Open Library Environment Project Intends to Design Next-Generation Library System for Academic Library Community

The goal of the Open Library Environment Project is to define requirements for an Open Library Management System built on Service Oriented Architecture based on a thoroughly re-examined model of library operations. The end product will be a design document to inform open source library system development efforts, to guide future library system implementations, and to influence current Integrated Library System vendor products.

Planned project activities include training workshops on Service Oriented Architecture and Business Process Modeling, in-person and virtual meetings of the project partners, webcasts and online discussions to get input and feedback from the broad library community and development of a design document. The workshops will be led by representatives from the academic library community and by consultants with expertise in Service Oriented Architecture and Business Process Modeling.

The project's website was launched on August 4, 2008. Check out the current list of project leaders and the FAQ page. [JH]