December 1, 2010
A cloud-based platform developed using agile development methods, URM encompasses the complete management of library resources
Jerusalem, Israel—December 1, 2010. Ex Libris® Group, a leading provider of library automation solutions, is pleased to announce that the second installment of its next-generation framework for library services, the Unified Resource Management (URM) solution, is now available to development partners. Representing a major milestone in the development of URM, the latest partner release focuses on:
- Unified acquisition processes for electronic and physical resources
- Cross format search capabilities including faceted results
- Advanced web based metadata editing workbench for catalogers
- Streamlined workflows for fulfilling requests for physical resources
- End to end electronic resource management – from acquisition to activation
The URM development partners are Boston College; Princeton University Library; Purdue University Library; and K.U.Leuven, which includes the LIBIS library network of 30 independent member organizations (universities, colleges, parliaments, specialized libraries) and a network of public libraries. The development partners will work intensively with the URM team over the next four months and provide in-depth feedback to Ex Libris on the solution’s impact on improving and streamlining the full spectrum of their library processes.
Robert Gerrity, associate university librarian for library systems at Boston College, commented: ”We are excited to continue our involvement in URM testing and look forward to working with the second partner release. As development partners, we consider our role in helping shape the future of library services both an honor and a responsibility to the wider library community. In particular, we welcome the opportunity to explore new ways of managing our collections efficiently in a networked environment, making much greater collaboration with other libraries possible.”
”It is a great thrill to see URM undergoing intensive testing by our development partners,” noted Bar Veinstein, vice president of resource management solutions at Ex Libris. ”In keeping with our agile development strategy, the partners are receiving URM in incremental stages, facilitated by the solution’s cloud platform. As with all Ex Libris solutions, we are continuing to work closely with our customer community through focus groups, regional early adopters, and targeted working groups to ensure that URM meets the diverse needs of our international users.”
About URM
URM is a next-generation platform that supports the unified management of library operations—selection, acquisition, cataloging, management, and fulfillment—for the full spectrum of library materials, regardless of format or location. URM enables libraries to implement more streamlined workflows, to become more fully integrated with campus systems, and to leverage Web 2.0 and community features necessary for working in more collaborative ways. A centralized system for managing metadata along with a data-services environment provides new methods of creating, managing, and sharing metadata and other types of information that are common to all libraries.
By centralizing data services in a cloud environment, URM supports flexible models for collaboration across the functional spectrum—from cooperative collection development to more seamless sharing of metadata and resources with peer libraries. In this new network environment, libraries can join forces to optimize technical support, purchasing power, collections, and even staff knowledge and resources.
About Ex Libris
Ex Libris is a leading provider of automation solutions for academic, national, and research libraries. Offering the only comprehensive product suite for electronic, digital, and print materials, Ex Libris provides efficient, user-friendly products that serve the needs of libraries today and will facilitate their transition into the future. Ex Libris maintains an impressive customer base consisting of thousands of sites in more than 75 countries on six continents.
Dedicated to developing creative solutions in close collaboration with customers, Ex Libris enables libraries to maximize productivity and efficiency and, at the same time, greatly enhance the user experience. By empowering users to discover and obtain the information they need, libraries ensure their position as the bridge to knowledge.
For additional information on Ex Libris Group, visit our Web site, join us on Facebook, read our Initiatives and Commentary blogs, and follow our Twitter page.
