Alma will support the two leading Japanese universities in strengthening their international positions through close collaboration, automation, and efficient workflows
(28 March 2018, Tokyo, Japan) Ex Libris®, a ProQuest company, is pleased to announce that Japan’s Keio University and Waseda University have chosen the Ex Libris Alma® library services platform and Ex Libris Primo® discovery and delivery solution to enhance collaboration, efficiency, and services for the universities’ libraries. The Alma platform will replace the Innovative Millennium integrated library system used by Waseda and the Ex Libris Aleph® integrated library system at Keio University.
In 2017, the two universities formed a consortium aimed at dramatically improving their collaboration and efficiency. Immediately afterwards, the new consortium embarked on a process of seeking a library services solution to support the universities’ goals. With their selection of the Alma and Primo solutions, Keio and Waseda became the first two institutions in Japan to opt for the two Ex Libris systems.
Keio and Waseda Universities, which operate 30 libraries on 11 campuses, used a rigorous evaluation process to identify a system that applies the latest technologies and is built on a cloud-based, software-as-a-solution (SaaS) platform with monthly updates and streamlined consortium workflows. The Alma platform will enable the consortium to optimize collaboration and library management processes and will provide the cross-institution analytics that are essential for making increasingly complex decisions. With the Primo discovery solution, users will be able to easily access all resources in the consortium, regardless of their source institution. In addition, the many Primo configuration options will enable the consortium to apply Japanese-specific features and attributes.
Professor Yoshiaki Fukazawa, director of Waseda University Library, noted, “One of the main reasons for our selection of Alma is its ability to implement both shared and individual workflows for the consortium.”
Professor Kanji Akagi, director of the Keio University Media Center, added, “In making our decision, we were particularly impressed by the Alma and Primo capabilities to optimize workflows, reduce the total cost of ownership, and provide a high level of flexibility in supporting our unique Japanese requirements.”
Vice President of Ex Libris Asia-Pacific Ziv Benzvi commented, “Ex Libris is excited to welcome Keio University and Waseda University, the first Japanese institutions to adopt the Alma and Primo solutions, to our active user communities. The broad-ranging Alma and Primo capabilities will provide the newly created consortium with workflow efficiencies, cost savings, comprehensive reporting and analytics, and advanced collaboration features.”
The full announcement is here.
