The aim of this project is to provide St Mary’s with an improved Library Management System with a modern interface and additional features and capabilities including:
- Azure Active Directory authentication and single (or common) sign on.
- Compliance with digital accessibility, GDPR and other relevant regulations.
- Automated integration with Student Record System (SITS) for creation and update of students’ accounts.
- Improved reporting.
- The requirements have been agreed.
- Potential solutions have been identified and the procurement route (via a Procurement Framework) for them has been identified.
- The suppliers (from the framework) demonstrated their products to us in December 2021.
- A "mini-comp" was issued via the Procurement Framework inviting the suppliers to quote (ITQ).
- The suppliers responses to the ITQ have been analysed and assessed against our requirements in terms of quality and cost and a winner has been selected.
- The choice of supplier has been approved internally and the suppliers (successful and unsuccessful) have been notified.
- The contract has been signed with Ex Libris for their Alma & Primo products.
Alma will supersede our existing Library Management System (vSmart) and Primo will replace or existing 'Discovery' tool (Summon), thus providing a more seamless and integrated experience for students and staff.
- The pre-implementation (a.k.a. "onboarding") process is underway.
Next steps are to:
- Implement Alma & Primo - this sis planned for the end of January 2023.
- In addition we will be switching our Reading/Resource List software (from Talis Aspire) to Ex Libris' Leganto system in early June 2023.