Open new doors to your digital collections
Libraries play a crucial role in connecting communities with the stories held within their collections. Specto, a platform powered by Academic AI, connects all stages of digital collection management – from cataloging to exhibition and preservation – to minimize technical challenges and let libraries focus on sharing their collections’ stories.
Specto
Consolidate your different collections
Manage your special collections alongside your electronic and physical records. Built on Alma and the Library Open Platform, Specto makes it easier for staff to manage all types of collections and simpler for users to access them.
Looking ahead, Specto will expand to support additional types of assets, including research data, theses, and dissertations. Contact us for more information.
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"the implementation discussions with the Ex Libris team, we engaged in direct conversations about how to adapt existing tasks to the new system and streamline our workflows"
Library Staff National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism
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Jaroslav Sivák Charles University
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Roshan Thapa Charles Sturt University
"Having an open solution is important because it allows us to connect all of our systems to other systems across campus."
Eduardo Prieto University of Miami
"The last Alma release is very exciting. It's a major milestone for Ex Libris in the Linked Data development."
Xiaoli Li University of California, Davis
"When we migrated to Alma in 2018, one of our goals was to have one system to manage everything."
Jamen McGranahan Vanderbilt University
“We wanted a system that could handle the complex nature of our consortia.”
Wendy Ellis Florida Virtual Campus Library Services
"Alma benefits me in all aspects of e-resource management."
Danielle Ostendorf Colorado School of Mines
“[Rapido] makes the process as seamless as accessing items in the library’s own collection.”
Jennifer Young East Tennessee State University
“Our vision is to enable patrons to navigate whatever resource they need on a single server.”
Elyssa Gould University of Tennessee, Knoxville
“We were looking for certain requirements and Alma met all those criteria.”
Van Duong Royal Melbourne Hospital
“It’s much easier to manage the content and troubleshoot errors, with everything in one system and CZ updates coming every week.”
Elizabeth York Rutgers University
"...I can't imagine life or work without Alma. Too many things have changed...When we wanted to trigger the shift from print to electronic and digital, we did that with Alma."
Gijs Noels LIBIS
“With all the change we have seen … you can’t wait too long to adapt. Every five years, at least, you have to put everything on the table and rethink, from scratch.”
François Renaville University of Liège
"The unique full integration with Alma allows people to serendipitously find our content while searching the catalogue."
Alison Harvey Cardiff University
“Primo was the one place where we could integrate all the different resources that we have and give differentiated access to the different user groups.”
Knut Bøckman Royal Danish Library
"I don't think we would have been able to do a lot of the things that we've done without that type of customization framework."
Allen Jones The New School Library and Archives
"Creating a seamless experience where we take analytics and the actions in Alma and turn them into one."
Raphael Gabbay Ex Libris, Part of Clarivate
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Matthew Farthing Washtenaw Community College
“It has been a really big shift.. yet this was the smoothest implementation I’ve ever been through.”
Jane Davis Linda Hall Library
"Linked Data is a new technology and this is an important next step in the future of libraries."
Itai Veltzman Ex Libris, Part of Clarivate
“Alma and Primo have not only made our lives easier from the librarian back end, but the clients — our students — are also very happy.”
Mary Turnbull Cairnmillar Institute
"The features that excite me most about Alma are automated holdings, Alma Analytics, and the quarterly releases of new functionality."
Charlie Remy Dartmouth Library
"Our goal is to make the network open to any library using any integrated library system"
Katie Birch Ex Libris, part of Clarivate
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Karen WaitE Spokane Community College
"My favorite thing in Alma is analytics, it's so powerful, it really helps me with assessment and figuring out how we want to change our services..."
Christina Hennessey California State University - Northridge
“Our continuously expanding knowledge of the new system allows us to improve our workflows, everyday IT skills, and user experience."
Sara Melchior, Art Library Manager documenta archiv
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Julie Kane Washington & Lee University
"The University of Siena decided to go live with Alma, joining other universities in our region."
Guido Badalamenti The University of Siena
“Together with all of my colleagues in the network, and of course with the help of Ex Libris, we overcame all problems"
Wolfgang Hamedinger OBVSG
"We've been able to do a lot of streamlined workflows with the same amount of staff, and we really appreciated working with the tools."
Pascal Calarco University of Windsor
“We have the best possible relationship with Ex Libris, as we share exactly the same objective - creating valued services for our faculty.”
Ming-Jiu Hwang National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
"Collaboration with Ex Libris has been a journey of true partnership, which we hope will continue into the future."
Thomas Marty The Swiss Library Service Platform
“This API is exactly what we were hoping for ever since we migrated to Alma.”
Brian Yost Hope College
"Alma Analytics help highlight the value of the library's collections."
Simon Huggard Swinburne University
“The list of things we like about Alma is quite long – and getting longer, as we still have more to discover."
Bas Vat Leiden University
"What I really enjoy is the worldwide community. It makes you aware that even as a small library you are not alone.“
Christian Kieslinger University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten
“We were given a very good hand from Ex Libris project management and then we managed the migration well.”
Falk Hartwig The Nuremberg University of Music
"Thanks to the Alma Community Zone, we could activate or deactivate sections of our ebook inventory at any time."
