Interoperability

The concept of interoperability seeks to realize full integration and operation of disparate systems, in lieu of navigating independent software interfaces and systems that do not easily communicate with each other. In the context of digital lending in libraries, it involves linking the component functionalities that support the ability to lend digital materials, including:

• Discovering digital resources held locally or at other libraries
• Processing or brokering requests for digital resources
• Hosting born digital or digitized resources
• Authenticating and authorizing users to view digital resources
• Viewing or reading digital resources on platforms or viewers

Interoperability between library systems can be achieved through a number of ways, including but not limited to, interoperable technology standards, application programming interfaces (APIs), or utilizing OpenURL transfer protocols. 

 

NISO & ISO Standards

Three of the major standards organizations that play a role in library systems are:  

• National Information Standards Organization (NISO), a non-profit  organization that is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), focuses on information standards, and operates in the United States.
  
  
• American National Standards Institute (ANSI), an organization that facilitates and coordinates standards and conformity assessment activities in the United States across various standards organizations.
  
  
• International Organization for Standardization (ISO), a global organization that develops standards across a number of industries 

A number of standards from these organizations influence digital lending, particularly for interlibrary loan software. These include:

• ISO 10161: standard protocol for ILL communication (superseded by ISO 18626)
  
  
• ANSI/NISO Z39.50 & ISO 23950: Standard for information retrieval via Z39.50 protocol
  
  
• ANSI/NISO Z39.83: NISO Circulation Interchange (NCIP)
  
  
• ANSI/NISO Z39.88: OpenURL protocol
  
  
• ISO 18626: Standard for modern ILL message exchange (superseding ISO 10161)

These standards serve software developers and library technologists in understanding the infrastructure required to realize interoperability, but their in-depth technical language presents barriers to those less familiar with this knowledge space. Additionally, while NISO standards are freely available online, ISO’s current versions of standards are behind a paywall, further preventing broader knowledge development of non-systems library practitioners to understand how these standards work in actuality. 

 

Understanding the Components of Interoperability

To better comprehend the key components of interoperability as they relate to library software, the following resources provide an introductory overview of the terminology, standards, and concepts that make system interoperability possible. Additional resources are included pertaining to specific interlibrary loan software.

📗 Chapter 2: Interoperability and Standards - Library Technology Reports, written by Marshall Breeding - 2013

🌐 📗 Chapter 4: Standards and Protocols for Implementing Digital Libraries - Aspects of Digital Libraries - Digitization, Standards, Open Access, Repositories and User’s Skills, written by David Oguche - 2023

🌐 Open Systems in the Age of Library Services Platforms: Meeting Expectations for Interoperability and Extensibility - Library Technology Guides, written by Marshall Breeding - 2022

🌐 📜 APIs and Libraries (pre-print), written by Robin Camille Davis - 2017

🌐 📜 The OpenURL, written by Mark Needleman - 2002/2013

🌐 Why OpenURL?, written by Apps & MacIntyre - 2006

🌐 ISO ILL in Alma

🌐 ISO ILL in ILLiad