Library portal

A library portal is an interface to access library resources and services through a single access and management point for users,^[1] combining the circulation and catalog functions of an integrated library system (ILS) with additional tools and facilities.

Definition

A library portal is defined as "a combination of software components that unify the user experience of discovering and accessing information" in contrast to a "single technology" to provide "services that support discovery, access and effective use of information."^[2]

Major elements

In addition to the basic functions of access to the library catalog, and a user's subscription records, significant elements of a library portal normally include:

• "Metasearching tools, browsable interfaces, and online reference help," which aid in the discovery process, for example Knimbus, Mendeley, EBSCO Discovery services;^[2]
• Links to full-text articles, OpenURL,
• availability of interlibrary loan (ILL) or document delivery, for material the library does not own
• Citation management software, user preferences services, "knowledge management tools"

More recently, the focus has been on the discovery goal, which has led to even more difficulties in defining a library portal. The terms "discovery tool," "discovery services," "next-generation discovery tool," "next-generation OPAC" are used interchangeably.

Current market

The focus on discovery tools has led to increased competitors in the discovery services market; the competitors that existed in the library portal market have also shifted their focus to this particular function.

A list of competitors in the current library portal market who have recently been awarded contracts by various libraries for their entire portal include  :

• Axiell Arena: contract with The University of Gävle ^[3]
• Axiell Calm: contract with Denmark’s Roskilde Libraries for archive management ^[4]
• BIBIS Library Portal: contract with ROC Mondriaan in The Hague ^[5] as well as the library of the central bank of the Netherlands, the library of Provincie Zuid-Holland in South-Holland, and at Dutch law firm Ploum Lodder Princen.^[6]
• ExLibris Primo: contract with Hesburgh Libraries of Notre Dame. Library Technology refers to this “discovery and delivery solution” as a “library portal”.^[7]
• MetaLib Library Portal, ExLibris: contract with NASA’s Johnson Space Center ^[8]

By contrast, the following list highlights contracts signed by libraries for specific discovery service tools, mostly at more recent dates

• EOS.Web OPAC Discovery, EOS International: while it is unclear which of EOS services were purchased by their clients, the benefits to the EOS.Web OPAC Discovery grew significantly recently when EOS International signed an ILL agreement with the New York Law Institute, which will allow EOS clients to easily request NYLI union catalog items from their EOS.Web OPAC”. EOS International’s press releases do not specify which service was purchased but only mention the names of new clients.^[9]
• Summon, Serials Solutions: contract with University of Texas at Austin Libraries,^[10] University of Connecticut Libraries,^[11] University of Illinois at Chicago Library,^[12] California State University System,^[13] Syracuse University Library,^[14] University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Library,^[15] Lund University Libraries,^[16] Helmut Schmidt University,^[17] Peking University,^[18] University of the Free State,^[19] Cornell University Library,^[20] Brown University Library,^[21] Kyushu University Library^[22]
• Ex Libris Primo and SFX OpenURL: contract with Online Dakota Information Network (Library Technology, March 27, 2012); Silesian University of Technology, Poland;^[23]
• EBSCO Discovery Service: contract with Seton Hall University;^[24] Massey University Library, New Zealand;^[25] Warsaw University, Poland;^[26] Bielefeld University, Germany;^[27] Bibliothèque nationale de France ^[28]

Challenges

When building a portal for a library, one of the challenges discussed by Morgan is communication: the building of a portal requires consensus with regards to what should be included.^[29] Another challenge is ensuring a user-centered design for the portal. This involves conducting surveys, focus group interviews, and usability studies – all of which can be seen as time-consuming.^[29] Additionally, compatibility with the hosting institution is critical.^[29] Finally, the question of whether a library should go with open source software or commercial products is always a point of contention.

Standards

There are no accepted standards for library portals.^[30] The only standards in the literature are the more general search and retrieval standards, including Z39.50 and ZING (Z39.50-International: Next Generation), the Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting, and OpenURL.^[2]

As a result of the lack of standards, and since customization is required in a library portal, individual institutions decide what they expect their portal to look like, and what services it will provide. For example, Harvard University is currently conducting a library portal project, which will begin implementation during the summer of 2012. They have identified their own list of criteria,^[31] which naturally differs substantially from the needs of other institutions. The various general areas that the committee has looked at include: content, user experience, features and capabilities, infrastructure and security, and search and discovery. It is uncertain which areas will be selected as part of the Phase I implementation of the portal.

