**Apologies for cross posting**
Baltimore, MD—October 30, 2025—Voting members of the National Information
Standards Organization (NISO) have approved the formation of a Working
Group to develop a Recommended Practice to create visibility, clarity, and
conformity of the areas that will optimize open interoperability around the
Integrated Library System (ILS)/Library Services Platform (LSP) and support
the various parties involved. NISO is currently seeking members from across
the information community to join the resulting Open ILS Working Group.
Every library has unique needs to uphold and sustain its mission. As a
result, the potential combinations of software and systems evident across
the library community are virtually unlimited. However, the ability to
implement preferred approaches for each library, which involves integrating
disparate systems and tools, can be challenging because of a lack of
standardization and optimized interoperability. As the ILS or LSP tends to
be the center of these environments, where interoperability and
bidirectional integrations are paramount, greater interconnectivity between
systems will maximize the value of disparate library solutions and the
various combinations of services desired by any given library.
NISO’s Working Group aims to enable a larger community approach to ILS
interoperability that will facilitate greater interaction across systems,
giving more control to libraries to optimize their environments in
accordance with their goals and needs and fostering greater transparency
around tools, applications, and processes. The group will begin by
analyzing the existing landscape, including conducting community surveys.
Russell Palmer, Assistant Director of GALILEO Support Services, and Scott
Bernier, Vice President of Library and Government Relations for EBSCO
Information Services, are co-chairs of the working group and initiators of
the new work item along with Erik Radio, Associate Professor at University
of Colorado, Boulder. Bernier expressed his enthusiasm about the project,
stating, “We are eager to involve the community as we strive for a broader
collaborative approach to ILS interoperability.” Palmer echoed the
sentiment, saying, “This initiative aims to support the objectives and
preferences of libraries while ensuring transparency regarding the
availability and utilization of APIs, as well as the support and
permissions from the parties and applications involved.”
"Clear standards are essential to removing the obstacles that prevent
libraries from building the integrated systems they need,” said Cristin
Hipke, NISO Standards Program Manager. “This Recommended Practice will
provide the framework our community requires. I urge community members with
technical expertise, vendor experience, or negotiation skills to volunteer
for the working group and help shape this initiative."
For more information or to volunteer for the Open ILS Working Group, please
contact nisohq_at_niso.org.
NISO
3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 302
Baltimore, MD 21211
Phone: 301.654.2512
E-mail: nisohq_at_niso.org
Received on Thu Oct 30 2025 - 15:39:05 EDT