Open ILS Initiative (OII) Working Group

Description

Given the availability of disparate solutions (created by various vendors, developed by a given library or afforded by open source tools), and the various combinations of services desired by a given library, the need exists to have generally accepted approaches to maximize the value of these resources through greater interconnectivity flowing to and from the ILS/LSP. This includes open use of APIs and protocols, as well as transparency concerning how these tools may be used, or any restrictions associated with how they may not be used. All of these factors play a role in determining usefulness in relation to organizational goals, and potential development considerations from various parties (libraries, software vendors, open source development, service providers, etc.). This availability and transparency would relate to, but may not be limited to, areas including:

• The use of applicable APIs and any restrictions on API use related to a given application, application type or third party
• The levels of support for specific application integrations between the ILS provider and any applicable third party/service; clearly documented support contact (i.e., who do you ask, where do you start, who do you call if it breaks)
• The allowance of third-party service provider representation and utilization of APIs, documentation, service teams and any other required items that would assist in ensuring integrations on behalf of libraries
• Good faith efforts to support decisions by libraries for new and established integrations and the reasonable/sustained maintenance required to uphold these connections
• The level of and technical requirements for scalability of ILS/LSP systems interoperability to support consortial environments; including need for providers to define basic consortial environments; including need for providers to define basic consortial implementation parameters and limitations

The Open ILS Initiative (OII) Working Group is creating a NISO Recommended Practice to create visibility, clarity and conformance of the areas that will optimize open interoperability around the ILS/LSP and support the various parties involved. The Recommended Practice will outline areas of need, propose approaches to address specific roadblocks, identify critical applications that would have the greatest impact, and generate ways to uphold and create related transparency within our community. The goal of the OII Recommended Practice would be to generate broad awareness and conformance/adoption of the principles outlined, while acting as a precursor to follow-on working groups that would offer solutions/best practices to address the specific recommended (technical and other) components within the Recommended Practice details.

This group began its work in June 2026.