Re: [CODE4LIB] ILS short list
SirsiDynix Symphony has a new Web Services platform that is being released in beta at this point. Full documentation is supposed to be available in 2010. It was used to enable the SirsiDynix iPhone app. I think it was built as a wrapper on top of their long-existing command line API tools. Feature set is supposed to include: * authenticated access to user account info and ability to place holds / renew items * new / popular title lists * bibliographic searching and display * item availability information I don't think this package requires additional $$, but I bet you do have to have already paid for API training. We haven't investigated that deeply with Sirsi yet. -emily -- Emily Lynema Associate Department Head Information Technology, NCSU Libraries 919-513-8031 emily_lyn...@ncsu.edu -- Date:Thu, 8 Apr 2010 14:32:57 -0400 From:Ryan Eby ryan...@gmail.com Subject: Re: ILS short list It would probably be worth putting your findings on the code4lib wiki if you end up getting very far. I had started a list awhile ago but never got around to getting more info/completing it. Here's what I have so far based on talking with people. The information may be out of date: Evergreen and Koha both have database access and various API's. Not sure on the hosted liblime koha. Voyager *Export Built in. Can export Marc with bib, holdings and authorities records, though marc is often mangled (from person i talked to). *Database Access Built in. Uses Oracle and also provides entity-relationship diagrams and some pre-build views to help in development. Believe the oracle license is also included in the base price. Access is read-only. *API's and Web Services Built in. z39 access, however with SQL access you could likely build the API you need. Unicorn * Export Built in. MARC21 or flat file formats. Unicode support is available as an extra. * Database Access Mixed. No access to the embedded Informix database by default; API training is necessary for read-only access. Oracle is an extra option, but that only gives you a read-only license. For write access, you need a full Oracle license. SQL schema is supplied if you purchase API training. * API's and Web Services Mixed. Z39.50 is offered (not sure if it's an extra). API access is an extra - basically you pay for docs of Unix-like commands and the ability to pay for API support if you screw up. API training also gives you some access to the client/server wire protocol so you can roll your own. No Web services. Utterly unusable XML API (it basically wraps the wire protocol with no abstraction). Innovative * Export Built In. Can dump Marc or CSV files of specific field data * Database Access Extra. There is a Oracle option with an additional cost with the default being a proprietary database without access. From what I've heard the Oracle tables are not documented overly well. There also appears to be mysql used for some data as well. *API's and Web Services Extra. Z39 is offered as a product. There used to be an XML server but this appears to have been discontinued. There appears to be more web services in the works though they also appear to be additional products. XRecord is built in but doesn't easily allow access to attached items given a bib eby Anna Headley wrote: I am looking to find or create a shortlist of ILSes, open or proprietary, that provide API access to bibliographic and item-level data. �I am really only looking for ILSes that are used by academic libraries. Do you know of any resources that might be helpful? �I started with Marshall Breeding's 2009 Perceptions report, but it doesn't include much information about a given ILS. Or, do you use such an ILS in your library? So far my list is: Evergreen Thank you!! Anna
Re: [CODE4LIB] ILS short list
Lehigh is part of the Web Services partner program, and we are very close to releasing the mobile app. So far it hasn't cost any $$ nor have we had to worry about API either as there is a separate web services API that this development is based on. In reality, much of that effort depends on the base Unicorn/Symphony API. There is some expectation (skepticism/cynicism?) that SirsiDynix will eventually charge customers for web-service apps, but from conversations with colleagues at other partner sites, it's our intention to push partner apps to remain free and open. But I wouldn't be surprised if there is eventually a subscription to ge access to the web services API. If there are any specific questions on this, let me know. Cheers, Tim Sent from my iPod Touch Tim McGeary Team Leader, Library Technology tim.mcge...@lehigh.edu On Apr 9, 2010, at 8:25 AM, Emily Lynema emily_lyn...@ncsu.edu wrote: SirsiDynix Symphony has a new Web Services platform that is being released in beta at this point. Full documentation is supposed to be available in 2010. It was used to enable the SirsiDynix iPhone app. I think it was built as a wrapper on top of their long-existing command line API tools. Feature set is supposed to include: * authenticated access to user account info and ability to place holds / renew items * new / popular title lists * bibliographic searching and display * item availability information I don't think this package requires additional $$, but I bet you do have to have already paid for API training. We haven't investigated that deeply with Sirsi yet. -emily -- Emily Lynema Associate Department Head Information Technology, NCSU Libraries 919-513-8031 emily_lyn...