Summon

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Connecting patrons to academic content

Summon discovery solution enables your patrons to uncover a wealth of academic content through a simple, user-friendly interface. Carefully designed to meet both patrons’ and librarians’ needs, Summon improves the discovery of your library’s collection and institutional resources.

Libraries can leverage robust capabilities through an out-of-the-box interface or an API and benefit from flexible customization options and easy-to-use administration tools.

Take Summon for a Test Drive

Summon

Expose All the Library’s Resources

Connect users with content from your electronic subscriptions, print collections, Open Access sources, and unique institutional repositories in one simple, intuitive interface.

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Small library? Large? Corporate, academic, or special interest? Summon supports libraries of all sizes and types around the world and integrates with dozens of library systems. We work with your team to create a tailored discovery experience.

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Enhancing Patron Engagement and Intuitive Discovery with Summon Research Assistant

A generative AI-powered library discovery solution enables to engage patrons better and empowers them to intuitively search, explore, and take maximum advantage of trusted library materials.

Based on a RAG (Retrieval Augmented Generation) architecture and grounded in the extensive Ex Libris CDI (Central Discovery Index), Summon Research Assistant provides a starting point to users for their research, including source referencing and appropriate attribution for the authors.

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Meet Your Users Where They Are

Design a compelling discovery experience that invites patrons from multiple sources: Google Scholar, library management systems, and custom search portals. Add your own unique customizations based on your community’s needs.

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Straightforward Administration

Streamline workflows with integrated resource management, reduce time spent on system maintenance, and delve into robust search analytics through extensive - but easy-to-use - administrative tools.

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Multi-Layered Delivery Strategy

Summon has multiple pathways for connecting users to content. Quicklinks offer one-click, direct access to over a billion resources, and OpenURL is a reliable standard. Summon is provider-neutral, but you may prioritize content sources as needed.

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Summon

Expose All the Library’s Resources

Connect users with content from your electronic subscriptions, print collections, Open Access sources, and unique institutional repositories in one simple, intuitive interface.

Small library? Large? Corporate, academic, or special interest? Summon supports libraries of all sizes and types around the world and integrates with dozens of library systems. We work with your team to create a tailored discovery experience.

Enhancing Patron Engagement and Intuitive Discovery with Summon Research Assistant

A generative AI-powered library discovery solution enables to engage patrons better and empowers them to intuitively search, explore, and take maximum advantage of trusted library materials.

Based on a RAG (Retrieval Augmented Generation) architecture and grounded in the extensive Ex Libris CDI (Central Discovery Index), Summon Research Assistant provides a starting point to users for their research, including source referencing and appropriate attribution for the authors.

Two college students sit in the library and work on a tablet

Meet Your Users Where They Are

Design a compelling discovery experience that invites patrons from multiple sources: Google Scholar, library management systems, and custom search portals. Add your own unique customizations based on your community’s needs.

Straightforward Administration

Streamline workflows with integrated resource management, reduce time spent on system maintenance, and delve into robust search analytics through extensive - but easy-to-use - administrative tools.

Multi-Layered Delivery Strategy

Summon has multiple pathways for connecting users to content. Quicklinks offer one-click, direct access to over a billion resources, and OpenURL is a reliable standard. Summon is provider-neutral, but you may prioritize content sources as needed.

Our team of experts looks forward to hearing from you

We play nice with

Check out the wealth of content offered by Summon

  • Records in the Central Discovery Index (CDI)

  • Searches weekly

  • Content neutral

Ex Libris Webinars

    26 Jun 2025
    Upcoming
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    Alma Analytics for RapidILL users (2025 Roadmap Webinar Seri...

    A new analytics dashboard and extensive set of corresponding reports has been developed in coordination with the input and cooperation of the RapidILL user community. The new repor...
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    Ensuring fair access to resources while navigating budget ch...

