Library Technology Reports
Marshall Breeding has writen one issue per year of Library Technology Reports published by the TechSource imprint of the American Library Association.
Library Technology Reports provides in-depth information on a topic. Each issue is usually written by a single author.
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Breeding, Marshall Resource Sharing in Libraries: Concepts, Products, Technologies, and Trends January 2013 Supplementing your local collection through resource sharing is a smart way to ensure your library has the resources to satisfy the needs of your users. Marshall Breeding’s new Library Technology Report explores technologies and strategies for sharing resources, helping you streamline workflows and improve resource-sharing services by covering key strategies like interlibrary loan, consortial borrowing, document delivery, and shared collections. You’ll also learn about such trends and services as:
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Breeding, Marshall and Andromeda Yelton Librarians' Assessments of Automation Systems: Survey Results 2007-2010 May June 2011 For the last four years, Breeding has conducted an online survey to measure satisfaction with multiple aspects of the automation products used by libraries. In this issue of Library Technology Reports Breeding and Yelton take a deeper look at the survey data, including an expansion of findings based on the 2010 iteration, an examination of trends seen across the four years, and additional analysis not previously published. The survey data have been extended with additional fields that provide the opportunity to separate the findings into categories that show some interesting trends not otherwise apparent. Brief interpretive narratives help place the data in context. |
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Breeding, Marshall Opening up Library Systems through Web Services and SOA: Hype or Reality? November/December 2009 Over the last few years, Web services and the service-oriented architecture (SOA) have become dominant themes in IT across many industries. Web-based computing, serviceorientation, and cloud computing increasingly displace the client/server approach favored by libraries in the past.In library automation, one major trend involves evolving or rebuilding automation systems to adopt this new approach to software. Purveyors of both open source and proprietary library automation products increasingly emphasize the ways in which they embrace openness, support application programming interfaces (APIs), or implement Web services.Libraries increasingly need to extract data, connect with external systems, and implement functionality not included with the delivered systems. Rather than relying on the product developers for enhancements to meet these needs, libraries increasingly demand the ability to exploit their systems using APIs, Web services, or other technologies.The demand for openness abounds, particularly in libraries that exist in complex environments where many different systems need to interact. As libraries develop their IT infrastructure, it’s imperative to understand the extent to which their automation products are able to interoperate and thrive in this growing realm of Web services. This report aims to assess the current slate of major library automation systems in regard to their ability to provide openness through APIs, Web services, and the adoption of SOA. |
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Breeding, Marshall Open Source Integrated Library Systems November/December 2008 In this issue, Breeding details the differences between using an open source approach to that of using conventional proprietary software for automated operations."In the past, our options were differentiated on the basis of features, functionality, price, and performance of the software and the perceived ability for a given company to develop its products into the future and provide adequate support. Do these factors differ with open source ILS products?"Breeding’s report can help answer that question as well as defines open source and provides an overview of the various open source options currently available to libraries, including Koha and Evergreen. In this eighth issue of Library Technology Reports in volume 44, you’ll find: Open source defined and a look at open source versus traditional licensing."The Commercial Angle," including total cost of ownership, vendor/product independence, and information about collaborative and sponsored development.An overview, including history and background, of major open source ILS products, with information about Koha, Evergreen, OPALS, and NewGenLib.Trends in open source ILS adoption, including geographic impact, licensing, and distribution.An overview of commercial support firms — including LibLime, Equinox Software, Media Flex, Versus Solutions, and Index Data — for open source ILSSpecifications for the technology components of an open source ILS, including the server operating system, Web servers, database engines, programming environments, and client environments.Information about standards as well as features and functionality of open source ILS, including the scope of the ILS; support for consortia; and information about the online catalog, circulation, cataloging, acquisitions, and serials control in the ILS. |
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Breeding, Marshall Next-Generation Library Catalogs July / August 2007 "In this current phase of library automation, all eyes are focused on developing and deploying Web-based interfaces better suited to meet the expectations of the current generation of Web-savvy users," notes Marshall Breeding in the "Introduction" to "Next-Generation Library Catalogs," the fourth issue of Library Technology Reports in 2007. "Over the course of the last year, a number of libraries have made bold moves to introduce new catalogs cast in a mold apart from their previous offerings. Library automation vendors have launched development efforts to create new catalogs and interfaces more in tune with today’s expectations," Breeding adds. In this issue of LTR, Breeding covers the terminology associated with the "next-generation" catalog situation as well as such areas as: federated searching and other features expected in the "next-generation" interfaces (such as faceted navigation, relevancy, the "did you mean?" feature, and RSS). Also in this issue of Library Technology Reports, Breeding reports on the next-generation interfaces including: AquaBrowser (from Medialab Solutions); Endeca’s search engine for library catalogs; Encore (from Innovative Interfaces); Primo (from Ex Libris); WorldCatLocal (from OCLC); Polaris (from Polaris Library Systems); open-source software-based interfaces Evergreen and Koha; as well as LibraryThing, the social-networking, personal library cataloging software. |
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Breeding, Marshall Web Services and the Service-Oriented Architecture May/June 2006 Web Services and the Service-Oriented Architecture aims to provide information about Web Services to a library audience. The report includes conceptual descriptions of the technology as well as some technical information on how Web services are implemented. Library administrators or others that need to make decisions regarding library-related technology systems or issues will gain a perspective on the importance of this technology as well as how the implementation of Web services may relate to other library trends and initiatives. Library technical staff will gain from both the conceptual descriptions and the implementation examples. |
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Breeding, Marshall Wireless Networks in Libraries Sept/Oct 2005 This issue of Library Technology Reports provides all the information needed to implement a wireless network in a library. It will explain the basics of thetechnologies involved as well as the practical issues related to installation. The report also will explore pertinent issues, including computer security, access policies, and appropriate use. The target audience includes libraryadministrators, systems librarians, and other computersavvylibrary workers. For the library administrator, this report aims toprovide background information and perspective in order to inform decisions regarding whether or not to implement a wireless network, the relative risks and benefits, the development of policies, and the general terminologyand background information necessary to evaluate advice given by technical staff or consultants. For library technical personnel, it provides detailed information for implementing and securing a wireless network in the library setting. Some sections provide broad definitions of concepts and terminology and others will focus on in-depth technical details. |
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Breeding, Marshall Integrated library software: a guide to multiuser, multifunction systems February 2004 Breeding provides an in-depth analysis of multiuser library automation systems and the companies that produce them. These systems automate the routine operations of a library, provide library users information about the library’s collection, and serve as a channel for delivering key library services. |
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Breeding, Marshall Strategies for measuring and implementing E-use May/Jun 2002 Breeding explores the topic of measuring the use of electronic content and services provided by libraries. The approach taken is a practical one that helps librarians think about the issues involved and learn some practices to effectively document how library users take advantage of electronic content and services. |
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Breeding, Marshall Security strategies for library Networks Spring 2001 What do libraries need in order for their networks to be secure, and how do they work? What are the real costs involved? What network security products are best for large, medium, small, or special libraries? Includes information about patron authentication and authorization. |
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