How can my institution become a partner of Kuali OLE?

Kuali OLE (pronounced Oh-LAY) partnership is the means for any college, university, commercial, and other not-for-profit organization to get involved in sustaining and evolving the Kuali OLE project.

By becoming a partner, you can then have a seat at the table about the direction and priorities of the OLE system over time.  Also, there is great value to being a partner if you plan on implementing the software, because your technical team is involved on the project and knows the technology and functionality.

Kuali OLE is funded, in part, by a $2.38 million grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to Indiana University. Indiana University leads the partnership of research libraries whose membership dues and expertise also support the project. 

For details on how to become a partner, contact Robert McDonald (rhmcdona@indiana.edu).

How are the membership dues be used?

Kuali OLE membership dues will pay for staff and resources to perform necessary activities to develop a community-source library management system that will define the next-generation technology environment based on a thoroughly re-examined model of library business operations.   Project partners share the goal to create a next-generation library system that breaks away from print-based workflows and reflects the changing nature of library materials and new approaches to scholarly work.

Will Kuali OLE replace my ILS?

Yes, at the completion of the build phase, a migration path will be clear to replace your ILS with Kuali OLE core services.  From these core technologies, Kuali OLE will develop the core modules of functionality required by libraries to replace their current ILS and several ancillary systems to improve library work- and data- flows.   Additional services beyond the OLE core services can be adopted, built, contributed to the OLE community.

How does Kuali OLE differ from other recent or open source ILS projects?

Kuali OLE is a unique approach aimed at the need for academic and research libraries to move beyond the stand-alone ILS model without sacrificing core functionality.  Starting with extensive library community consultation and design, OLE aims to support libraries in transforming their workflows so they can manage changing services and resource formats – not just to replicate a traditional ILS.   

OLE will leverage and integrate connections between the enterprise library and its consortia while recognizing the technical infrastructure of the library’s parent organization is a key constituent.  Connections to external library networks will be natural and fully functional, but OLE libraries will differ in their desire to increase the ROI of the parent organization’s embedded systems — identity management, financial accounting, etc.  

Since OLE will integrate first with the parent enterprise infrastructure, the researcher will be the central focus of library services designed to support interactions with multiple interdisciplinary networks, interactions with course and learning management systems, and discovery of resources regardless of format.

Why is community-source development good for libraries?

Community source development is a forward-looking and strategically important step for libraries.  The community source approach allows more input for libraries to direct our future because we are in part shaped by the systems we use and control.  

It allows us to determine the direction of development and to extend and enhance functionality with greater freedom.

In a library’s quest to be “in the flow” of a researcher’s information management needs, the Kuali OLE Project broadens the current notion of the ILS to directly support or integrate with systems that manage intellectual property and rights, build and maintain content repositories, link content with learning management technologies, facilitate customer authentication and authorization, manage client relationships, and integrate with institution-wide financial services.

What will be the advantages of Kuali OLE compared to a traditional ILS systems?

Kuali OLE aims for a transformational design approach to create an extremely flexible, interoperable system that does not just replicate the concepts that underlie legacy software.

OLE will be designed as a single system to manage diverse collection formats and content, including print, electronic and future information sources. It will not have separate systems for inventory control of print or for licensing control for e-journals.

OLE will support the needs of libraries involved in consortia and other collaborative organizations. OLE’s Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) will allow OLE to fit in well in the enterprise networks of their parent organizations and to evolve gracefully without the need to create or replace large modules as library needs evolve.

How does Kuali OLE help the library support the mission of research and teaching institutions?

Kuali OLE will integrate with the institution’s broader technical infrastructure, creating more streamlined and faster access to research information and much less duplication of data and effort.

OLE will be able to be deeply integrated with the other applications of the institution. It will flexibly deliver information resources of the library to researchers and will be able to be embedded into all curriculum activities. For example, OLE should provide better options for integration with student information systems, course management systems and identity management systems. OLE will give better access to resources for all members of the institution and add value to these resources.

What will Kuali OLE be when it’s complete?

OLE will automate core library functions in a way suited to modern workflows and that interoperates with business and content applications beyond the library. When complete, OLE will allow libraries to discontinue their current ILS and several ancillary systems necessary today to manage scholarly content, and to continue their business functions through OLE or through the enterprise integration of OLE with Identity Management, Enterprise Resource Planning systems and Virtual Learning Environment systems

OLE is the first system for managing and delivering intellectual information designed by and for academic and research libraries.  OLE will provide interoperability with institution-wide applications (e.g. Identity Management, Acquisitions/Financial Accounting, Services to Course and Learning Management systems) allowing the library to leverage rather than duplicate enterprise functions.  

Interoperability will be achieved using Services Oriented Architecture (SOA) to create building blocks for future needs while supporting the existing workflows currently provided by the ILS.  OLE will be format-agnostic for collection and resource management thereby dissolving differences between physical and electronic resources.  In essence, OLE is a framework and platform that goes beyond the monolithic ILS.

What is the mission of the KUALI OLE Project?

The mission of Kuali OLE (Open Library Environment) is to develop a sustainable Kuali system that provides academic library management services for higher education. It will use the legal umbrella of the Kuali Foundation, adhere to the Kuali licensing guidelines, and use the Kuali middleware, infrastructure, tools and processes.

OLE will use open, flexible technology to produce a community-sourced alternative to current legacy automation components, including Integrated Library Systems (ILS) and electronic resource management (ERM) systems.

With support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation,  The aim is to have its first deliverable ready by mid 2011.

How did this project get started?

The Kuali OLE Project has its beginnings in the Open Library Environment Project (OLE), a planning project funded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for 2008-2009.  This initial project  investigated the scope, scale, governance, and community building opportunities involved in developing an open-source software management system specifically designed to meet the needs of the academic and research library community.  

An international group of research libraries began working in September 2008 to plan the project. Project participants developed system requirements and an initial design document. Funding from project participants and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has been secured for development of the OLE software.

Additional background information may be found in the Kuali OLE Build Proposal.

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