The University of California (UC) Libraries have successfully renewed their contract with Ex Libris Group for the Alma/Primo VE software suite, extending their partnership for another two years, from July 2024 to July 2026. This renewal marks three years since the launch of the Systemwide Integrated Library System in 2021, which supports the ten UC campus libraries, the California Digital Library, and two systemwide storage facilities, managing a combined 19 million records and serving approximately 400,000 users.
The renewed contract comes with a strategic two-year initiative, the Workstream Improvement Project (WIP), co-developed by Ex Libris and UC Libraries. Set to begin in August 2024, the WIP aims to address key challenges faced by UC Libraries by enhancing Ex Libris’ services and software. The project will analyze existing issues, propose solutions, and implement improvements. Ex Libris staff, along with UC Libraries representatives, will lead the project, collaborating with the Ex Libris Users of North America (ELUNA) group for broader community feedback.
The WIP will focus on improving resource sharing, aggregated analytics, electronic resource management, and software performance. Additional priorities include enhancing customer service response times, product documentation, and consortial feature development to streamline workflows and reduce staff burden. The project will be executed in two phases: Phase 1 (August 2024 – February 2025) will involve analyzing issues and proposing solutions, while Phase 2 (March 2025 – June 2026) will focus on testing, refining, and implementing these solutions.
UC Libraries have noted significant improvements in recent years, including better client responsiveness, dedicated consortial product management, and ongoing customer support enhancements. Despite these gains, challenges remain in fully restoring service levels and improving staff and patron satisfaction post-implementation. The renewed partnership and the WIP aim to address these challenges, ensuring that UC Libraries can efficiently manage their extensive collections and deliver high-quality services to users.
This collaborative effort represents a critical step toward enhancing library management systems not just for the UC Libraries, but also for other consortial users relying on Ex Libris’ services.
Click here to read the original press release.
