White Paper
Enhancing the Library eBook Experience with SimplyE™
SimplyE is a platform built to improve the experience of borrowing eBooks from libraries. Developed by the New York Public Library in collaboration with a number of state libraries, consortiums, and library service organizations, this open source solution has become the latest innovation in the eBook industry. It creates an easy means for patrons to quickly access thousands of eBooks and digital content online from a single unified platform.
The eBook technology used by libraries is an extension of services offered by the various content providers which allows the libraries to offer eBook content. With current technological advances being driven by instant gratification, avoiding a trip to the library to borrow and return the book is beneficial. However, if a given library offers titles from three different providers, there is a different lending and reading experience for each. Library patrons had no choice but to accept the varying degrees of lending chaos because of the overall benefits. This process was in need of a change. What if all of this content could be found in one place? What if patrons could access whatever they want to read using a single app? That’s what SimplyE offers.
The SimplyE solution is a collection of open source projects that integrate with commercial components that libraries already use to manage their catalogs and patrons. SimplyE includes a collection of middleware, server software, and mobile client applications for iOS and Android that libraries can use to deliver digital content. It is content-source agnostic and does not lock a library into a content vendor’s specific platform or application. While open source is a great way to contribute to the benefit of a community, it often presents a unique set of challenges for libraries looking to deploy this solution.
Datalogics offers professional implementation services to deploy the SimplyE solution. With years of working in eBook technologies, Datalogics is uniquely positioned to work with libraries to integrate the solution, provide hosting services and brand the SimplyE app. Their services also include open source code management of SimplyE, release builds, integration with a library’s existing infrastructure, and maintenance updates. This white paper is designed for libraries to understand the benefits of SimplyE, provide a high level understanding of how SimplyE is architected, and to gain a good understanding of Datalogics’s role as the integrator. Why libraries need SimplyE
Libraries lend eBooks and other digital content to patrons, who download them to tablets, smart phones, or other portable devices. These eBooks can be EPUB or PDF files of popular books and/or best sellers, that each library purchases to share with library card holders. Most of the content comes from a few large content providers that assign different processes in order to access their content, making it more challenging for patrons. Often what happens, is that the library is likely to carry content from only one of the large content providers to reduce the complexity. What SimplyE does, is allow libraries to work with all content providers at the same time and give users access to a wider range of titles.
Libraries represent the single greatest source for growth in eBook reading today. That’s because libraries meet the needs of modern readers. With SimplyE, patrons use a single reader which provides a streamlined method for patrons to discover, lend, and read. The diagram below illustrates what the patron sees and the backend system that supports it.
Discover Lend Read
iOS Client Android Client Web Client
Metadata Wrangler
Circulation Manager
Content Server
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2 Benefits for library patrons
With the SimplyE solution, libraries can offer patrons the following benefits: • Patrons will be able to find the eBooks they want quickly and easily, in one place, using the SimplyE app • Patrons will be able to browse for available titles, download, and read eBooks • Patrons will be able to sort or filter lists of eBooks to make titles easier to find • Patrons will be able to adjust font, text sizes, brightness, and contrast after opening an eBook • SimplyE apps, available for iOS and Android devices are immediately available
Benefits to the library
With SimplyE: • Libraries can have more ownership of the patron’s experience • eBook circulation rates will likely increase with the vast catalog at a patron’s fingertip, shorter wait times and simple browsing • Libraries will gain better visibility into eBook circulation as the analytics will be controlled by the library rather than the content vendor. SimplyE will track the number of copies checked out, the expiration dates, returned copies, and the list of patrons waiting in line to access the title • All DRM solutions are supported • Libraries can implement their library policies that restrict who can checkout eBooks. For example, a library may want to prevent a user who has $5 in fines from checking out eBooks until they have paid their fine
What it takes for a library to deploy
The New York Public Library developed and maintains the SimplyE platform, which includes servers and client apps for their consumers (SimplyE reading app for iOS and Android). Since it is open source, libraries can access the open source repository to build, install, and configure the server. The following are the steps involved with deployment:
1. Setup the required infrastructure. Access the SimplyE components for cloud computing, so that the library network can communicate with mobile devices. The New York Public Library uses the Amazon web service known as Elastic Compute Cloud, or EC2.
2. Download and install the server software needed from the SimplyE GitHub repository for Linux or Mac environment. The library will need to create a Python virtual environment and install the Circulation Manager, a server application. This is the connection point between library patrons using SimplyE and the library catalog. Several optional server components are also available, including:
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3 • Open Access Content Server: collects metadata and information about open access (free) content • Metadata Wrangler: utility that collects information sources for library eBooks and presents them to patrons as part of their reading experience. The data provided by Metadata Wrangler improves the patron’s ability to search for and select content, and it provides data for recommended reading as well. • Card Creator: secured means for remotely signing up customers
3. Configure SimplyE to work in the library environment. This involves detailed steps to make sure the SimplyE environment is distinct from similar environments deployed at other libraries:
• Set up links to important information provided by the library system, such as the privacy policy and terms of service • Define policies for using SimplyE that would be specific to the library, such as how to authenticate patrons and rules related to placing books on hold • Integrate SimplyE environment with the library’s own database systems or vendor services • Configure the server components to work with SimplyE app or to a library’s own branded apps on iOS and Android (if applicable)
When these settings are in place, a library will also want to set up automated scripts to maintain the server to keep collections current and correct problems with data. Setting up further server network management and monitoring tools are recommended, to make sure that the service is always available.
Deploying and maintaining SimplyE adds additional workload to a Library’s IT staff. A library will need to assign a role to someone to maintain and keep the system up to date. The product has an aggressive development roadmap, if a library is implementing, it means the library will need to maintain the system.
Partnering with Datalogics to integrate SimplyE
With many years of working in the eBook technology space, Datalogics has developed broad industry knowledge and in-depth technical expertise to help libraries meet their needs. Datalogics provides the integration services for libraries who want to deploy SimplyE. Datalogics found that the system requires more IT knowledge than most library systems have in place, including knowledge of cloud storage, servers, e-readers, and clients. Datalogics has in-house developers that can assist in customization work, should the integration require it, and a support team is available that have years of experience supporting specialized software
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4 solutions. Datalogics integration service includes:
• Getting the system up and running quickly • Installing and integrating the server software • Support and maintenance, including updates, bug fixes, and new features when available through NYPL • Hosting services • SimpleE custom app branding
After implementation, Datalogics ensures that the server software and apps are kept current with the changes made by the SimplyE community. Datalogics will manage the updates, make sure that they are vetted and tested, versioned, and then roll the changes out to the library’s servers and/or apps. There is a lot happening before the user sees the results. It is an important part, albeit invisible, to ensure the quality and continuity of the services the library offers.
Datalogics is offering its knowledge and expertise to deploy SimplyE, which will save libraries time and money. With competing priorities and costs of resources on the rise, libraries can rely on Datalogics to implement the system and keep it at optimal state.
About Datalogics Datalogics, Inc. is a PDF and eBook technology company, dedicated to providing the highest quality software. Based in Chicago, IL, we support hundreds of customers worldwide who are using our technology in diverse applications. With over 50 years of industry experience, we provide unmatched support, enabling customers to bring their products to market faster. Datalogics is on the PDF Association board, and is a member of both the W3C Transitional Publishing Industry (TPI) and the Readium Foundation.
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