Library Technology Guides

We are now five years into the deployment of the genre of library services platforms. This breed of software, implemented primarily in academic and other types of research libraries, departs from the model of the integrated library system (ILS) in several critical areas. Although the conceptual and technical development of this new type of library software was in the works for a few years, its deployment in libraries began in 2011. At this five-year benchmark it is of interest to review the current landscape of these products, assess the level of adoption, and note any discernable trends.

Although each of the products offers its distinct approach to functionality and technology infrastructure, there are a set of products that have diverged significantly from the well-established category of ILSs. Many of these characteristics arise out of the current technology paradigm centered on services deployed entirely through the Web, oriented to collaboration and social interactions, and powered by massive data stores.