December 21, 2022
Ex Libris® integrated library system, part of Clarivate, is pleased to announce that University System of Maryland and Affiliated Institutions Library Consortium (USMAI) has selected the Ex Libris Alma® library management system and Primo library discovery service.
The USMAI Library Consortium includes seventeen college and university libraries from public and private institutions within the State of Maryland and beyond. Founded over thirty years ago for the purpose of sharing a single, centrally managed online catalog system, the consortium has expanded its offerings to include additional platforms and tools, no-cost borrowing and lending of physical collections among member institutions, a portfolio of group-licensed electronic information resources, a shared staff development and training program, and other shared expertise and practices.
“It’s fantastic that everyone is so enthusiastic for the changes ahead,” said Andrew K. Pace, Executive Director of USMAI. “This project to modernize USMAI’s systems, licensed resource management, and discovery experience will create a new platform for the consortium to re-energize its system-wide commitment to research, service, and student success.”
“USMAI colleagues and I are excited by this plan to move to Ex Libris’ Alma / Primo platform, because we know that these systems will enable us to improve information discoverability and access within our communities and will facilitate the enhanced integration of services across our institutions,” said Dr. Adriene Lim, Chair of USMAI’s Council of Library Directors and Dean of Libraries, University of Maryland, College Park. “We are pleased that our long-standing, successful working relationship with Ex Libris will continue.”
Built from the ground up with staff in mind, Alma allows libraries to manage print, electronic and digital resource management and materials in one ecosystem. Alma supports teachers, learning, and research by removing unnecessary silos by streamlining processes that support all modern metadata and open standards. Alma serves as the central hub for libraries through its integration with many academic and financial systems, which empowers staff to spend more time on their important work outside of the ILS.
USMAI joins 42 other consortiums currently utilizing Alma, representing over 900 institutions worldwide.
The seamless integration of Primo with Alma provides an inherent discovery layer over held or subscribed resources and a simple, single point of administration. This unified experience simplifies backend processes enabling libraries to simplify administrative management, reduce duplicate administrative processes, streamline publishing, update records in real-time, and enhance the user experience with innovative features.
Librarians find that this unified solution reduces the time spent on setup, configuration, data updates, and more.
As a result, libraries can boost productivity and shift focus to strategic services, including those benefiting their users.
To learn more about how Alma and Primo can enhance efficiency and maximize the visibility of your library collection, visit exlibrisgroup.com or contact us today.