Bettina Kaldenberg Library of the University of Mannheim
“The ability to coherently manage these various constellations of licenses and patron types was one of the reasons we selected Alma."
Knut Bøckman The Royal Danish Library
"Thanks to the possibilities provided by APIs, Alma is well prepared for the future.”
Leon Krauthausen, System Librarian Freie Universität Berlin
“Ex Libris solutions helped us broaden the use of technology within the library and provide innovative learning experiences for our students.”
Dr. Brandon A. Owens Fisk University
"Ex Libris Alma checks off all the boxes to meet our needs and leaves us with a lot of room for growth in the future."
Judith Drescher Molloy College
"The Alma platform has proven to be an excellent library system, smoothly integrating with other university systems."
Dalia Mendelsson Hebrew University of Jerusalem
"Alma has provided a different vision of the future of health libraries, allowing us to explore services beyond what we’ve previously considered."
Chris Parker The Prince Charles Hospital Library
"The Alma-based workflow is quick and efficient, from licensing all the way to getting the right content into the hands of our students."
Sarah Falls University of North Carolina School of the Arts
“Alma has made it possible for us to adapt our services and workflows so that we can operate effectively in an online environment."
Jane Saunders University of Leeds
"When you take a look at what Alma can do, and how that can be restructured, that can open your mind for new possibilities for your entire work life."
Julie Kane Washington and Lee University
"The library with the largest collection in Australia needed to streamline integration for accurate archival management."
Lynne Billington State Library of New South Wales
“Find out why an academic library at a specialist college transformed its services and operations through Alma, Primo and Leganto."
Laura Pilsel Harper Adams University
Unifying systems and workflows with Alma at the Library of Ara Institute of Canterbury
Claire Brocklehurst Ara Institutue of Canterbury
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Katherine Rose, Katharine Thompson, James Garry Imperial College, London
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François Renaville, Paul Thirion, Fabienne Prosmans, Stéphanie Simon University of Liège
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Celine Qiu Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech)
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Specto on the Clarivate Academic AI Platform
Specto is built on the Clarivate Academic AI Platform, designed specifically for libraries and academia. Grounded in scholarly sources and embedded in academic workflows, Academic AI focuses on accuracy, security, and reliability. By implementing Specto, libraries stay at the forefront of innovation while delivering trusted content and data to their users.
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A digital collection platform is a next-generation digital asset management system that provides an end-to-end solution for multiple digital content types and use cases, from cataloging to preservation through exhibitions and discovery.
Looking ahead, Specto will expand to supporting additional types of assets, including research data, theses, and dissertations.
Specto provides two main offerings:
Special collection management: services powered by Academic AI for cataloging, generating metadata and optimizing discovery experiences via online exhibitions, SEO (search engine optimization) and discovery. Read the brochure.
Digital preservation: Features to safeguard collections, including format migration, fixity checks, and high-availability storage solutions. Read the brochure.
Both offerings include platform integration: Seamless workflows that connect digital, physical, and electronic collections through Alma and the Library Open Platform.
Pricing varies based on the offering(s) and features selected. Contact us for a custom quote that fits your library’s needs.
Specto is currently being rolled out and will be fully available by the start of 2026. Contact us for more details on release dates and early access options.
Yes, Specto is built on Alma and the Library Open Platform, ensuring seamless integration with your library’s existing workflows and enabling unified management of digital, physical, and electronic collections.
At a later stage, Specto will be offered also as a standalone solution, decoupled from Alma.
Specto includes a Metadata Assistant powered by Academic AI. It automates metadata generation by extracting descriptive information, identifying unique entities in digital files and linking related materials. However, libraries can also choose to manage and generate metadata manually, maintaining the same processes they have always used. All AI-generated metadata is reviewed and approved by library staff before it is finalized, ensuring accuracy and alignment with institutional standards. Read more on Clarivate Academic AI.
Specto includes robust digital preservation features such as format migration, bit integrity monitoring, fixity checks, and high-availability Cloud storage. These tools ensure the safety and accessibility of your collections, protecting them from obsolescence and data loss.
Specto enhances discoverability by combining multiple entry points and tools to create immersive and comprehensive discovery journeys. Users can access collections through a simple online search, Online Exhibitions, or the library’s discovery interface. By integrating these capabilities, Specto ensures that digital collections are easy to find, explore, and engage with.
Yes, Specto supports collaborative workflows by allowing multiple staff members to work on metadata creation, cataloging, and curation simultaneously. Its user-friendly interface ensures smooth coordination and communication between team members.
Specto can handle a variety of digital assets, including images, documents, audio files, video files, and more. It supports various file formats and ensures compatibility through preservation workflows.
Yes, training and support are available to help your staff get the most out of Specto. This includes tutorials, live support sessions, and ongoing updates to ensure smooth adoption.
Specto is built on the Library Open Platform, allowing it to integrate with other library systems and third-party tools through APIs. Contact us for specific integration options.
Specto helps libraries implement and maintain digital preservation policies by offering tools for risk assessment, fixity checks, and automated migration to updated formats. These features align with best practices and standards for digital preservation, such as ISO16363, PREMIS, OAIS and more.
