Open library environments: Governments appear to be in thrall to ‘open’. Social sharing and exchange has emerged as a new and significant factor that competes with conventional market modes of production. Higher education (HE) and its libraries are exploiting the shift in the information economy and increasingly exploiting the opportunities derived from open source software, open data and open content. However, being open is a means not an end. Re-use leading to impact is the goal and the evidence of re-use is patchy, and especially weak for open data. Commercial non-open approaches such as iTunes are reasserting themselves and finding that users will pay for the convenience even if there are open and free alternatives. Published in Serials – 24(3), November 2011
The 
positive power of disruption: Since the publication of The Innovator’s Dilemma in the late 1990s Christensen’s work has been very influential in the business world. What is the result when we look at his analytical ‘tool-set’ in the context of academic libraries? Published in SCONUL Focus 52 (November 2011)
‘Open Data – 
the missing link?‘ Ken Chad positions the new UK ‘Discovery’ initiative in the context of global and national thinking
‘the rise of platforms could see off the web. Libraries anxious to improve their relevance to students have been busy, over the last couple of years, purchasing vertical search/discovery service solutions. Ken Chad analyses this in the wider context of the the rise of global platforms and ‘apps’. Published in CILIP Libraries+Information Gazette. 2nd December 2010.
Making it easier to specify systems. A new service for developing specifications for library systems takes an open ‘wiki’ approach to allow for comment and discussion. Ken Chad & Juliet Leeves explain why it has been set up. Published in CILIP Libraries+Information Gazette. 2nd December 2010.
E-Books and libraries: which business model? An analysis of some of the issues and concerns around e-books, especially in public libraries. Published in CILIP Library+Information Gazette, 11th November 2010
‘When the library business is booming why are public libraries in decline and what can we do?‘ By Ken Chad. 25th January
2010 (A response to ‘Empower, Inform, Enrich. The Modernisation Review of Public Libraries. A consultation document.’ DCMS. December 2009)
The slow end of the LMS. Should we call time on the Library Management System? Published in CILIP Library+Information Gazette, 30th September 2010
Discovery and delivery? First a national catalogue. Will we see the creation of a UK national public library catalogue? Ken Chad looks at the progress being made and the issues. Published in CILIP Library+Information Gazette, 2nd September 2010
‘A perspective on resource list management‘ How has the management of academic resource lists changed, what are library management systems vendors offering and how are resource lists being handled in a social media environment? Published in Library & Information Update (p.39-41). CILIP June 2010
‘Creating catalogues: bibliographic records in a networked world’. This report was the output of our project with RIN to identify and map the current arrangements through which bibliographic records are created and the flow between publishers, libraries and other service providers in the UK.
A broader menu beckons in the LMS market. There growing interest in Open Source Library Management Systems. Ken Chad contrasts the appetite for open source solutions two years ago with the interest and solutions available today. He looks at how some of the barriers to the take up of open source solutions are being broken down. Published in CILIP Library+Information Gazette. 24th April 2009
Find the competitive ‘sweet spot.’ How can public libraries compete? There is a clear sense that libraries are under threat. Looking at things with a competitive frame of mind helps focus on the distinctive elements of the service. Think of this as the strategic sweet spot: where the library’s capabilities meet customer needs in a way that rivals can’t. This is therefore the place where the library will get most return on its investment. A focus on the sweet spot enables the library to highlight the areas where is can make the biggest difference and add the most value. Indeed where it can be most competitive. Published in YDdolen/Information Wales Autumn 2008
The impact of 2.0: are you missing the point. Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 are local manifestations of much deeper, technology driven changes in the Information economy. The new ‘Networked Information Economy’ has enabled millions of people to combine cheap computing, and access to the web to take ownership of the ‘means of production’ and create and share content. Ken develops themes from his Internet Librarian presentation. Published in CILIP Library+Information Gazette. 21st September 2007
The LMS: an open or shut case. Is Open Source a solution to a failing market? In the US there is increasing dissatisfaction with the LMS vendors and several major public and academic libraries have selected Open Source LMSs. Ken analyses this trend and its relevance to the UK.
Published in CILIP Library+Information Gazette. 24th August 2007
See you later aggregator. UK Library resources are fragmented. There is a hugely valuable, publicly funded, resource that is not used to its full advantage because it is not aggregated. Ken argues that a UK national aggregation of library resources is feasible and that it should be combined with an easy and effective fulfilment mechanism. Published in CILIP Library+Information Gazette. 27th July 2007
Is the LMS at a tipping point? Is it time for libraries to downsize their systems and lower costs? Ken explains the legacy of UNIX library systems and the opportunities presented by Windows based systems or Open Source to lower costs dramatically, even for large academic and public libraries. Published in CILIP Library+Information Gazette. 29th June 2007
Taking apart the library system. The monolithic integrated LMS is splitting up into its smaller component parts, realising a long-held dream of many librarians. We are in a new ‘pioneering’ age where libraries will need to focus more attention on standards and increase their technical skills to reap the rewards of a low cost library system ‘components.
Published in CILIP Library+Information Gazette. 1st June 2007 ‘
Same message: new messenger? How can libraries compete with free commercial ‘library’ services? Can they offer a service that’s more relevant, engaging, personalised, cheaper, faster and easier to use? Who will create it? Published in the CILIP+Information Gazette. 4th May 2007
Unsettled forecast . In a consolidating LMS market increasingly funded by private equity what should libraries do? In less than two years the majority of the UK’s public and HE libraries have seen their LMS providers come under new ownership. Private equity companies have initiated much of that change. Ken discusses what is happening, why it is happening and what libraries should do. Published in CILIP Library+Information Gazette. 9th March 2007
The new value of the library. Web services and a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) have now matured enough to provide promise of effective and economic integration between library management systems and other corporate systems such as CRM and Finance. Ken discusses the implications and opportunities of this approach. Published in Panlibus 1. Autumn 2005,
