The library and the network: flattening the library and turning it inside out

1. The library and the network:flattening the library and turning it inside out Lorcan Dempsey Access 2005 Edmonton 19 October 2005

2. Overview

10. Full Text SQL XML Vocabulary A Vocabulary B Vocabulary C Protocol Protocol Web Service Terminology Services Architecture SRW/U REST SOAP Protocol 3 • Registration • Query translation • Markup translation • Authentication / Authorization 2 1

11. Some context

12. A flat world:coordinates adapted from Friedman A digital platform Computation and communication Reduced friction in workflows ‘Web services’ – communicating applications Streamlined logistics and supply chain Flow Distributed global deep collaboration and sourcing Processes assembled based on cost and efficiency Vertical intra-organizational assembly moves to horizontal interorganizational assembly

13. The web is the information space Amazoogle defines what is ‘on-web’ The texting generation Rip, mix and burn Network workflows emerging to help manage time spent in network The library has to be in those workflows Flattening requires more fluid communications – cf ILL Zero sum funding and … … growing requirements Collaborative/sourced processes. A digital platform Reduced friction in workflows Deep collaboration and sourcing

14. Search engine PDAs campus portal learning management systems Personalenvironments course materialtext book RSS aggregator readinglists Virtual reference Institutional repository Aggregations Digital collections Licensed collections Catalog E-reserve Cataloging, ILL Flow and flattening: the library in the user environment, Not the user in the library environment. library user environments resource environment Flattening and flow: Flexible assembly of services from multiple sources.

15. In the flow Search Social networking So … Turning libraries inside out

16. In the user *-flow • Workflow • Learnflow • Commuteflow • Lifeflow • Research flow e.g. • See Cliff’s talk • Personal collections and citation chaining • Integration of data and literature • Repository deposit in workflow

17. Example: developing metasearch • 2 nice presentations at the NISO OpenURL and Metasearch meetinghttp://www.niso.org/news/events_workshops/OpenURL-05-Agen-FINAL.html “The aim is to provide service which fits into patterns of user behavior and abstracts away from the boundaries of database providers. The focus was on putting data where it was useful. The focus was not on putting the user in front of a 'one-stop-shop' which is how metasearch often seems to be presented. Both presentations also usefully see metasearch as a part only of a wider system of services which discover, locate, request and deliver resources of interest.” LD

18. ‘2 clicks to full-text’ Integrate ‘find articles’ service with other services ‘Variety of pathways’ Metasearch appropriate databases from course pages Innovative Uses of Metasearch: Rethinking Metasearch for a Better User Experience David Lindahl & Jeff Suszczynski, U Rochester

19. ‘Integrate library content into other campus systems’ ‘Centerpiece of a web services oriented infrastructure’ Data presented nicely – what is is andhow available. Doing More with Metasearch The Metalib X-Server. David Walker, Calstate San Marcos

20. Gather -- create -- share Flecker and McLean. DLF paper More prefabricated workflows

21. Elgg :: Personal Learning Landscape

22. Experiment … • What would your services be like if the only UIs you could use were services on this page?

23. Generation one Z39.50, ISO-ILL, … S2S Library niche Generation two OpenURL, OAI-PMH, NCIP, SRU, … B2B Web services idiom Generation three: intrastructure Leverage G2 infrastructure: lightweight services on top of SRU/OpenURL/OAI RESTful COinS Bridges to generic approaches and desktop frameworks RSS Research pane Bookmarklets Widgets Everything is in three generations:library protocols

31. What services where? Discovering Linking Gathering Annotating Depositing Creating Asking Questions Levels of engagement: Satisfiction and conviction Different grades of experience and intersection Brand and presence Inside out: • Disembedding from traditional settings and re-embedding at the point of need • A one-stop shop is a one-shop stop! • Flattening to allow flow …

32. Long tail diseconomies Process sourcing:a new era of cooperation and sourcing Flatteninglibraries

33. The long tail

35. Aggregation of supply Systemwide transaction costs? Discover – locate – request – deliver – mix Systemwide ‘Intentional’ data? Improve service Value added services over unified resource? Compare Metasearch? Aggregation of demand? Connect anybody with what they want? Google 5 analysis – rareness is common Every user his/her book. Every book his/her user. Compare libraries and network hubs

36. Find systemwide levels for Supply: Consolidation of data, services, innovation Demand: maximize use of resources (cf OhioLink) US – unverifed figures 13K public and academic libraries 2.16B items 1.97Bcirculations 20% of items circulate ILLs represent 1.7% of total circulations Rareness is common (G5 paper) Long tail and libraries?

37. Process: “The vertical library”

38. “Library flattening” Collaboratively sourced Sourced Third party

39. Cataloging Resource sharing A&I Virtual reference ‘Data substrate’ Collective collection (used and usable collections) Services Digitization Preservation Annnotation, re-use, .. Data aggregation and mining Counter, circ, holdings, … Recommender Database of intentions, D3M Syndication: to search engines and others Registry&directory Sourcing decisions

40. Collections Libraries Licenses Services Terms, schema Institutions Environment intelligence OCKHAM JISC IESR OCLC Resolver Registry

41. Mobilize capacity of libraries through shared infrastructure Institutional Enterprise systems Research and learning infrastructure Jurisdictional California Digital Library DEFF JISC, SURF? Third party Consortial (RLG, OCLC), OCUL, … Vendor Issues It is impossible for all libraries to do everything .. ‘Vertical’ structures entrenched – within and between institutions Lack of architecture/business process models Sourcing patterns

42. So …. • Turning libraries inside out: The library needs to be where the the user is – on the network • Flattening: The library will look towards systemwide efficiencies in organization by consolidating data, services and innovation at appropriate levels. Through what structures? • Ecology of (web) services: in each case, the library will work with a growing number of service platforms, and will need to stitch them together effectively.

43. Thank you .. OCLC Research http://www.oclc.org/research http://orweblog.oclc.org