System Inventory

What is it?: Adobe DRM is applied and managed by content distributors using Adobe Content Server (ACS), while users access encrypted e-books through another software (often Adobe Digital Editions or ADE). When a user downloads an e-book, they first receive a small .acsm file, which contains instructions for ADE to retrieve the actual ebook from the distributor's ACS. ADE uses the user's Adobe ID to authenticate with the ACS and, once verified, the e-book is downloaded and can be read only on that authorized device. It has the potential for applications to CDL and e-book ILL.

Open Source or Proprietary?: Proprietary

Benefits?: 

- Adobe Digital Editions and Adobe ID are free to users.
- Supports multiple file formats (EPUB, EPUB3, and PDF).
- Supported by a number of devices.

Challenges?: 

- May be cost prohibitive depending on institution size/budget.
- No native lending workflows.
- Privacy concerns with previous editions of ADE software.

More information: 

🌐 What is Adobe DRM?

🌐 Adobe Digital Editions

Alma Digital

What is it?: A digital repository and management solution from Ex Libris, adapting many of the metadata, collections, and workflow management platforms and processes used to manage print and electronic resources in Alma. As an add-on module, it has the ability to support CDL workflows for general circulation. Alma Digital is currently being moved into Specto, their AI digital asset management solution. 

Open Source or Proprietary?: Proprietary

Benefits?:

- Multiple options to set access control (e.g., copying/downloading prevention, enforcing granular loan periods, integrating user authentication).
- Native reader is included and compatible with other readers.
- For Ex Libris customers, integrates with existing catalog, discovery layer, and established workflows.

Challenges?: 

- May be cost prohibitive depending on institution size/budget.
- Digital assessment management system is not natively intended to support CDL.
- Lengthy implementation if not currently using Alma.

More information: 

🌐 ▶️ Alma Digital Training Documentation

🌐 ▶️ Alma Digital LibGuide

Box

What is it?: A cloud-based platform for content management and collaboration. Often compared with Dropbox, Box is a generally more collaborative platform for larger enterprises given the extensive number of integrations with other software. For digital lending workflows, it can be used to host digital surrogates and set access controls for user viewing, though it lacks existing automations and integrations with other library platforms. 

Open Source or Proprietary?: Proprietary

Benefits?: 

- Ability to set detailed link settings for expiration and password protection based on access permission levels.
- Integrates with other standard collaboration technologies (e.g. Google Workspace, Microsoft365).
- Broader set of security features included.

Challenges?: 

- Not a native DRM solution, though downloads can be restricted.
- Link settings options depend on an institution’s plan.
- Limited file format support (no EPUBs or more complex resources).

More information: 

🌐 ▶️ Box Training for Beginners - Using Shared Links

Caltech DIBS

What is it?: A digital borrowing system developed by Caltech supporting basic web-based CDL workflows. Originally created to support faculty and students during the COVID-19 pandemic, the software provides a loan tracking system and integrated viewing interface for digital resources. DIBS embeds the Universal Viewer to display materials that comply with the International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF).

Open Source or Proprietary?: Open Source

Benefits?: 

- Developed specifically to support CDL workflows.
- User and staff interface are easy to navigate. 
- Detailed installation and workflow documentation.

Challenges?: 

- Requires the use of a IIIF server.
- Requires a high level of institutional technical support to implement and support web servers for authentication. 
- Current metadata integrations only with FOLIO or TIND.

More information: 

🌐 DIBS Github Code & Documentation

🌐 Caltech Library Digital Borrowing System

Digify

What is it?: A cloud-based document security service that offers browser-based access to DRM-protected files as well as file tracking, access controls, and forwarding restrictions. Originally developed for non-library industries, the hosting infrastructure is certified for a number of standards and security protocols including ISO 27001, FedRAMP, and FIPS. Usage of the software has been primarily focused on supporting CDL workflows and has not been tailored or scaled to support e-book or media lending. 

Open Source or Proprietary?: Proprietary

Benefits?: 

- Multiple options to set access control (e.g. view only settings, time-limited access).
- Cloud based, straightforward, appropriate DRM.

Challenges?: 

- May be cost prohibitive depending on institution size/budget.
- No catalog/inventory integration. 
- High touch support needed for each loan.

More information: 

🌐 Digify Digital Rights Management

🌐 Digify Virtual Data Room

DropBox

What is it?: A cloud-based platform for file storage and collaboration that enables users to store, access, and share documents and files. Often compared with Box, Dropbox is generally suited towards smaller organizations with fewer needs for software integrations. For digital lending workflows, it can be used to host digital surrogates and set specific access controls for user viewing, though it lacks existing automations and integrations with other library platforms. 

Open Source or Proprietary?: Proprietary

Benefits?: 

- Relatively simple platform and interface.
- Basic access controls.
- Potentially useful for smaller scale pilots with fewer required access controls.

Challenges?: 

- Though downloads can be restricted, not a native DRM solution.
- No automation for loaning or access controls.
- Limited integrations compared to other commercial file storage platforms.

More information: 

▶️ Dropbox - Sharing Links and Setting Permissions

Figgy

What is it?: A digital repository developed by Princeton University. Though used predominantly to host a number of local digital collections, Princeton used the software to ingest digital surrogates to support general circulation of their print collections.

Open Source or Proprietary?: Open source

Benefits?: 

- Licensed under Apache 2.0.
- Allows staff to add document elements such as logical structure, pagination, page labeling, and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for a variety of languages.
- Can be synchronized with discovery platforms. 

