Throughout the history of library automation, the author has seen a steady advancement toward more open systems. In the early days of library automation, when proprietary systems dominated, the need for standards was paramount since other means of inter-operability and data exchange weren't possible. Today's focus on Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), web services, and open source systems makes possible a level of openness far beyond what was feasible in earlier times. In today's world where libraries face incredible challenges to be ever more interconnected within their broader organizations, in cooperative arrangements with other libraries, and with their users, the author contends that libraries need to constantly work toward higher levels of openness.