Ex Libris has revised its comprehensive two-year Roadmap for the Alma library management system, covering 2025 and the first half of 2026. This community-driven roadmap is updated semi-annually to ensure libraries benefit from innovative technology, including advancements in Linked Open Data and artificial intelligence (AI), enabling the libraries to optimize resource management and prepare for future digital library needs.
Ongoing innovation in Alma delivers a blend of new features and enhanced functionality, helping library staff to manage resources more efficiently and effectively. Key areas of development include:
- Insights: Starting with electronic resources, Alma will provide insights about library activity, instead of the users generating Analytics reports to get this information.
- Enhanced User Experience: Streamlined and intuitive interface & workflows for searching elements in Alma
- AI Metadata Enrichment for Libraries - Using AI technology ensures that records contain the relevant metadata needed by the different stakeholders in the library, from assessing the collection and collaborating with partner libraries in resource sharing and shared print initiatives, to providing the best possible services for patrons.
- Robust Consortia Functionality: Improved collaboration and administration capabilities for consortia.
- Workflow Simplification: More efficient processes to save time and reduce complexity. a smoother, user-friendly layout and navigation options, to various other workflows identified in the system where simplification could enhance efficiency and ease of work.
- Linked Open Data: Ex Libris is leading the way in Linked Open Data integration, connecting enriched library records across applications on a cloud-based platform.
The development of Alma is strongly guided by input and recommendations from its global customer community, which includes more than 2,700 institutional subscribers. Users can help shape development priorities through various channels, such as Idea Exchange, Community Enhancement Requests and Voting system (CERV) managed by the IGeLU and ELUNA user groups, listserv discussions, product working groups, and more.
“We are driving meaningful progress in library resource management while fostering a stronger, more connected global library community. said Dana Moshkovits, Senior Director of Product Management at Ex Libris. “This collaborative effort showcases the power of shared innovation, where every contribution helps libraries of all types and sizes evolve, thrive, and achieve greater success.”
This forward-thinking approach to roadmap execution ensures a consistent and systematic development process, with new feature enhancements released quarterly, alongside ongoing maintenance and analytics updates throughout the year.
Contact us to learn more about the planned improvements to Alma, discover what it means to be part of the Alma community, and why Alma is the right choice to prepare your library for the future. Explore more of our integrated library system.
