December 13, 2016
Librarians can now take Alma with them to the stacks and perform tasks with increased efficiency
Jerusalem, Israel—December 13, 2016. Ex Libris®, a ProQuest company, is proud to announce the release of Ex Libris Alma® Mobile. The new app enables librarians to work with the Alma service quickly and easily while on the go.
Alma Mobile provides Pick Up From Shelf functionality, significantly enhancing librarians’ productivity by allowing them to take the Alma service to the stacks. In addition, librarians can use their mobile device’s built-in camera to scan in items directly from the app.
Alma Mobile was designed as a component of the Ex Libris strategy to improve library efficiency. By simplifying librarians’ daily routine, Alma Mobile frees them to focus on bringing more value to the library, its users, and the entire organization.
The Ex Libris community was deeply involved in the creation of Alma Mobile. Colorado School of Mines, Macquarie University, the University of Sheffield, and other customers helped shape the features and functionality of the app.
Alma Mobile will now become a standard component of the Alma product road map, and the feature list will be routinely increased as an integral part of future Alma releases.
System Librarian Laura Guy at Colorado School of Mines explained, ”Alma is all about creating efficient workflows, and the new Alma Mobile app helps library staff do just that. With the app, the ability to quickly complete fulfillment tasks is in the palm of our hands. By using a phone or tablet camera or adding a wireless barcode scanner, we take our service desk with us through the stacks. This remarkable achievement saves time and money and helps our staff serve patrons better than ever.”
Macquarie University Discovery Services and Systems Librarian Tony Wai remarked, ”The Alma Mobile app provides an easier way to access the Pick Up From Shelf list and an option to streamline workflows so that our librarians can get more done in less time, from anywhere in the library.”
Library Systems Manager Chris Jones at the University of Sheffield commented, ”We could see that the Alma Mobile development team is committed to developing an app that adds real value to current library processes in mobile environments. We were pleased to be involved in the early-release customer testing and look forward to working with Ex Libris to enrich the mobile functionality and enhance our workflows.”
Bar Veinstein, Ex Libris vice president of resource management, said, ”Alma Mobile is another example of how Ex Libris aligns Alma features with our customers’ needs. Our users need the freedom to move around the library and use the rich Alma functionality wherever they are. That flexibility is exactly what our new Alma Mobile app provides.”
About Colorado School of Mines
Founded in 1874, Colorado School of Mines is a public research university dedicated to educating students and professionals in the applied sciences, engineering, and associated fields, with special expertise in the development and stewardship of the earth’s resources. The Arthur Lakes Library is a specialized technical library that supports the educational and research goals of the Colorado School of Mines and also serves as a regional center for information in engineering and related science fields. For more information, see https://www.mines.edu/ý.
About Macquarie University
Macquarie University is a leading research and teaching university located in the northwest of Sydney, Australia, with 38,000 students on a 126-hectare park-like campus. The university has recently been ranked Australia’s best university under 50 years of age. The state-of-the-art Macquarie University Library was the first university library in Australia to install an automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS). This technology underpins a strategic shift in focus from traditional hard-copy resources to support for technology-enabled learning. For more information, see https://www.mq.edu.au/.
About the University of Sheffield
In 1897, the Sheffield Medical School, Firth College, and Sheffield Technical School merged to form the University College of Sheffield, which became the University of Sheffield in 1905. The University now has over 26,000 students from over 130 countries, with a faculty and staff of about 6,000. Academic departments are grouped into five faculties: Arts and Humanities; Engineering; Medicine, Dentistry, and Health; Science; and Social Sciences. The University Library has a reputation for innovation and a strong focus on customer satisfaction. Its digital and print services are delivered from five sites, including the award-winning Information Commons, an integrated learning environment for students. For more information, please visit: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/.
About Ex Libris
Ex Libris, a ProQuest company, is a leading global provider of cloud-based solutions for higher education. Offering SaaS solutions for the management and discovery of the full spectrum of library and scholarly materials, as well as mobile campus solutions driving student engagement and success, Ex Libris serves thousands of customers in 90 countries. For more information about Ex Libris, see our website, and join us on Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
