Target Audience: Library managers and system librarians with responsibility for the selection and implementation of integrated library systems; librarians interested in vendor practices and the automation marketplace; librarians interested in the future of library automation
Learning Outcomes:
1) Participants will be able to identify the major issues in the lawsuit and how it may impact the library automation marketplace.
2) Participants will be able to identify some of the major trends influencing library automation.
The SkyRiver/Innovative Interfaces lawsuit against OCLC for monopoly practices has potentially wide-ranging impact for the law library world. These two major automation players, whose business interests were formerly in separate worlds, are now in direct competition. While OCLC has long been the primary bibliographic utility for copy cataloging, SkyRiver has recently become a new vendor supplying bibliographic records to libraries. And while Innovative Interfaces has long been the provider of integrated library systems (especially for law libraries), the development of Worldcat Local and Web Management Services by OCLC makes it a significant player in this market, too. This program will present the facts surrounding this lawsuit, what it may mean for libraries, and some projections for the future of library automation.
