Lehigh is part of the Web Services partner program, and we are very  
close to releasing the mobile app.  So far it hasn't cost any $$ nor  
have we had to worry about API either as there is a separate web  
services API that this development is based on. In reality, much of  
that effort depends on the base Unicorn/Symphony API.

There is some expectation (skepticism/cynicism?) that SirsiDynix will  
eventually charge customers for web-service
apps, but from conversations with colleagues at other partner sites,  
it's our intention to push partner apps to remain free and open.  But  
I wouldn't be surprised if there is eventually a subscription to ge  
access to the web services API.

If there are any specific questions on this, let me know.

Cheers,
Tim

Sent from my iPod Touch

Tim McGeary
Team Leader, Library Technology
[log in to unmask]

On Apr 9, 2010, at 8:25 AM, Emily Lynema <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> SirsiDynix Symphony has a new Web Services platform that is being  
> released in beta at this point. Full documentation is supposed to be  
> available in 2010. It was used to enable the SirsiDynix iPhone app.  
> I think it was built as a wrapper on top of their long-existing  
> command line API tools.
>
> Feature set is supposed to include:
> * authenticated access to user account info and ability to place  
> holds / renew items
> * new / popular title lists
> * bibliographic searching and display
> * item availability information
>
> I don't think this package requires additional $$, but I bet you do  
> have to have already paid for API training. We haven't investigated  
> that deeply with Sirsi yet.
>
> -emily
>
> -- 
> Emily Lynema
> Associate Department Head
> Information Technology, NCSU Libraries
> 919-513-8031
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date:    Thu, 8 Apr 2010 14:32:57 -0400
> From:    Ryan Eby <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: ILS short list
>
> It would probably be worth putting your findings on the code4lib wiki
> if you end up getting very far.
>
> I had started a list awhile ago but never got around to getting more
> info/completing it. Here's what I have so far based on talking with
> people. The information may be out of date:
>
> Evergreen and Koha both have database access and various API's. Not
> sure on the hosted liblime koha.
>
> Voyager
> *Export
> Built in. Can export Marc with bib, holdings and authorities records,
> though marc is often mangled (from person i talked to).
> *Database Access
> Built in. Uses Oracle and also provides entity-relationship diagrams
> and some pre-build "views" to help in development. Believe the oracle
> license is also included in the base price. Access is read-only.
> *API's and Web Services
> Built in. z39 access, however with SQL access you could likely build
> the API you need.
>
> Unicorn
> * Export
> Built in. MARC21 or flat file formats. Unicode support is available  
> as an extra.
> * Database Access
> Mixed. No access to the embedded Informix database by default; API
> training is necessary for read-only access. Oracle is an extra option,
> but that only gives you a read-only license. For write access, you
> need a full Oracle license. SQL schema is supplied if you purchase API
> training.
> * API's and Web Services
> Mixed. Z39.50 is offered (not sure if it's an extra). "API access" is
> an extra - basically you pay for docs of Unix-like commands and the
> ability to pay for API support if you screw up. API training also
> gives you some access to the client/server wire protocol so you can
> roll your own. No Web services. Utterly unusable XML API (it basically
> wraps the wire protocol with no abstraction).
>
> Innovative
> * Export
> Built In. Can dump Marc or CSV files of specific field data
> * Database Access
> Extra. There is a Oracle option with an additional cost with the
> default being a proprietary database without access. From what I've
> heard the Oracle tables are not documented overly well. There also
> appears to be mysql used for some data as well.
> *API's and Web Services
> Extra. Z39 is offered as a product. There used to be an XML server but
> this appears to have been discontinued. There appears to be more web
> services in the works though they also appear to be additional
> products. XRecord is built in but doesn't easily allow access to
> attached items given a bib
>
> eby
>
>
>> > Anna Headley wrote:
>>
>>> >>
>>> >> I am looking to find or create a shortlist of ILSes, open or  
>>> proprietary,
>>> >> that provide API access to bibliographic and item-level data. 
>>>  �I am really
>>> >> only looking for ILSes that are used by academic libraries.
>>> >>
>>> >> Do you know of any resources that might be helpful? �I starte 
>>> d with
>>> >> Marshall Breeding's 2009 Perceptions report, but it doesn't  
>>> include much
>>> >> information about a given ILS.
>>> >>
>>> >> Or, do you use such an ILS in your library?
>>> >>
>>> >> So far my list is: Evergreen
>>> >>
>>> >> Thank you!!
>>> >> Anna
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>>
>> >
>>