Challenges?: 

- Requires a significant amount of local technological expertise.
- Have to manually deactivate the CDL copy and reactivate the physical copy.
- Does not appear to be widely adopted by libraries outside of Princeton. 

More information: 

🌐 Figgy: PUL’s Digital Repository

🌐 Figgy Github Code & Documentation

🌐 Figgy Confluence Documentation

Google Drive

What is it?: A multi-purpose cloud file storage system, Google Drive can be used as a platform to host digital surrogates for CDL. It offers basic functionality to store and share files with some access controls, but lacks more robust tools to natively and seamlessly support CDL lending. However, Google Apps Script has been utilized by a number of organizations, including Fordham University, NYU Shanghai Library, and Fenway Library Organization, to automate access to digital surrogates through the storage system. Though not extensively tested or scaled, the software could potentially be used for applications of CDL for video or other types of media lending given the ability to host and support diverse file types. 

Open Source or Proprietary?: Proprietary

Benefits?: 

- Ability to set expiration date on sharable files and prevent downloads/printing.
- Multiple file types supported (PDF, video files, Word, etc.).
- Existing applications of the software in a CDL context.

Challenges?: 

- Costs for non-Google institutions.
- Loan expiration date functionality only for paid Google Workplace organizations.
- External loan tracker or spreadsheet may be needed to control owned-to-loaned ratio for CDL.

More information: 

🌐 Limit how files are shared - Google Drive 

🌐 Set an expiration date for file access - Google Drive 

📜 Sample instructions - How to use Google Drive for CDL

Hyku & Hyku for Consortia

What is it?: A digital repository designed specifically for libraries and built on open source Samvera and Fedora technologies. Hyku for Consortia extends this functionality by enabling multiple institutions to share a single, multi-tenant instance. Though primarily developed to support functions of institutional repositories, shared infrastructure can be utilized for hosting digital surrogates and integrating with viewers to support CDL workflows.

Open Source or Proprietary?: Open Source

Benefits?: 

- Flexible and easy to install/configure.
- Can be used to support consortial implementations of CDL.
- Integration with IIIF viewer.

Challenges?: 

- No built in lending mechanisms or DRM protections.
- Familiarity with Samvera and Fedora infrastructure needed to locally support and develop.
- For consortia, difficulties supporting multiple authentication methods.

More information: 

🌐 Hyku Features and Implementations

🌐 Hyku Github Code & Documentation

🌐 Hyku for Consortia Documentation

LockLizard

What is it?: A stand-alone DRM platform that provides secure document protection using encryption, watermarking, and a number of detailed access controls. The software can be used to distribute protected PDF files and set limits to the number of views or expiration dates, as well as any permissible printing or downloads. As a proprietary viewer, it does not natively integrate with many standard library technologies and appears best suited to support general circulation of CDL digital surrogates or to locally view institutional e-book collections. 

Open Source or Proprietary?: Proprietary

Benefits?: 

- Allows of nuanced access controls (e.g. allowing/restricting downloads or printing, preventing screenshots or screen sharing).
- Supports online and offline access to digital content.
- Robust audit logs to track views and enforcement access controls via IP restriction.

Challenges?: 

- May be cost prohibitive depending on institution size/budget.
- Difficult to integrate with other library technologies.
- Users have to register with LockLizard using an institutional email to access digital resources.

More information: 

🌐 Digital Libraries, Controlled Digital Lending & eBook DRM - LockLizard 

🌐 Secure Electronic Delivery - LockLizard 

🌐 Controlled Digital Lending - LockLizard 

▶️ General LockLizard DRM Security Videos

Occam’s Reader

What is it?: A DRM-management platform used to support e-book interlibrary loan and CDL workflows developed by Texas Tech University in collaboration with the Greater Western Library Alliance (GWLA) and the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. Staff upload PDF or TXT files into the software, which then converts them into the reader’s format. Requests are processed in the system and users are provided with a secure link to view the file using the proprietary e-reader platform with potential for customizable loan periods. 

Open Source or Proprietary?: Proprietary (earlier versions open source)

Benefits?: 

- Relatively affordable.
- Supports multiple digital formats and collections including e-books, datasets, 3D objects, and course reserves. 
- Minimal IT support needed as DRM is built into the system.

Challenges?: 

- Not ADA compliant.
- View only access/no ability to print or download pages.
- Little local system control.

More information: 

🌐 Occam’s Reader Homepage

🌐 Occam’s Reader Demo Viewer

🌐 Occam’s Reader Version 1.1 Software Code & Documentation

Open Libraries

What is it?: Internet Archive’s Open Library service restricts digital loans in an owned-to-loaned manner, serving as a crowd-sourced CDL platform of sorts. Participating libraries can identify overlapping physical and digital holdings and provide free digital books to their users where matched. Holdings can also be added to Open Libraries to increase lending counts by broadening the pool of potential borrowers. The Open Libraries program is independent of the National Emergency Library, which ran from March to July of 2020 and was the primary subject of the Hachette v. Internet Archive litigation. 

Open Source or Proprietary?: Open Source

Benefits?: 

- Holdings integrations to increase lending counts.
- Includes metadata records for reuse.
- Expansive pool of partnering libraries.

Challenges?: 

- Less applicable for interlibrary loan or CDL applications.
- Separate account creation through Internet Archive to access digital resources.
- Less granular lending specifications.

More information:

🌐 Open Library Homepage

🌐 Open Library Developer Center

📜 Agreement to participate in Open Libraries