NEWS

Singapore Management University Goes Live with Ex Libris Alma and Primo

SMU replaces its legacy systems with a SaaS platform for integrated resource management and discovery

Ex Libris® Group is pleased to announce that Singapore Management University (SMU) has gone live with the Ex Libris Alma® library management service and Primo® discovery and delivery solution. Alma and Primo will replace the Innovative Millennium integrated library system and EBSCO Discovery Service™.

The SMU library sought a system that would efficiently manage print and electronic resources, eliminate functional silos, enable staff to create automated workflows, and provide robust analytic tools that would help the staff maximize the potential of the library’s collections. In addition, the library wanted a truly cloud-based SaaS platform that could reduce the total cost of ownership of the physical and technical infrastructure. SMU found that Alma delivers exactly what the library requires: a unified management system for electronic, print, and digital resources, along with the Alma Analytics reporting capabilities — all provided as a seamless, cloud-based service.

“Our collections are primarily electronic, developed on the ‘just-in-time’ principle,” commented Ms. Gulcin Cribb, university librarian at SMU. “We therefore need a solution that will enable us to manage our resources intuitively — ordering materials, providing access to them, managing usage analytics, and facilitating discovery and delivery. Alma provides insights into collection usage and management that will guide our future service planning and development. The strong integration between Alma and Primo makes the full wealth of our resources far more visible and accessible to our users.”

Ms. Tamera Hanken, head of information access and resources, added: “We are moving to a holistic system in which all aspects of our operations are integrated, offering staff the freedom to work more flexibly throughout the library. Usage data, information about user behavior, and an increased take-up of our licensed resources are among the benefits that I anticipate Alma and Primo will provide.”

Mr. Lau Kai Cheong, chief information officer and vice president of integrated information technology services at SMU, explained: “We chose the cloud-based SaaS platform because it meets our need for rapid implementation, scalability, security, flexibility, faster deployment, and lower, predictable investment costs. Under the SaaS model, the university benefits from frequent, automatic upgrades and patches; and significantly lower maintenance, testing, and training costs.” 

“We are very happy to welcome SMU to the growing Ex Libris family in the Asia Pacific region,” remarked Ziv BenZvi, Ex Libris vice president for Asia Pacific. “SMU joins the Singapore Institute of Management and Singapore University of Technology and Design in adopting Alma and Primo for library management and discovery. We are looking forward to collaborating with SMU in harnessing Ex Libris technology to support the academic and strategic goals of the institution.”