Open Fifth Limited

Aspen Discovery Library Engagement Platform

The Aspen library engagement platform provides a front end to the library catalogue. It integrates with eContent, digital archives, websites and enrichment from all major third-party providers, giving your patrons comprehensive access to all of your materials in one place. Open Fifth's professional services include training, configuration, hosting and support.

Features

• Open-source software
• Single search platform for multiple library resources
• Highly configurable interface
• Content Management System
• Fully browser based
• Fully hosted
• Integrates with e-content and other third party data providers
• Recommendations engine
• Multiple User Interfaces available for consortia
• LMS agnostic

Benefits

• Light, low maintenance product
• Responsive interface for use on tablets and smartphones
• Intuitive interface
• Integration with third party data sources
• No software licence fee
• Publish content instantly
• Single search interface for users

• Free trial available

Service documents

• Pricing document

  PDF

• Service definition document

  PDF

• Terms and conditions

  PDF

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need versions of these documents in a more accessible format, email the supplier at sales@openfifth.co.uk. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.

Framework

G-Cloud 15

Service ID

735940362325495

Contact

Andrew Auld
+44 (0) 1483 378728
sales@openfifth.co.uk

About your service

• Service categories:

  Applications

  Content workflow and management

  Content services

  • Enterprise Content Management Applications
  • Content Sharing and Collaboration Applications
• Multi cloud support: No

Service scope

• Software add-on or extension: Yes, but can also be used as a standalone service
• What software services is the service an extension to: Koha Library Management System; SirsiDynix Symphony; Polaris LMS; Carl.X; Evergreen; Evolve; Sierra
• Cloud deployment model: Public cloud
• Service constraints: None
• System requirements: Modern web browser

User support

• Email or online ticketing support: Yes
• Support response times: Support response times; ; P1 Critical Response within 30 mins Best endeavours to fix within 4 working hours or recommend an acceptable workaround. ; P2 Major Response within 1 hour Best endeavours to fix within 8 working hours (1 day) or recommend an acceptable workaround. ; P3 Minor Response within 4 hours Best endeavours to fix within 40 working hours (5 working days) or recommend an acceptable workaround. ; P4 Minor/cosmetic response within 8 hours Reasonable endeavours to recommend appropriate solutions. Within 3 weeks/15 working days/120 working hours. ; At weekends servers are monitored for P1, but otherwise response will be slower.
• User can manage status and priority of support tickets: Yes
• Online ticketing support accessibility: WCAG 2.2 AA
• Phone support: Yes
• Phone support availability: 9 to 5 (UK time), Monday to Friday
• Web chat support: No
• Onsite support: Yes, at extra cost
• Support levels: All Open Fifth customers receive the same level of support regardless of their contract value.
• Support available to third parties: Yes

Onboarding and offboarding

• Getting started: We provide the full range of services needed to implent Aspen Discovery. We work with you to identify the data sets you wish to include and set these up as connectors in the background.; We run a series of workshops with different themes to help you become familiar with the platform - for example, user searching, administration, web builder functionality and styling themes. ; A full implementation project is scheduled and carefully managed with regular meetings, workshops and feeback sessions.
• Service documentation: Yes
• Documentation formats: HTML
• End-of-contract data extraction: Data can be extracted via the application itself or by Open Fifth staff on request.
• End-of-contract process: We will : Provide for the transfer of all data belonging to the customer, including any customer information. Determine an acceptable method by which we will destroy and remove the customer’s proprietary information. Destroy and remove sensitive information from all media, ensuring it is not disclosed to other individuals or organisations. Return or transfer back any customer assets. All of the above is included in the price of the contract.
• Documentation accessibility standard: WCAG 2.2 AA