    Explore how innovative resource sharing solutions like Rapido and Rapido Consortial Borrowing are breaking down barriers and creating more equitable access to knowledge across libr...
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    XSL Normalization Rules and Processes for Metadata Records

    XSL normalization of metadata records is now supported, enabling both manual and batch processing. Institutions can use XSL to manipulate metadata across all MARC-supported formats...
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    Library community at work: Developing custom AI workflows fo...

    Curious about real-world AI applications in libraries? Join us to learn directly from teams librarians building custom solutions and putting these tools them into practice.
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    Primo Next Discovery Experience (NDE) (Part of the 2025 Road...

    The Next Discovery Experience (NDE) vision for the coming years is set to enhance the way academic research is conducted, ushering in a new era of research efficiency and insight.
    On demand

    Linked Data Enrichment (Part of the 2025 Roadmap Webinar Ser...

    During this session we will show the ability to enrich records with Linked Data both "On the fly" and "Permanently".
    Documenta Archive
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    Building a tailored resource sharing solution at Drew Univer...

    Drew University shares its experience transitioning from traditional ILL systems to Rapido. They worked directly with the Rapido team to develop a custom FOLIO integration.
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    Linked Data Developments in 2025 (Part of the 2025 Roadmap W...

    During this session we will show several recent developments related to Linked Data for Alma and Primo
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    The Future of Rialto: Innovation, Growth, and What’s N...

    Rialto is entering a new phase; we’ll share our vision for the future, an overview of planned innovations and how these changes align with the evolving needs of libraries.
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    Open new doors to your digital collections with Alma Specto

    Meet Alma Specto, the platform powered by Academic AI that integrates all stages of digital collection management - from cataloguing to discovery and preservation. This session wil...
    On demand

    How Regent University met a 300% increase in resource sharin...

    A surge in Regent University's student population, paired with the migration to a more intuitive discovery tool, put a strain on staff. In response, the library looked for a soluti...
    On demand

    Primo VE Mixpanel User Engagement Analytics

    Mixpanel is a new Analytics platform for understanding how users behave within the Primo VE user interface and will be released as part of the "Next Discovery Experience" (NDE).
    On demand

    What’s New with Primo – Q1 2025

    This webinar will provide valuable insights into the latest features and enhancements in Primo and Primo VE which are planned to be released as part of February release.
    On demand

    The AI Metadata Assistant in the Metadata Editor

    The AI Metadata Assistant uses a Large Language Model generative AI to process information about a library resource, and suggest relevant metadata to the cataloger to help make the...
    On demand

    From Theory to Real AI Solutions – Enhance Library Ser...

    Join us as we partner with Library Journal to discuss and showcase solutions that are leveraging generative AI to move libraries forward.
    Searching for Funding - A Look at the Data
    On demand

    2024 Alma Analytics Become an Expert: Useful Tips in Analyti...

    Detailed descriptions about each session are located here: https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Training/Webinars/Alma_Analytics%3A_Become_an_Expert
    On demand

    Using Linked Open Data in Primo VE – Person Entity (Al...

    As of May 2024 Primo VE has incorporated Linked Data in the end user search. During this session we will look at the new Person Entity, the Autocomplete Person Entity and the Pers...
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    2024 Alma Analytics Become an Expert: Analytics Objects

    Detailed descriptions about each session are located here: https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Training/Webinars/Alma_Analytics%3A_Become_an_Expert
    On demand

    2024 Alma Analytics Become an Expert: Filters and Functions ...

    Detailed descriptions about each session are located here: https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Training/Webinars/Alma_Analytics%3A_Become_an_Expert
    On demand

    2024 Alma Analytics Become an Expert: Creating and Managing ...

    Detailed descriptions about each session are located here: https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Training/Webinars/Alma_Analytics%3A_Become_an_Expert
    On demand

    2024 Alma Analytics Become an Expert: Creating and Managing ...

    Detailed descriptions about each session are located here: https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Training/Webinars/Alma_Analytics%3A_Become_an_Expert
    On demand

    2024 Alma Analytics Become an Expert: Electronic Inventory, ...

    Detailed descriptions about each session are located here: https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Training/Webinars/Alma_Analytics%3A_Become_an_Expert
    On demand

    How to Use Local Extensions for Member Institutions of a Net...

