Library Technology Guides

Library Systems Report 2016: Power plays

The 2016 edition of the annual industry report that I have produced since 2002 has been published by American Libraries. The online version is available now and the feature will appear in the May 2016 print issue. The 2002 through 2013 editions of this report were published by Library Journal.

e technology infrastructure libraries implement can affect their ability to manage internal operations efficiently and deliver high-quality services, in person and online. Weak or obsolete technology products impede success.

Libraries have much at stake in products that align well with their strategies, resonate with their patrons, and facilitate the work of their staff. Previously established products are evolving to gain long-overdue modernization. In an era of web-based and cloud computing, library technology has held fast to aspects of the previous age of client–server computing. Library systems continue to see uneven progress.

A new shape of the industry

Some of the most significant shifts of strength in the history of the industry took place in 2015, and a new set of dynamics emerged with important implications. Consolidation among top players occurred in both the library software and RFID sectors. Each recently acquired smaller companies to expand into additional product areas synergistic with business strategies or new international regions.

The transitions seen in 2015 were not lateral changes of ownership among investors but strategic acquisitions that concentrated power among a smaller number of much larger companies and reassembled product portfolios. Libraries may resist consolidation, but this could enable the development of technology products and services that are less fragmented and better able to support libraries as they provide access to increasingly complex collections.

A number of major business transitions transpired this year, and each significantly affected a corner of the industry.

continue reading...

Marshall Breeding Jul 12, 2016 09:47:51
Link to Posting: Library Systems Report 2016: Power plays

Caveat and Credit

Library Technology Guides was created and is edited by Marshall Breeding. He is solely responsible for all content on this site, and for any errors it may contain. Please notify him if you find any errors or omissions. (off)

Industry News

Thursday Sep 29, 2016    

Full Automation News Report

20 most recent items:

September 29, 2016. Reading Public Library increases its community impact with Boopsie mobile app. Boopsie released a case study that reveals what drove Reading Public Library to launch a customized mobile app. As the leading mobile platform-as-a-service provider for libraries worldwide has seen wi ... <<more>>

September 29, 2016. Artifacts Access from Unbound Concepts live in Baker and Taylor’s Title Source 360 ordering platform. Baker and Taylor, the premier worldwide distributor of digital and print books and Unbound Concepts, creator of the Artifact platform announced today that artifacts are now live in Title Source 360, B ... <<more>>

September 29, 2016. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine to enhance library services with Ex Libris Alma library management platform. Ex Libris announced that the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine has opted to implement the Ex Libris Alma library management platform and combine it with the library’s Ex Libris Primo disco ... <<more>>

September 27, 2016. Catherine Reid brings international human resources experience to EBSCO Information Services. EBSCO has hired Catherine Reid as Senior Vice President of Human Resources. Reid brings 15 years of experience in developing and executing talent management strategies and managing complex human resou ... <<more>>

September 27, 2016. The Repos are here—FOLIO source code repositories released. The first FOLIO code is now available. FOLIO, which stands for the Future of Libraries is Open, is a community project to develop an open source library services platform. This first release of the ba ... <<more>>

September 27, 2016. OCLC and Internet Archive work together to ensure future sustainability of Persistent URLs. OCLC and Internet Archive announced the results of a year-long cooperative effort to ensure the future sustainability of purl.org. The organizations have worked together to build a new sustainable ser ... <<more>>

September 27, 2016. Credo upgrades InfoLit modules with new content, new platform. Credo, the industry leader for information literacy, critical thinking, and research solutions, announced today it has introduced new content for its InfoLit Modules, as well as a dramatically upgrad ... <<more>>

September 27, 2016. New Wales-wide library management system will foster greater collaboration. A new library management system which will promote collaboration between cross-sector libraries in Wales was celebrated at an event in the National Assembly. ... <<more>>

September 26, 2016. Ex Libris collaborates with Rosetta users for release of Rosetta 5.1. Ex Libris released version 5.1 of the Rosetta digital management and preservation system. The new version was created in collaboration with the Rosetta User Group and reflects the needs and priorities ... <<more>>

September 26, 2016. VuFind 3.1 Released. Version 3.1 of the VuFind Open Source discovery software has just been released. This minor release adds a significant number of new features and enhancements while maintaining compatibility with vers ... <<more>>

September 26, 2016. Horizon release adds refined Features for improved efficiency and efficacy. SirsiDynix announced the release of Horizon 7.5.4. The latest Horizon update provides new, powerful capabilities to a long-standing, dependable solution, helping Horizon libraries provide the Best Lib ... <<more>>

Full Automation News Report