Using the service

• Web browser interface: Yes
• Supported browsers:
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Firefox
  • Chrome
  • Safari
  • Opera
  • Other
• Application to install: No
• Designed for use on mobile devices: Yes
• Differences between the mobile and desktop service: Aspen uses responsive technology so the Aspen website is able from any device. The Digital Library card allows access to user's accounts, including any linked accounts.; ; There is also a companion app called LiDA. A generic app can be downloaded from your app store and users would then select their library and be able to explore all resources in the collection, reserve and check out titles, access eBooks and AudioBooks and manage their account.
• Service interface: No
• User support accessibility: None or don’t know
• API: Yes
• What users can and can't do using the API: Aspen integrates with the APIs for any ILS and eContent providers. New integrations are being continually added and existing integrations are continually being refined.; ILS Connections; Koha ILS | Open Source; CarlX | The Library Corporation; Sierra | iii innovative; Millennium | iii innovative; Symphony | SirsiDynix; Horizon | SirsiDynix; Polaris | iii innovative; ; eContent Providers; OverDrive; Rbdigital; Cloud Library; Hoopla; Axis 360; EBSCO EDS; Google Covers; OMDB; Accelerated Reader; DP.LA; New York Times; Wikipedia; ; Integrated Applications; Kanopy; Novelist; Content Cafe; Syndetics; Open Archives
• API documentation: Yes
• API documentation formats:
  • HTML
  • Other
• API sandbox or test environment: Yes
• Customisation available: Yes
• Description of customisation: The interface can be configured to match the branding of the organisation in terms of colour, logo etc.; ; Aspen Discovery has Web Builder functionality, allowing the organisation to essentially build web pages on the platform, thus allowing it to be quite customised as a web site.

Scaling

• Independence of resources: Each customer has their own instance which is sized to meet their requirements. You are not sharing infrastructure or databases with other customers using the same application.

Analytics

• Service usage metrics: Yes
• Metrics types: Aspen Discovery has its own Usage Dashboard which provides the library with key information such as:; Page views; Sessions started; Covers requested; Different types of searches; Blocked pages ; and more...; ; Usage graphs are also provided.
• Reporting types: Real-time dashboards
• Resource tagging: No
• FOCUS resource tagging: No

Resellers

• Supplier type: Not a reseller

Staff security

• Staff security clearance: Other security clearance
• Government security clearance: Security Clearance (SC)

Asset protection

• Knowledge of data storage and processing locations: Yes
• Data storage and processing locations: United Kingdom
• User control over data storage and processing locations: Yes
• Datacentre security standards: Complies with a recognised standard (for example CSA CCM version 4.0)
• Penetration testing frequency: At least once a year
• Penetration testing approach: In-house
• Protecting data at rest:
  • Physical access control, complying with CSA CCM v4.0
  • Physical access control, complying with SSAE-18 / ISAE 3402
  • Encryption of all physical media
• Data sanitisation process: Yes
• Equipment disposal approach: Complying with a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v4.0, CAS (Sanitisation) or ISO/IEC 27001
• Data sanitisation type:
  • Data Erasure
  • Explicit overwriting of storage before reallocation / Secure Erase
  • Physical Destruction / Hardware containing data is completely destroyed

Data importing and exporting

• Data export approach: Aspen Discovery does not hold any data itself apart from web pages created by the library service. All catalogue and third party data is held within the relevant applications (such as the library management system and the ebook platform).; ; For any data that is held, Open Fifth will export all the user's data and send it to them via our NextCloud service, or use the user's choice of location.
• Data export formats:
  • CSV
  • ODF
  • Other
• Other data export formats:
  • Json
  • Xml
  • Text
• Data import formats:
  • CSV
  • ODF
  • Other
• Other data import formats:
  • XML
  • Text

Data-in-transit protection

• Data protection between buyer and supplier networks:
  • TLS (version 1.2 or above)
  • IPsec or TLS VPN gateway
• Data protection within supplier network:
  • TLS (version 1.2 or above)
  • IPsec or TLS VPN gateway

Availability and resilience

• Guaranteed availability: The annual availability of the Software Programs will be better than 99.9%.
• Approach to resilience: Available on request
• Outage reporting: We use Zabbix monitoring to report on outages. Zabbix is an open source monitoring solution that monitors remote systems. The system is configured to act on various metrics including CPU usage, RAM usage, disk usage, network usage, web server status and database status. Thresholds and limits can be set and once reached, Zabbix alerts support personnel who can react to the issue. The Zabbix client runs on each server and communicates with the central Zabbix server. When certain thresholds are met or exceeded, the configured alert trigger occurs. All servers have multiple alert notification policies. These are all triggered simultaneously. They include: A push notification sent to all support agents’ via our Slack channel (including mobile devices), alerting them of the exceeded threshold, the server, and metric involved An email is sent to the global hosting account. This account is monitored by multiple support personnel.