@ncsu.edu -- Date:Thu, 8 Apr 2010 14:32:57 -0400 From:Ryan Eby ryan...@gmail.com Subject: Re: ILS short list It would probably be worth putting your findings on the code4lib wiki if you end up getting very far. I had started a list awhile ago but never got around to getting more info/completing it. Here's what I have so far based on talking with people. The information may be out of date: Evergreen and Koha both have database access and various API's. Not sure on the hosted liblime koha. Voyager *Export Built in. Can export Marc with bib, holdings and authorities records, though marc is often mangled (from person i talked to). *Database Access Built in. Uses Oracle and also provides entity-relationship diagrams and some pre-build views to help in development. Believe the oracle license is also included in the base price. Access is read-only. *API's and Web Services Built in. z39 access, however with SQL access you could likely build the API you need. Unicorn * Export Built in. MARC21 or flat file formats. Unicode support is available as an extra. * Database Access Mixed. No access to the embedded Informix database by default; API training is necessary for read-only access. Oracle is an extra option, but that only gives you a read-only license. For write access, you need a full Oracle license. SQL schema is supplied if you purchase API training. * API's and Web Services Mixed. Z39.50 is offered (not sure if it's an extra). API access is an extra - basically you pay for docs of Unix-like commands and the ability to pay for API support if you screw up. API training also gives you some access to the client/server wire protocol so you can roll your own. No Web services. Utterly unusable XML API (it basically wraps the wire protocol with no abstraction). Innovative * Export Built In. Can dump Marc or CSV files of specific field data * Database Access Extra. There is a Oracle option with an additional cost with the default being a proprietary database without access. From what I've heard the Oracle tables are not documented overly well. There also appears to be mysql used for some data as well. *API's and Web Services Extra. Z39 is offered as a product. There used to be an XML server but this appears to have been discontinued. There appears to be more web services in the works though they also appear to be additional products. XRecord is built in but doesn't easily allow access to attached items given a bib eby Anna Headley wrote: I am looking to find or create a shortlist of ILSes, open or proprietary, that provide API access to bibliographic and item-level data. �I am really only looking for ILSes that are used by academic libraries. Do you know of any resources that might be helpful? �I starte d with Marshall Breeding's 2009 Perceptions report, but it doesn't include much information about a given ILS. Or, do you use such an ILS in your library? So far my list is: Evergreen Thank you!! Anna
Re: [CODE4LIB] ILS short list
Hi Anna, SirsiDynix Symphony (formerly Unicorn) provides API access to bibliographic and item-level data. Cheers, Tim Tim McGeary Team Leader, Library Technology Lehigh University 610-758-4998 tim.mcge...@lehigh.edu timmcge...@gmail.com GTalk/Yahoo/Skype: timmcgeary Anna Headley wrote: I am looking to find or create a shortlist of ILSes, open or proprietary, that provide API access to bibliographic and item-level data. I am really only looking for ILSes that are used by academic libraries. Do you know of any resources that might be helpful? I started with Marshall Breeding's 2009 Perceptions report, but it doesn't include much information about a given ILS. Or, do you use such an ILS in your library? So far my list is: Evergreen Thank you!! Anna
Re: [CODE4LIB] ILS short list
It would probably be worth putting your findings on the code4lib wiki if you end up getting very far. I had started a list awhile ago but never got around to getting more info/completing it. Here's what I have so far based on talking with people. The information may be out of date: Evergreen and Koha both have database access and various API's. Not sure on the hosted liblime koha. Voyager *Export Built in. Can export Marc with bib, holdings and authorities records, though marc is often mangled (from person i talked to). *Database Access Built in. Uses Oracle and also provides entity-relationship diagrams and some pre-build views to help in development. Believe the oracle license is also included in the base price. Access is read-only. *API's and Web Services Built in. z39 access, however with SQL access you could likely build the API you need. Unicorn * Export Built in. MARC21 or flat file formats. Unicode support is available as an extra. * Database Access Mixed. No access to the embedded Informix database by default; API training is necessary for read-only access. Oracle is an extra option, but that only gives you a read-only license. For write access, you need a full Oracle license. SQL schema is supplied if you purchase API training. * API's and Web Services Mixed. Z39.50 is offered (not sure if it's an extra). API access is an extra - basically you pay for docs of Unix-like commands and the ability to pay for API support if you screw up. API training also gives you some access to the client/server wire protocol so you can roll your own. No Web services. Utterly unusable XML API (it basically wraps the wire protocol with no abstraction). Innovative * Export Built In. Can dump Marc or CSV files of specific field data * Database Access Extra. There is a Oracle option with an additional cost with the default being a proprietary database without access. From what I've heard the Oracle tables are not documented overly well. There also appears to be mysql used for some data as well. *API's and Web Services Extra. Z39 is offered as a product. There used to be an XML server but this appears to have been discontinued. There appears to be more web services in the works though they also appear to be additional products. XRecord is built in but doesn't easily allow access to attached items given a bib eby Anna Headley wrote: I am looking to find or create a shortlist of ILSes, open or proprietary, that provide API access to bibliographic and item-level data. I am really only looking for ILSes that are used by academic libraries. Do you know of any resources that might be helpful? I started with Marshall Breeding's 2009 Perceptions report, but it doesn't include much information about a given ILS. Or, do you use such an ILS in your library? So far my list is: Evergreen Thank you!! Anna
Re: [CODE4LIB] ILS short list
On Thu, Apr 8, 2010 at 2:32 PM, Ryan Eby ryan...@gmail.com wrote: Unicorn * Export Built in. MARC21 or flat file formats. Unicode support is available as an extra. ...as an extra??? This is the saddest thing I've ready all day. -- Bill Dueber Library Systems Programmer University of Michigan Library
Re: [CODE4LIB] ILS short list
Voyager, as of 7.0, does now have Bib and item level data through api access. http://voyager.tcs.tulane.edu:7014/vxws/GetHoldingsService?bibId=1840071 On Thu, Apr 8, 2010 at 1:32 PM, Ryan Eby ryan...@gmail.com wrote: It would probably be worth putting your findings on the code4lib wiki if you end up getting very far. I had started a list awhile ago but never got around to getting more info/completing it. Here's what I have so far based on talking with people. The information may be out of date: Evergreen and Koha both have database access and various API's. Not sure on the hosted liblime koha. Voyager *Export Built in. Can export Marc with bib, holdings and authorities records, though marc is often mangled (from person i talked to). *Database Access Built in. Uses Oracle and also provides entity-relationship diagrams and some pre-build views to help in development. Believe the oracle license is also included in the base price. Access is read-only. *API's and Web Services Built in. z39 access, however with SQL access you could likely build the API you need. Unicorn * Export Built in. MARC21 or flat file formats. Unicode support is available as an extra. * Database Access Mixed. No access to the embedded Informix database by default; API training is necessary for read-only access. Oracle is an extra option, but that only gives you a read-only license. For write access, you need a full Oracle license. SQL schema is supplied if you purchase API training. * API's and Web Services Mixed. Z39.50 is offered (not sure if it's an extra). API access is an extra - basically you pay for docs of Unix-like commands and the ability to pay for API support if you screw up. API training also gives you some access to the client/server wire protocol so you can roll your own. No Web services. Utterly unusable XML API (it basically wraps the wire protocol with no abstraction). Innovative * Export Built In. Can dump Marc or CSV files of specific field data * Database Access Extra. There is a Oracle option with an additional cost with the default being a proprietary database without access. From what I've heard the Oracle tables are not documented overly well. There also appears to be mysql used for some data as well. *API's and Web Services Extra. Z39 is offered as a product. There used to be an XML server but this appears to have been discontinued. There appears to be more web services in the works though they also appear to be additional products. XRecord is built in but doesn't easily allow access to attached items given a bib eby Anna Headley wrote: I am looking to find or create a shortlist of ILSes, open or proprietary, that provide API access to bibliographic and item-level data. I am really only looking for ILSes that are used by academic libraries. Do you know of any resources that might be helpful? I started with Marshall Breeding's 2009 Perceptions report, but it doesn't include much information about a given ILS. Or, do you use such an ILS in your library? So far my list is: Evergreen Thank you!! Anna
Re: [CODE4LIB] ILS short list
Ed, Eric, Bill, please confirm) to my knowledge ALEPH had API to BIB, AUTH, HOLD, ITEM since version 16+ Ya’aqov On 4/8/10 2:47 PM, Bill Dueber b...@dueber.com wrote: On Thu, Apr 8, 2010 at 2:32 PM, Ryan Eby ryan...@gmail.com wrote: Unicorn * Export Built in. MARC21 or flat file formats. Unicode support is available as an extra. ...as an extra??? This is the saddest thing I've ready all day.
