Welsh Universities, the National Library of Wales and the NHS Libraries in Wales select a shared Library Management System
We are pleased to announce that a consortium of Welsh Universities, including the National Library of Wales, and the Welsh NHS Libraries, have selected the Ex Libris Alma unified resource management system and the Ex Libris Primo unified resource discovery and delivery system to provide a new shared Library Management System for the sector.
Jayne Dowden, Chief Operating Officer at Cardiff University, signing the contract for the provision of the shared LMS by Ex Libris on behalf of the WHELF consortium
The WHELF (Wales Higher Education Libraries Forum) Consortium has decided on the Alma and Primo next-generation solutions following a rigorous selection and assessment process. The 10 Libraries are Aberystwyth University, Bangor University, Swansea University, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Glyndwr University, the National Library of Wales, Cardiff University, Cardiff Metropolitan University, the University of South Wales and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, plus the Welsh NHS Libraries represented through the AWHILES Consortium.
Aled Gruffydd Jones, Chief Executive of the National Library of Wales, and Chair of WHELF commented that: “all WHELF members expect to realise transformational benefits from our collaboration on a shared Library system, including the provision of a single bilingual search interface for Wales Higher Education and research, plus the potential for deeper collaboration around collection development and management”.
Members of the WHELF Consortium currently employ a variety of standalone Library Management Systems, and several different discovery systems. With the selection of Ex Libris as a single provider, the Consortium will deliver a single cloud-based next generation library system, delivered on a software-as-a-service (SaaS) basis.
Alma and Primo will provide unified resource management and discovery, and enable the WHELF members to adopt shared, streamlined workflows whilst expanding opportunities for collaboration across the Consortium.
Aled Gruffydd Jones
Chief Executive and Librarian, National Library of Wales
For further information, please contact:
Gareth Owen
Programme Manager
WHELF Shared LMS
OwenG12@cardiff.ac.uk / 029 20874014