Identity and authentication

• User authentication needed: Yes
• User authentication:
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
  • Public key authentication (including by TLS client certificate)
  • Identity federation with existing provider (for example Google Apps)
  • Dedicated link (for example VPN)
  • Username or password
• Access restrictions in management interfaces and support channels: We have an Access Control Policy (copy available on request). To summarise, this covers password management, password storage, multi factor authentication, cryptographic keys, admin rights for individual users, privileged accounts. Additionally, we have an annual user access audit which reviews all the access privileges assigned.
• Access restriction testing frequency: At least once a year
• Management access authentication:
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
  • Public key authentication (including by TLS client certificate)
  • Identity federation with existing provider (for example Google Apps)
  • Username or password

Audit information for users

• Access to user activity audit information: Users contact the support team to get audit information
• How long user audit data is stored for: Between 1 month and 6 months
• Access to supplier activity audit information: Users have access to real-time audit information
• How long supplier audit data is stored for: At least 12 months
• How long system logs are stored for: Between 1 month and 6 months

Security governance

• Named board-level person responsible for service security: Yes
• Security governance certified: Yes
• Security governance standards: ISO/IEC 27001
• Information security policies and processes: Our ISO 27001 (2022) Information Security Management System (ISMS) defines our security policies and processes. In summary, it defines our security objectives, our legal and regulatory requirements, our physical security, our business continuity resilience, our Access Control Policy, and our risk assessment . Each of these are backed by their own policies and processes. Copies of all of these are available in request.
• Software Security Code of Practice: Yes

Operational security

• Configuration and change management standard: Supplier-defined controls
• Configuration and change management approach: We have our own Change Management Policy (copy available on request). This defines a workflow for change, from initially identifying the change need to reviewing the impact and feasibility, then informing stakeholders and gaining approval, before planning, implementing and monitoring the change. All changes are classified and risk assessed and are recorded in our change management log.
• Vulnerability management type: Supplier-defined controls
• Vulnerability management approach: Open Fifth conducts penetration testing with customers and external organisations. Last year, we had four external tests. The NCSC also performs random scans on public sector sites they work with. Internally, applications are scanned weekly using OpenVAS (Greenbone Vulnerability Management suite) from a separate provider. OpenVAS checks for OWASP Top 10 issues by mimicking an attack's initial phase, including Network Discovery, Active Probing, and Unauthenticated Scanning. We scan a minimum of five application samples, plus one extra per 20 for larger deployed applications, totalling 52 scans per sample annually. Systems can be added to the permanent sample upon request.
• Protective monitoring type: Supplier-defined controls
• Protective monitoring approach: While our hosting providers manage underlying infrastructure compliance (NCSC Principle 5.2), we handle all operating system and application patching through monthly cycles, ensuring security patches are mandatory while functional updates are scheduled by agreement. To maintain proactive security, we utilise a dual-layered scanning approach: OpenVAS performs weekly internal and external scans targeting the OWASP Top 10, while Wazuh provides continuous, agent-based monitoring. As a SIEM/XDR platform, Wazuh correlates CVEs, performs hardening checks, and maintains immutable logs, ensuring comprehensive vulnerability management and tamper detection across all infrastructure and public services.
• Incident management type: Supplier-defined controls
• Incident management approach: We have a Security Incident & Breach Management Procedure (copy available on request). To summarise, this covers six stages:- Stage 1 - Reporting Stage 2 – Incident Containment Stage 3 – Incident Assessment Stage 4 – Incident Investigation & Review Stage 5 – Incident Resolution Stage 6 – Incident Closure and also covers our legal obligations, such as reporting to the ICO where applicable.
• Post-quantum cryptography secure: No

Secure development

• Approach to secure software development best practice: Independent review of processes (for example CESG CPA Build Standard, ISO/IEC 27034, ISO/IEC 27001 or CSA CCM v4.0)

Public sector networks

• Connection to public sector networks: No

Pricing

• Discount for educational organisations: No
• Free trial available: Yes
• Description of free trial: Our solutions are web based and therefore buyers may access a demonstration site. ; Logins may be created and provided on a temporary basis, to allow the organisation to look at the account information and admininistration settings.
• Link to free trial: https://demo.aspendiscovery.co.uk/

Discount percentage by annual call-off contract value (excluding VAT)

• Less than £250,000: 0%
• Between £250,000 and £500,000: 0%
• Between £500,001 and £1,000,000: 2%
• Between £1,000,001 and £2,500,000: 4%
• Between £2,500,001 and £5,000,000: 6%
• Over £5,000,001: 10%

Non-mandatory Standards and certifications

• ISO/IEC 27001 certification: Yes
• Who accredited the ISO/IEC 27001: British Assessment Bureau
• ISO/IEC 27001 accreditation date: Tuesday 6 May 2025
• What the ISO/IEC 27001 doesn’t cover: Services provided outside the UK and Europe.; No other exclusions.
• ISO 28000:2022 certification: No
• ISO 9001 certification: No
• Quality management systems (QMS): No
• CSA STAR certification: No
• PCI certification: No
• Cyber essentials: Yes
• Please provide your Cyber Essentials Certificate Number: 1b402e98-4667-482a-ad8b-298fa88071a1
• Cyber essentials plus: Yes
• Please provide your Cyber Essentials Plus Certificate Number: E982cb35-62a8-4121-828b-a795f2b21cfa
• Other security certifications: No

Social value

• Section B - Commitment for Future: Delivery:

  • Mission: Kick start economic growth. To secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 - with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off.