Re: [CODE4LIB] ILS short list
I should add that as of 2009 release III now has a My Millennium api product that gives access to the user info. Fines and other api available as product for previous version. http://www.iii.com/products/patron_web_services.shtml The rest of the info I got in 2007 from asking in #code4lib. I guess I should be happy that things have improved in just a few years. eby On Thu, Apr 8, 2010 at 3:02 PM, Ziso, Ya'aqov z...@rowan.edu wrote: Ed, Eric, Bill, please confirm) to my knowledge ALEPH had API to BIB, AUTH, HOLD, ITEM since version 16+ Ya’aqov On 4/8/10 2:47 PM, Bill Dueber b...@dueber.com wrote: On Thu, Apr 8, 2010 at 2:32 PM, Ryan Eby ryan...@gmail.com wrote: Unicorn * Export Built in. MARC21 or flat file formats. Unicode support is available as an extra. ...as an extra??? This is the saddest thing I've ready all day.
Re: [CODE4LIB] ILS short list
Anna, Have you taken a look at my recent issue of Library Technology Reports: Opening up Library Systems through Web Services and SOA: Hype or Reality? http://www.alatechsource.org/library-technology-reports/opening-up-library-systems-through-web-services-and-soa-hype-or-reality One component of this report are data about each of the major systems that describe the API's that they provide to libraries for accessing and manipulating internal data and functionality. I hope this helps. -marshall -Original Message- From: Code for Libraries [mailto:code4...@listserv.nd.edu] On Behalf Of Anna Headley Sent: Tuesday, April 06, 2010 2:32 PM To: CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU Subject: [CODE4LIB] ILS short list I am looking to find or create a shortlist of ILSes, open or proprietary, that provide API access to bibliographic and item-level data. I am really only looking for ILSes that are used by academic libraries. Do you know of any resources that might be helpful? I started with Marshall Breeding's 2009 Perceptions report, but it doesn't include much information about a given ILS. Or, do you use such an ILS in your library? So far my list is: Evergreen Thank you!! Anna -- Anna Headley Swarthmore College Library 610.690.5781 ahead...@swarthmore.edu
Re: [CODE4LIB] ILS short list
Thank you Marshall I will definitely check that out -- it sounds perfect. And thank you also to the people who emailed me individually and spoke to me on IRC. Anna On 4/7/2010 8:16 AM, Breeding, Marshall wrote: Anna, Have you taken a look at my recent issue of Library Technology Reports: Opening up Library Systems through Web Services and SOA: Hype or Reality? http://www.alatechsource.org/library-technology-reports/opening-up-library-systems-through-web-services-and-soa-hype-or-reality One component of this report are data about each of the major systems that describe the API's that they provide to libraries for accessing and manipulating internal data and functionality. I hope this helps. -marshall -Original Message- From: Code for Libraries [mailto:code4...@listserv.nd.edu] On Behalf Of Anna Headley Sent: Tuesday, April 06, 2010 2:32 PM To: CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU Subject: [CODE4LIB] ILS short list I am looking to find or create a shortlist of ILSes, open or proprietary, that provide API access to bibliographic and item-level data. I am really only looking for ILSes that are used by academic libraries. Do you know of any resources that might be helpful? I started with Marshall Breeding's 2009 Perceptions report, but it doesn't include much information about a given ILS. Or, do you use such an ILS in your library? So far my list is: Evergreen Thank you!! Anna -- Anna Headley Swarthmore College Library 610.690.5781 ahead...@swarthmore.edu
