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc., 2004.
External links
- Library Technology Guides, a site that includes a directory of companies that produce integrated library systems and a directory of libraries that includes data on the ILS used in each library
- A historical chart of major ILS vendors
- MARC Records, Systems and Tools : Network Development and MARC StandardsMARC standardsMARC, MAchine-Readable Cataloging, is a data format and set of related standards used by libraries to encode and share information about books and other material they collect...
Office, Library of CongressLibrary of CongressThe Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and... - College Center for Library Automation
- Higher Education Library Technology,(HELibTech) a wiki supported by SCONUL (Society of College National and University Libraries) that covers many aspects of library technology and lists technologies in use in UK Higher Education
- Local Government Library Technology, (LGLibTech) a wiki that covers many aspects of library technology and lists technologies in use in UK public libraries