    Policy Outcome 1: Fair work: That offers fair wages and good working conditions. Help people get a job, stay in work, and progress in their careers, with good employment opportunities across the country. Notes: Where there is a large proportion of labour costs in the contract, commercial teams should consider MAC in Outcome 1 as a priority

    • Providing opportunities for, and measuring and monitoring of, staff workforce conditions over time, including employee engagement, involvement in decision-making and satisfaction and adapting to any changes in the results, with clear processes for acting on issues identified
    • Plans to engage the contract workforce in deciding the most important workplace issues to address
    • Ensuring new workers are informed of their right to join a trade union
    • Monitoring of employee engagement rates (by protected characteristic) and, where necessary, the development of actions to ensure all voices are heard across the diversity of the workforce
    • Employment contracts that reflect actual hours worked; steps taken to ensure employees understand their contracts and have the ability to review and adjust them if actual hours regularly exceed contracted hours
    • Activities that support an environment where staff are educated about, and feel empowered to, address their physical wellbeing
    • Activities that support an environment where staff are educated about and feel empowered to report and address bullying and harassment
    • Activities to cascade good practice on fair working conditions throughout the supply chain
    • Offer a pay and leave entitlement to all eligible staff who become kinship carers, ideally equivalent to statutory adoption pay and leave
    • Payment of more than the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage (as appropriate) to the contract workforce
    • Monitoring and reporting of gender and ethnicity pay gaps and plans to address them where necessary
    • Entitlement to sick pay for the contract workforce, with provision in place for any staff who do not meet the earnings threshold for statutory sick pay, payment of sick pay from day one of absence and payment of staff on the contract workforce who are off sick a replacement income of 100% of their usual earnings for as long as possible
    • Understanding of in-work progression issues affecting the market, industry or sector relevant to the contract, and in the supplier’s own organisation and those of its key sub-contractors
    • Understanding of the modern slavery risks and issues affecting the market, industry, sector or country (of origin or of source) relevant to the contract, and the workforce in the supplier’s own organisation and those of its key subcontractors
    • Measures to identify, mitigate and manage modern slavery risks relating to the contract and how these will be implemented
    • Outline policies and practices to be applied to or put in place for the contract to mitigate and manage modern slavery risks, including: Pre-employment checks, recruitment practices. Workplace conditions, safeguarding plans and processes in place and regular monitoring with relevant groups considered, which may include sampling
    • How to ensure business decisions re: price/cost, short lead times, payment timescales do not create modern slavery risks in the supply chain
    • Means of influencing staff, suppliers, customers, communities and/or any other appropriate stakeholders with respect to modern slavery risks relating to the contract

  • Mission: Kick start economic growth. To secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 - with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off.

    Policy Outcome 2: Skills for growth: Supporting growth sectors and addressing skills gaps.

    • Understanding of employment and relevant skills issues, and of the education and training issues relating to the contract. Illustrative examples: demographics, skills shortages, new opportunities in high growth sectors, geographic/local community and skills/employment challenges
    • Activities to support relevant sector related skills growth and sustainability in the contract workforce. Illustrative examples: careers talks, curriculum support, literacy support, safety talks and volunteering

  • Mission: Kick start economic growth. To secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 - with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off.

