January 10, 2008
Jerusalem, Israel
Collaboration with Aleph customers ensures the delivery of user-driven functionality
_x000D_Ex Libris Group today announced the general release of version 19 of the Company’s Aleph integrated library system. In planning for and designing the functionality of this release, Ex Libris addressed over 100 feature requests by its more than 2200 customers worldwide. In particular, Ex Libris worked in close collaboration with focus groups from the Ex Libris Users of North America (ELUNA) organization and the International Group of Ex Libris Users (IGeLU) to define and prioritize enhancements focusing on course reserves support, staff permission management, and system administration utilities—new functionalities that further streamline library processes.
_x000D_Prior to the release of version 19, representative Aleph customers from Germany, Israel, the United Kingdom, and the United States were invited to participate in collaborative testing at Ex Libris headquarters. “My experience working with the Ex Libris development staff in Jerusalem to conduct product testing for version 19 was wonderful. In testing the system, I was pleased to see the attention Ex Libris paid to many customer-requested enhancements across the product. I am particularly excited by the reorganization of staff privileges, enhancements to course reserves, and other new features that will make managing users and tasks in Aleph more efficient,” explained collaborative tester Daniel Cromwell, LMS field specialist for technical services at the Florida Center for Library Automation (FCLA).
_x000D_“Working in close collaboration with our customers from the outset of the design process helps us ensure that product releases meet library requirements,” explained Dalia Mendelsson, Aleph product manager. “The combined knowledge and experience of the Aleph team and the customers who were chosen as collaborative testers constituted an important factor in assuring the quality of the version.”
_x000D_Aleph version 20 is already under development with even more user-driven features. Looking ahead, the Aleph product working group has begun identifying and prioritizing customer requests for enhancements to be included in version 21 and beyond.
_x000D_Ex Libris is pleased to note, as well, that version 7 of its Voyager integrated library system is on schedule for delivery in the second quarter of 2008. Planning efforts are also in progress for Voyager version 8 and beyond.
_x000D_About Ex Libris Group:
_x000D_Ex Libris is a leading provider of automation solutions for academic, research, and national libraries worldwide. 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 enable them to transition into the future. Ex Libris maintains an impressive customer base consisting of thousands of sites in more than 70 countries on six continents.
_x000D_Dedicated to developing creative solutions in close collaboration with its customers, Ex Libris enables libraries to maximize productivity and efficiency and, at the same time, greatly enhance the user experience. By empowering patrons to discover and obtain the information they need, libraries ensure their position as the bridge to knowledge.
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