University of Liège Library selects Ex Libris Alma

Ex Libris® Group, a world leader in the provision of library automation solutions, is pleased to announce that the University of Liège (ULg) in Belgium has selected Ex Libris Alma for its multiple campuses and libraries. For almost 10 years, ULg’s libraries have worked closely with Ex Libris to deliver best-of-class solutions to the libraries’ staff members and users. Starting in 2006 with the implementation of the Aleph integrated library system and the SFX link-resolver, ULg later added Primo for discovery and delivery. Now, with its decision to join the Early Adopter Programme, ULg becomes the first French-speaking university to move to Alma.

Fully cloud-based, Alma is a next-generation library management service that automates and streamlines all library operations (order management and acquisition, catalogue management, metadata management, and digitization) for the full range of bibliographic resources—regardless of their location or format. It is an open, interoperable platform that supports the standard protocols used by libraries (such as OpenURL, SRU, Z39.50, EDI, NCIP, and SIP2), thus enabling greater integration with other systems.

University Library Director Paul Thirion commented: “We have been following the progress of Alma very closely since its launch. We were excited to discover how Alma’s workflows could comprehensively modernize the library’s administrative tasks by using automated business processes and shared data. We are very confident that the strong relationship we have built up with Ex Libris during a decade of collaboration will help us to move smoothly to the next generation service.”

“We spend most of our budget on electronic resources and sometimes face difficulties accurately evaluating their usage, along with our classic print media,” Mr. Thirion continued. “Since Alma supports the entire suite of library operations for print, electronic, and digital resources, and includes integrated analytics functionalities, we see great opportunities to improve the Library collection development and our services for our users. We are very excited to be joining the Alma Early Adopter Programme.”

Philipp Hess, regional sales director for South-West Europe, remarked: “We are delighted to see our long-time partners at the University of Liège giving their vote of confidence to Alma and the Ex Libris strategy for unifying resource management. The Alma community in Europe is growing rapidly and the addition of ULg begins the growth of next-generation management systems in the French-speaking library community.” –

See more at: http://www.exlibrisgroup.com/default.asp?catid=%7b916AFF5B-CA4A-48FD-AD54-9AD2ADADEB88%7d&details_type=1&itemid=%7bF4881EFC-77B7-4864-AC51-00074E6808C4%7d#sthash.B5bwCsCw.dpuf