Integrating a library management or request and research system with third-party solutions can have a huge impact on efficiency and user experiences. Liberty and illumin offer a wide range of integrations to help manage resources, requests and research.

In this blog, we will explore the value of integrations and share some examples of how these can be used. Our website has a comprehensive list of integration partners and options. From eBooks and audiobooks to educational videos and research databases, these integrations provide the tools needed to maximize resources and provide users with a better experience.

Making the most of available integrations is a fantastic opportunity to provide access to a wide selection of bibliographic information, digital books and audiobooks, educational videos, online courses and tutorials, eBooks, research materials, and data analysis tools, as well as streamline user experience.

Bring More to Your Catalog

With the appropriate subscriptions, accessing eBooks has never been easier. An integration with OverDrive (a library platform which allows users to access eBooks and audiobooks online) gives users access to a wide selection of digital books and audiobooks, across multiple platforms easily. Similarly, an integration with Google Books will use ISBNs to match titles with cover images. Imagine how rich the user experience becomes, with colorful cover images and even content previews.

Other integrations add some useful tools to your integrated library management system (ILMS). LinkedIn Learning provides users with access to expert-led courses and tutorials, giving users the opportunity to discover business, technology-related, and creative skills. Integrating this into your ILMS offers users the ability to take online courses to improve their professional skills, all streamlined from your library.

Data-driven Decision Making:

Our research and request management solution, illumin supports an integration with PowerBI. Once this Microsoft tool has been added and connections to data sources are active, your research team will be able to visualize and analyze data and create interactive dashboards and reports. PowerBI helps business make data-driven decisions.

Many Other Ways to Connect

RSS Feeds

An RSS is a web feed that allows users and applications to access updates to websites in a standardized, computer-readable format. This can help you stay up to date with your favorite newscasts, blogs, websites, and social media channels. There are many popular formats of content which provide an RSS feed, much of it free, that our Liberty customers can add to their catalog including:

• YouTube channels
• News
• Podcasts
• Blogs

In Liberty, you can catalog as many RSS feeds on your homepage or in the catalog as you like and they will appear in your catalogue automatically!

OAI-PMH

The Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting (OAI-PMH) is a standard for sharing library metadata between systems and organizations. It enables the use of portable metadata formats such as Dublin core and MARC21, allowing for better access to information.

OAI-PMH is used by organizations such as OCLC, Arxiv (an open-access repository of electronic preprints and post prints approved for posting after moderation, but not peer review), and the Library of Congress, and consists of both service providers and data providers. Softlink IC’s Liberty acts as a data provider, enabling the catalog of Liberty customers to be available to, and searchable through, third party service providers.

Single-Sign-On (SSO)

Our SSO module enables users to access multiple systems with a single login, eliminating the need for multiple usernames and passwords. This makes it more convenient and secure, as it reduces the risk of unauthorized access.

Still Looking for Integration Options? What About an API?

API stands for ‘Application Programming Interface’, which is a way for two applications to communicate with each other. It acts as a ‘messenger’ that delivers requests from one application to the provider and then delivers the response back. APIs come in a variety of forms, such as private, partner, public, composite, internal, and external.

APIs are used in library and knowledge centers to access information from the Library of Congress MARC Open Access, Open Census, national libraries and university or college databases. They can also be used to access services provided by companies such as EBSCO and OverDrive.

Our team of experts have years of experience in integrating and aligning with third-party providers, so you can be confident that your system will work seamlessly. If you’re looking for industry leading software solutions for your library or knowledge centers, look no further than Softlink IC and contact us today to find out more.