In late November Ex Libris™ marked a significant milestone with the launch of its Library Open Workflows solution development partnership program. This inaugural kick-off event brought together members from 12 development partner institutions spanning the USA, Europe, Great Britain, and Australia.
About Library Open Workflows
Library Open Workflows is an innovative solution enabling libraries to create powerful integrations between the Ex Libris Library Open Platform and their organization’s ecosystem using a no-code visual tool. This user-friendly platform offers several key benefits:
- Lowering the technical barrier: Make workflows accessible to all.
- Making the complex possible: Solve intricate challenges with ease.
- Centralized and standardized: Ensure uniformity across operations.
- Reduced dependency on experts: Empower teams to take control.
- Secured environment: Maintain safety and integrity.
- Future-ready: Adapt to evolving library needs.
With Library Open Workflows, users can create customized workflows conveniently, with significantly less effort and cost.
Highlights from the kick-off event
The session featured inspiring insights and enthusiasm from the participating institutions. Many attendees shared their excitement about the project and their expectations for its impact on their libraries.
- Caroline Serrano, from the University of Sydney, joined the meeting despite the local time being 3:00 AM. Her dedication underscores the global enthusiasm for the initiative.
- Mathias Kratzer, from the Bavarian State Library in Munich, reflected on Shai Ben-Hur’s presentation at IGeLU (The International Group of Ex Libris Users), saying, “We all said, that’s what we need. And so, we’re here now and very excited.”
- Dominik Bláha, from the Swiss Library Service Platform, shared a similar sentiment: “We first heard about this amazing project at IGeLU and immediately fell in love.”
- Rebecca Harris-Pierce, systems librarian at the National Agricultural Library, noted, “I was at ELUNA (Ex Libris Users of North America) and saw Shai’s presentation. I immediately came up with 20 use cases off the top of my head.”
Presentations and discussions
The event included a presentation by Shai Ben-Hur, VP of Platform R&D at Ex Libris, who showcased some of the key features of Library Open Workflows. The presentation sparked a dynamic discussion about testing options and communication channels between testers and the Ex Libris development team. This collaborative approach ensures the solution aligns with real-world library needs.
Itai Veltzman, Director of Product Management at Ex Libris concluded the meeting by summarizing the project’s goals and reaffirming the importance of this partnership in shaping the Library Open Workflows solution.
Looking ahead
The general availability of Library Open Workflows is slated for May 2025. Ex Libris is thrilled to collaborate with its development partners on this journey. Together, they are building a solution that empowers libraries to innovate and thrive in a rapidly evolving landscape. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting new initiative.
Read more about Library Open Workflows.