    On demand

    2024 Alma Analytics Become an Expert: Overview and introduct...

    Detailed descriptions about each session are located here: https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Training/Webinars/Alma_Analytics%3A_Become_an_Expert
    On demand

    New “All titles search” User Experience (Alma 20...

    Join us to get an early look at what’s coming and make sure you and your library are prepared (and excited!) for the change.
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    How to Restrict Editing Bibliographic Fields by Member Insti...

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    Consortia Central Configuration dashboard for distributing s...

    In this session we would like to walk through the main features of this new dashboard for Collaborative Networks.
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    WorldCat Connexion Setup

    This session will help you feel comfortable with connecting Alma to OCLC for cataloging. We'll cover both adding WorldCat as an external search resource as well as integrating Alma...
    On demand

    New Manage Patron Services Page Circulation Desk (Alma 2024 ...

    The Manage Patron Services page is being completely redesigned in order to leverage new layout capabilities to support a more streamlined workflow at the circulation desk. This is ...
    On demand

    Physical Item Templates (Alma 2024 Roadmap Webinar Series)

    Introducing the new ability to save an item as a template, and use it to pre-populate new items – this new development will save a lot of time and effort for physical resource oper...

    Our Services

    All the Ex Libris consultants, trainers and experienced developers partner with you to tailor your solutions.
    Cloud
    Services
    Our revolutionary cloud services deliver exceptional reliability and the highest levels of security and data privacy across all institutional data, systems and processes.
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    Content
    Services
    We continuously grow and innovate our content services to support discovery and provide easy access to relevant information, optimizing every aspect of the research and learning experience.
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    Professional
    Services
    Our best-in-class professional services provided by our global teams ensure on-time and on-budget project implementation and we are with you every step of the way with on-going advice, training, and support.
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    Support
    Services
    We are committed to ensuring a high level of satisfaction among our customers. Our dedicated support services team attends to your specific configurations and needs on time, every time.
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    FAQ

    The Central Discovery Index (CDI) has 5.26 billion records of scholarly and academic resources of all kinds – journals, articles, books, videos, music, and more; local library catalogs and repositories, including electronic and print journals; Open Access content; commercial resources; and all ProQuest content. Our multi-tiered linking approach will connect your users with the content as easily and quickly as possible.

     

     

    Summon is a standalone discovery solution that integrates with almost any ILS (that supports MARC21 or MARCXML) and provides an e-resources collection management system powered by the 360 Knowledgebase. Primo is tightly integrated with Alma to provide a full user experience including patron services.

    Integrations with other Clarivate services – such as Web of Science, RefWorks, EndNote, Syndetics Unbound, etc. – are built-in. In addition, Summon utilizes LTI (Learning Tools Interoperability) to integrate with library management systems like Canvas. The customizable interface accepts JavaScript and CSS to support bespoke integrations to local services as well.

    We take seriously the responsibility to provide an accessible user experience for our community members. We do a yearly audit with the ProQuest User Experience team, publish the results and address issues that are uncovered. Details are here.

    The collaboration between our team and yours is a close one to ensure you have the discovery environment you need. In addition, we want to move at a speed with which your team is comfortable. If you want to include your print collection records in Summon the process will take as little as 3 months; if you want an e-resources only solution the process can take considerably less time.

    Yes! Summon has a vibrant, committed community that participates in everything from “How do I?” conversations to fleshing out requirements for new features. Collaboration takes place through channels such as the Product Working Groups, NERS and Idea Exchange, as well as through focus groups and ad-hoc discussions.

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    Started