    Policy Outcome 3: Resilient, innovative and flexible supply chains: Support economic growth through enabling resilient businesses, opportunities for small businesses and voluntary, community and social enterprises

    • Understanding of the types of businesses in the market and the level of participation by new businesses, entrepreneurs, start-ups, SMEs, VCSEs and mutuals
    • Activities to identify opportunities to open up sub-contracts under the prime contract to a diverse range of businesses, including new businesses, entrepreneurs, start-ups, SMEs, VCSEs and mutuals
    • Activities that demonstrate a collaborative way to work with a diverse range of businesses as part of the supply chain
    • Structuring of the supply chain selection process to ensure fairness (e.g. anti-corruption) and encourages participation by a diverse range of businesses, including with regard to new businesses, entrepreneurs, start-ups, SMEs, VCSEs and mutual
    • Understanding of local demographics, needs and opportunities for the co-design of the goods, services and works to be delivered under the contract
    • Methods for engaging with different parts of the community (including the education system and charities representing the community) and how communities come together to inform decisions, strategy and projects to leave a positive legacy for future generations
    • Measures to involve local stakeholders and/or users in design (e.g. in the design of services, systems, products or buildings)
    • Measures to engage users and communities and build relationships to increase community integration build trust and influence how the contract is delivered
    • Plans to respond flexibly and adapt approaches to community engagement and initiatives
    • Support for community-led initiatives relevant to the contract. Illustrative examples: improving transport links; reducing loneliness; helping with English language proficiency; and facilitating social mixing among people with different backgrounds

  • Mission: Make Britain a clean energy superpower: To cut bills, create jobs and deliver security with cheaper, zero-carbon electricity by 2030, accelerating to net zero

    Policy Outcome 4: Sustainable procurement practices: Reducing carbon footprints, minimising waste, and promoting the use of clean energy and green technologies.

    • Understanding of opportunities for additional environmental benefits delivery in the performance of the contract, including working towards net zero carbon emissions and use of clean energy and green technologies
    • Collaborative ways of working with the supply chain to deliver additional environmental benefits in the performance of the contract, including working towards net zero carbon emissions and use of clean energy and green technologies
    • Delivery of additional environmental benefits through the performance of the contract, including working towards net zero carbon emissions and use of clean energy and green technologies
    • Understanding of how to influence staff, suppliers, customers, communities and/or any other appropriate stakeholders through the delivery of the contract to support climate and nature protection and improvement
    • Activities to reconnect people with the environment and increase awareness of ways to protect and enhance it

  • Mission: Break down barriers to opportunity: By reforming our childcare and education systems, to make sure there is no class ceiling on the ambitions of young people in Britain

    Policy Outcome 6: Employment and training: For those who face barriers to employment

    • Understanding of the issues affecting the representation of disabled people in the workforce in the market, industry or sector relevant to the contract, and in the supplier’s own organisation and those of its key sub-contractors
    • Inclusive and accessible recruitment practices, and retention-focused activities, including those provided in the Guide for line managers on recruiting, managing and developing people with a disability or health condition
    • Working conditions which promote an inclusive working environment and promote retention and progression
    • Understanding of the issues affecting inequality in employment, skills and pay in the market, industry or sector relevant to the contract, and in the supplier’s own organisation and those of its key sub-contractors. Measures to tackle inequality in employment, skills and pay in the contract workforce
    • Inclusive and accessible development practices, including guidance for line managers on recruiting, managing and developing people with a disability or health condition

  • Mission: Break down barriers to opportunity: By reforming our childcare and education systems, to make sure there is no class ceiling on the ambitions of young people in Britain

    Policy Outcome 7: Creating a pipeline of opportunities: For the contract workforce, reducing barriers to entry for under-represented groups.

    • Understanding of the issues affecting the development of new skills by target cohort
    • Understanding of the underlying factors affecting improvements to reduce barriers to entry and training schemes for the target cohort(s) related to the contract workforce
    • Advertising, promotional and outreach activities designed to raise awareness of the offer to reach the target cohort
    • Understanding of issues relating to entering the contract workforce
    • Advertising, promotional and outreach activities designed to raise awareness of the offer to reach the target cohort

  • Mission: Build an NHS fit for the future: That is there when people need it; with fewer lives lost to the biggest killers; in a fairer Britain, where everyone lives well for longer.

    Policy Outcome 8: Increasing productivity through physical and mental wellbeing: In the supply chain and communities in the relevant area.

    • Understanding of issues relating to health and wellbeing, including physical and mental health, in the contract workforce
    • Understanding barriers to access to health and social care services or employment opportunities e.g. digital inclusion
    • Inclusive and accessible recruitment practices, development practices and retention policies that support-focused activities including those provided in the Guide for line managers on recruiting, managing and developing which support people with a disability or health condition
    • Actions to invest in the physical and mental health and wellbeing of the contract workforce

Service documents

• Pricing document

  PDF

• Service definition document

  PDF

• Terms and conditions

  PDF

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need versions of these documents in a more accessible format, email the supplier at sales@openfifth.co.uk. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.