Relationship between OPACs and library portals

The online public access catalog (OPAC) is a basic module, part of the library’s integrated library system. Earlier, the OPAC has been limited to searching physical texts, and sometimes digital copies but has only limited special features. Caplan argues that they are in process of replacement by newer "discovery tools" allowing more customization.^[32] Yang and Hofmann suggest that vendors see money in building either separate discovery tools or Next-Generation OPACs to be purchased as an add-on feature.^[33] A problem with vocabulary arises here. Yang and Wagner (2010, in Yang and Hofmann, 2011) refer to discovery tools by a many names, including "stand-alone OPAC, discovery layer, and next-generation catalog [sic.]"^[33] This contrasts Bair, Boston, and Garrison, who differentiate between next-generation catalogues and web-scale discovery services.^[34] Despite any confusion, it is clear that the OPAC as it currently stands is outdated, and will be replaced by more modern, user-friendly tools. The next-generation OPAC as described by Yang and Hofmann will ideally have the following 12 features (although not all features are currently available in any single discovery product):^[33]

• Single point of entry for all library resources
• State-of-the-art web interface
• Enriched content
• Faceted navigation
• Simple keyword search box with a link to advanced search on every page
• Relevancy ranking
• Spell-checking
• Recommendations/related materials
• User contribution
• RSS feeds
• Integration with social networking sites
• Persistent links

See also

• Library computer system
• Library science
• List of next-generation library catalogs
• Web portal

References

1. Konnur, P.V.; Kacherki, U. (2006). "Library portal: Role of librarian.". Proceedings from The 4th International Convention CALIBER.: 643.
2. Maloney, K; Bracke, P.J. "Library portal technologies". Journal of Library Administration 43 (1-2): 87–112. doi:10.1300/J111v43n01_07.
3. Library Technology, January 11, 2011
4. Library Technology, November 25, 2010
5. Library Technology, July 1, 2008
6. Library Technology, February 19, 2008
7. Library Technology, June 19, 2008
8. Library Technology, November 13, 2006
9. Library Technology, April 16, 2012
10. Library Technology, April 6, 2012
11. www.librarytechnology.org, February 29, 2012, retrieved February 6, 2013
12. Library Technology, February 1, 2012
13. Library Technology, January 18, 2012
14. Library Technology, January 13, 2012
15. www.librarytechnology.org, January 10, 2012, retrieved February 6, 2013
16. www.librarytechnology.org, December 15, 2011, retrieved February 6, 2013
17. www.librarytechnology.org, November 29, 2011, retrieved February 6, 2013
18. www.librarytechnology.org, November 22, 2011, retrieved February 6, 2013
19. www.librarytechnology.org, November 17, 2011, retrieved February 6, 2013
20. www.librarytechnology.org, October 20, 2011, retrieved February 6, 2013
21. www.librarytechnology.org, August 18, 2011, retrieved February 6, 2013
22. www.librarytechnology.org, August 1, 2011, retrieved February 6, 2013
23. Library Technology, February 8, 2012)
24. Library Technology, March 27, 2012)
25. Library Technology, March 20, 2012
26. Library Technology, March 13, 2012
27. Library Technology, February 2, 2012
28. Library Technology, January 10, 2012
29. Morgan, E.L. "Portals in libraries: Portal implementation issues and challenges". Bulletin of the American Society for Information Science and Technology 31: 22–23. doi:10.1002/bult.1720310112.
30. Sadeh, T; Walker, J. (2003). "Library portals: Toward the semantic web". New Library World 104 (1184/1185): 11–19. doi:10.1108/03074800310458241.
31. "Library portal high-level requirements: identified through discussion with library staff.". Harvard University. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
32. Caplan, P (2012). "On discovery tools, OPACs and the motion of library language". Library Hi Tech 30 (1): 108–115. doi:10.1108/07378831211213247.
33. Yang, S.Q.; Hofmann, M.A. (2011). "Next generation or current generation?: A study of the OPACs of 260 academic libraries in the USA and Canada". Library Hi Tech 29 (2): 266–300. doi:10.1108/07378831111138170.
34. Blair, S.A.; Boston, G.; Garrison, S. (2011). "Taming lightning in more than one bottle: Implementing a local next-generation catalog versus a hosted web-scale discovery service". University Libraries Faculty & Staff Publications. Retrieved 17 April 2012.

External links

• History of Library Automation – Wikiversity