The University of Lancashire (previously UCLan) has successfully implemented Library Open Workflows (LibOW) from Clarivate, becoming the first institution in the UK to adopt the solution.
Founded in 1828 and serving more than 42,000 students and staff across multiple campuses in Preston, England, the University is a long-term Clarivate partner, having adopted Alma in 2017 and Leganto in 2020. As a small library team managing growing demands, the University sought new ways to streamline processes and reduce manual workloads.
While the team had experience using automation tools such as n8n, Library Open Workflows (LibOW) provided enhanced, library-specific functionality tailored to daily operations.
“Being a small library team, we have always tried to work in the most efficient and productive way,” said Ian Hey, Library Systems Manager, University of Lancashire. “Whilst scoping a new project, we looked for ways to automate part of the process. We had experience with n8n, but the additional fields in Library Open Workflows brought enhanced functionality that supports our day-to-day operations.”
Working closely with Clarivate, the library identified targeted use cases where automation could deliver immediate value. When the University underwent a name change, a dedicated workflow was quickly developed to support the transition, demonstrating the platform’s flexibility and accelerating adoption.
“Using workflows in our day-to-day operations has helped remove manual tasks and improve our access to resources,” added Ian Hey, Library Systems Manager, University of Lancashire.
“The University of Lancashire’s adoption of Library Open Workflows marks an important milestone for UK libraries. Automation is no longer a future ambition – it is a practical necessity for institutions looking to scale services efficiently. We’re proud to partner with forward-thinking libraries like Lancashire that are modernizing operations and enhancing the value they deliver,” said Yoel Goldenberg, Senior Vice President, Product Management, Clarivate.
The implementation marks an important milestone for UK higher education libraries, demonstrating how workflow automation enables institutions to do more with limited resources while strengthening service delivery and operational efficiency.
