Library Technology Guides

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Executive Perspectives: A Conversation on the Future of the Library Technology Industry

Program sponsored by CORE: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures — Sponsored by CORE

Marshall Breeding, author of the annual Library Systems Report published in American Libraries, will assemble and moderate a panel of senior executives representing organizations that produce software or services for libraries.

Breeding will give a brief introduction and will then lead a lively discussion exploring the topic: Libraries under duress: Can new technologies help libraries thrive in challenging times?In the last year libraries have seen incredible challenges, both in funding and through potential restrictions on the ways they manage and provide access to materials. Massive cutbacks in federal research funding particularly impacts academic libraries. Public and school libraries face more scrutiny than ever regarding access to controversial materials. We are in a phase of rapid change in technology, with generative AI and other tools poised to enter the library world in a big way. Can libraries count on their technology providers to help them survive and even thrive through these challenging times. Come hear the views of company executives on the potential of AI and other new technologies to help libraries through these difficult times.

Panelists will be expected to candidly reflect the perspectives of their organizations, but not promote their products.

Hashtag: #alaexecpanel

Day Date Time Location

Saturday June 28, 2025 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM EDT Pennsylvania Convention Center, Room 108

Panelists

Lisa Carlucci
Executive Director
Equinox Open Library Initiative Lisa Carlucci is the Executive Director of Equinox Open Library Initiative. Since 2020, Lisa has led Equinox’s growth, nonprofit programs, and the expansion of services for Evergreen ILS, Koha ILS, Aspen Discovery, and VuFind. Her experience includes 25 years of library and information management, from access services, acquisitions, and electronic collections at Yale University, to library systems and digital services at SCSU, and providing training for OCLC’s WorldShare ILL and WorldCat Discovery implementations. Before Equinox, Lisa was the Executive Director at Library Connection, Inc. She was previously the Director of Dissemination and Implementation at C4 Innovations, leading the design and development of innovative healthcare technologies. Lisa has an M.S. in Library and Information Science from Syracuse University. She was an ALA Emerging Leader and recognized as an innovator among Library Journal’s 2010 Movers & Shakers.
Tom Jacobson
Vice President, Executive Library Advocate and Strategist
Innovative and Ex Libris, Part of Clarivate After more than 40 years working with libraries, Tom is well-suited to advise all operations of our organization on the unique needs and opportunities for libraries and their patrons. His experience includes 25 years with Innovative, 2 years as a consultant for OCLC, and running his own consultancy, where he and his partners helped libraries operate and grow with a patron focus. He’s proficient in the best practices of ILS/LSP procurement, library workflows and operations, resource sharing and discovery technologies, and library market sizing and analysis. Tom holds a B.A. in International Relations from American University and an M.L.I.S. from the University of Maryland.

John McCullough
Director, Academic Library Management Services
OCLC John has been working with library discovery and management software for his entire career. He currently manages the WMS product line and has worked exclusively on building the WMS community worldwide over the last 12 years. John has an ALA-accredited MLIS from the University of Western Ontario. .

Maria Wasing
President and Chief Executive Officer
Axiell Maria Wasing has been the President and CEO of Axiell Group since January 2024, after previously serving as COO/EVP. Maria has more than 25 years of experience of product innovation and development in the international software space. She joined the company in 2016 in a role as Director of Global Marketing and was appointed to COO in 2019. Prior to her executive roles Maria was engaged as a member of the board of Axiell. Maria has extensive experience from the software industry, with operational experience from EPiserver (now Optimizely) as well as board experience from IAR and Lime Technologies.

Marshall Breeding
Independent Consultant
Creator and Publisher
Library Technology Guides. Marshall Breeding works as a consultant, journalist, and analyst of the library technology industry. He is the creator of Library Technology Guides and the libraries.org database of libraries. His Library Systems Report, published by American Libraries provides an annual assessment and overview of the industry. Breeding was the 2010 recipient of the LITA LITA/Library Hi Tech Award for Outstanding Communication for Continuing Education in Library and Information Science.

Day	Date	Time	Location
Saturday	June 28, 2025	2:30 PM – 3:30 PM EDT	Pennsylvania Convention Center, Room 108

Panelists
Lisa Carlucci Executive Director Equinox Open Library Initiative			Lisa Carlucci is the Executive Director of Equinox Open Library Initiative. Since 2020, Lisa has led Equinox’s growth, nonprofit programs, and the expansion of services for Evergreen ILS, Koha ILS, Aspen Discovery, and VuFind. Her experience includes 25 years of library and information management, from access services, acquisitions, and electronic collections at Yale University, to library systems and digital services at SCSU, and providing training for OCLC’s WorldShare ILL and WorldCat Discovery implementations. Before Equinox, Lisa was the Executive Director at Library Connection, Inc. She was previously the Director of Dissemination and Implementation at C4 Innovations, leading the design and development of innovative healthcare technologies. Lisa has an M.S. in Library and Information Science from Syracuse University. She was an ALA Emerging Leader and recognized as an innovator among Library Journal’s 2010 Movers & Shakers.
Tom Jacobson Vice President, Executive Library Advocate and Strategist Innovative and Ex Libris, Part of Clarivate			After more than 40 years working with libraries, Tom is well-suited to advise all operations of our organization on the unique needs and opportunities for libraries and their patrons. His experience includes 25 years with Innovative, 2 years as a consultant for OCLC, and running his own consultancy, where he and his partners helped libraries operate and grow with a patron focus. He’s proficient in the best practices of ILS/LSP procurement, library workflows and operations, resource sharing and discovery technologies, and library market sizing and analysis. Tom holds a B.A. in International Relations from American University and an M.L.I.S. from the University of Maryland.
John McCullough Director, Academic Library Management Services OCLC			John has been working with library discovery and management software for his entire career. He currently manages the WMS product line and has worked exclusively on building the WMS community worldwide over the last 12 years. John has an ALA-accredited MLIS from the University of Western Ontario. .
Maria Wasing President and Chief Executive Officer Axiell			Maria Wasing has been the President and CEO of Axiell Group since January 2024, after previously serving as COO/EVP. Maria has more than 25 years of experience of product innovation and development in the international software space. She joined the company in 2016 in a role as Director of Global Marketing and was appointed to COO in 2019. Prior to her executive roles Maria was engaged as a member of the board of Axiell. Maria has extensive experience from the software industry, with operational experience from EPiserver (now Optimizely) as well as board experience from IAR and Lime Technologies.
Marshall Breeding Independent Consultant Creator and Publisher Library Technology Guides.			Marshall Breeding works as a consultant, journalist, and analyst of the library technology industry. He is the creator of Library Technology Guides and the libraries.org database of libraries. His Library Systems Report, published by American Libraries provides an annual assessment and overview of the industry. Breeding was the 2010 recipient of the LITA LITA/Library Hi Tech Award for Outstanding Communication for Continuing Education in Library and Information Science.

Maintained by Marshall Breeding