Notre Dame Libraries To Add Search and Retrieval from Primo

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 06/27/08

The Hesburgh Libraries of the University of Notre Dame will be implementing Primo from Ex Libris Group as a discovery system. The school, a long-time customer of Ex Libris library automation applications, will be using the search and retrieval software to provide a single interface for discovery and delivery of local and remote resources, including books, journal articles and digital objects within the libraries' collections.

"Over the last decade, we have developed a strong relationship with Ex Libris based on our shared vision of the future of library automation," said Jennifer Younger, Edward H. Arnold Director of the libraries. "...Notre Dame users will benefit from a robust solution, which includes such features as scalability, enabling Primo to expand with our growing collections; Web 2.0 social computing features; and an open architecture on which users can develop code extensions to be shared among members of the Primo community."

The software allows users to save queries in an e-shelf, rerun saved queries and request notification by e-mail or via RSS of new results for a saved query. Any record shown in the brief result list or the full record display can be saved in the e-shelf or pushed from Primo into a third-party online reference management tool. Social computing features allow users to share tags, ratings, and reviews.

The Hesburgh Libraries of Notre Dame include the 14-story Theodore M. Hesburgh Library and nine branch libraries. With the Kresge Law Library, the Hesburgh Libraries contain over 3.3 million volumes, 68,000 serials, nearly 4 million microform units, and 35,000 audiovisual items.