[Eril-l] Statement of Work for Library Services Platform

[Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list]

Thank you, Ken.  I appreciate your help and the links.  The second article has some particularly useful language regarding the technology that is more detailed than I've seen in other places.

-Leah


Leah Donley
Research Library 
Brookhaven National Laboratory
donley at bnl.gov


-----Original Message-----
From: Eril-l <eril-l-bounces at lists.eril-l.org> On Behalf Of Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list via Eril-l
Sent: Monday, August 26, 2024 12:00 PM
To: Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list <eril-l at lists.eril-l.org>
Subject: Re: [Eril-l] Statement of Work for Library Services Platform

Not all will agree on what differentiates a LSP from an ILS. Higher Education Library Technology (HELibTech) has a useful definition here https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://helibtech.com/next_generation__;!!P4SdNyxKAPE!ExP-xpLivDpjgChQqb84gRFMufXzkPLN9Vqubu_712_Yt-KNaVEjowSkHhqyzO2Z34EvZ7aeOINZTAWwFVE$ . Here is the LSP section:
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Library service platforms
 From around 2010 a new generation of web and cloud based systems emerged. These are termed Library Services Platforms (LSPs). The most widely deployed LSPs are Clarivate/Ex Libris Alma, and OCLC WMS. They were largely developed from the ground up rather than being evolved from past 'legacy' solutions. In functional terms the key differentiation from a LMS/ILS was a fully web based staff interface and *integrated* management of print and electronic resources. This meant libraries did not need a separate electronic resource management (ERM) system or spreadsheets to manage their (predominantly) journal subscriptions and associated licenses.

In technology terms LSPs are fully web based and hosted in the cloud. “A born cloud based system” is essentially a single system with the multiplicity of client libraries being ‘tenants.’ These ‘clouds’ may be regional (e.g. European) in order to meet legislative requirements but, within each multi-tenant environment, there is only one copy of the application software, one operating system and one database supporting multiple libraries. The vendor only has to deploy, develop, maintain and upgrade one copy of the software. There is no option for the software to be supported 'on premise' - on local servers. In contrast a hosted LMS/ILS solution is much less efficient. While the hardware infrastructure may be shared the vendor still has to support a multiplicity of client systems that need to be maintained separately. 
The efficiency benefits to the vendor of what is in effect one single global (or at least multi-national) library system are clear.

The open source FOLIO library system is characterized as a LSP, being built from the ground up using modern 'microservices' architecture. 
However unlike Alma or WMS there may be multiple versions - inherent in a open source approach where code is open to be modified. FOLIO can be deployed as a hosted or on promise solution.

Another feature of a LSP it that it comes paired with a ‘discovery service’ - Primo with Alma WorldCat discovery with WMS). Folio does not have a discovery service but is often paired with the Ebsco Discovery Services (EDS).
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You may also find this (2016) paper useful: "Rethinking the library services platform". By Ken Chad. Higher Education Library Technology
(HELibTech) Briefing Paper (No.2) . January  2016 . DOI: 
10.13140/RG.2.1.5154.8248
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.kenchadconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Rethinking_the_LSP_Jan2016a.pdf__;!!P4SdNyxKAPE!ExP-xpLivDpjgChQqb84gRFMufXzkPLN9Vqubu_712_Yt-KNaVEjowSkHhqyzO2Z34EvZ7aeOINZdKyDpGk$ 

Very best
Ken
--
Ken Chad Consulting Ltd. Tel +44 (0)7788 727 845  Email: 
ken at kenchadconsulting.com  Web: https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.kenchadconsulting.com__;!!P4SdNyxKAPE!ExP-xpLivDpjgChQqb84gRFMufXzkPLN9Vqubu_712_Yt-KNaVEjowSkHhqyzO2Z34EvZ7aeOINZ2IWxaZ0$ 
LinkedIn: https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenchad/__;!!P4SdNyxKAPE!ExP-xpLivDpjgChQqb84gRFMufXzkPLN9Vqubu_712_Yt-KNaVEjowSkHhqyzO2Z34EvZ7aeOINZcyUhun4$   Twitter (X): @kenchad

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On 26/08/2024 13:58, Electronic Resources in Libraries discussion list via Eril-l wrote:
> Hello all,
> 
> This is slightly off-topic but hopefully fits here.  Has anyone found 
> success in defining and describing a Library Services Platform (LSP) 
> within a Statement of Work (for a procurement)?  Including the LSP 
> overall but also its functionality and features (Discovery service, 
> knowledgebase for managing online resources, etc.)?  The definitions 
> I've found in articles are a little vague.  I understand them, but am 
> having difficulty translating them to an effective Statement of Work 
> which needs to be specific and detailed.  I want to make it clear that 
> we want a LSP and not a more traditional ILS (in my experience with 
> researching systems over the last several years, traditional ILS 
> vendors can sometimes be eager to call a traditional system an LSP 
> because they know it's the trend).
> 
> Thank you,
> 
> Leah
> 
> Leah Donley
> 
> Research Library
> Brookhaven National Laboratory
> Email: donley at bnl.gov



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