Sinopia Integrations

Connecting Sinopia with your Local System

What is a Sinopia integration?

A Sinopia integration is a connection between Sinopia and a local Library Services Platform, or LSP. The integration allows data to be transferred from the Sinopia database to a local catalog based on your institution’s user group. The integration does not provide synching between Sinopia and the local LSP, but offers a way to bring a description cataloged with the Sinopia editor and using PCC BIBFRAME templates to a local library system. The integration is currently enabled in Sinopia Stage and Development environments. Regardless of the LSP used by the library, the ILS Middleware, using Apache Airflow, provides the means for the integration. For more information on the ILS Middleware, please see further sections below.

Is the Sinopia integration right for me?

Libraries looking to experiment with BIBFRAME cataloging in test or production environments may be interested in a Sinopia integration. A basic understanding of the Sinopia editor, BIBFRAME cataloging using the PCC templates available in Sinopia Stage and Development environments, and a plan for linked data cataloging at your institution will help make your project or pilot a success. Joining the PCC Sinopia Cataloging LD4 Affinity Group is a wonderful place to learn and work with like-minded colleagues, ask questions, and become more engaged in linked data efforts around the world.

What Library Service Platforms integrate with Sinopia?

Alma: The Sinopia to Alma integration brings BIBFRAME Works and Instances into the Alma LSP Sandbox and Production environments. Ex Libris customers must also notify Ex Libris Support and request an API key for configuring access. We recommend reviewing the Ex Libris Knowledge Center article on BIBFRAME support in Alma before getting started.

FOLIO: The Sinopia to FOLIO integration maps BIBFRAME Work and Instance data to a single FOLIO inventory record. The current integration utilizes the Sinopia Stage environment. We are in the process of expanding Inventory mapping with additional fields. Currently, brief data created with the PCC BF2 templates for monographs is available for testing and pilot workflow purposes.

For other LSPs/ILSs: Please contact us.

What is the Sinopia ILS Middleware?

The ILS Middleware is a minimal viable product (MVP) for using Apache Airflow to manage Sinopia workflows that interact with institutional LSPs or Integrated Library Systems (ILSs). Currently there are Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs) for FOLIO Sinopia-to-LSP workflows. Alma users with the Linked Data API enabled can use the Alma DAG for connecting Sinopia to Alma. Learn more about the ILS Middleware on GitHub.

What is needed to set up a Sinopia integration?

In order to set up a Sinopia integration with your LSP, we need to confirm that your library meets a few prerequisites.

First, open a GitHub issue to request a new Sinopia integration. The GitHub issue includes the necessary steps to establish a new integration, which is also copied below:

• Your library uses FOLIO or Alma, or you have checked with the Sinopia team and have confirmed that the integration will work with your system
• You have a user account in Sinopia Stage, Production, and Development
• Your library has an institution group in Sinopia Stage, Production, and Development environments
• A list of Sinopia users (Sinopia username and email address in Sinopia Stage, Production, and Development) that should be assigned to your institution group

Resources:

PCC Sinopia training, Catalogers Learning Workshop

PCC Sinopia Cataloging LD4 Affinity Group

Ex Libris Knowledge Center BIBFRAME article

Linked Open Data in FOLIO Subgroup, Metadata Management SIG