EBSCO Launches App Catalog for Discovery Services

EBSCO has launched Orbit, an online catalog of apps designed to enhance EBSCO Discovery for library users.

Allowing libraries to browse, select and manage apps, "Orbit includes a collection of nearly 100 apps which will continue to expand.," according to a news release. "These apps augment the search experience, highlight content, enhance library interaction and integrate with a wide variety of third-party environments."

The company is also offering a managed cloud service for libraries that prefer not to manage their own apps, with implementation, consulting, hosting and ongoing support and maintenance and automatic app updates.

The apps are all open source and will be available for free to libraries that choose to manage their own.

“In the last few years, we have developed a large number of apps in partnership with our discovery customers," said Ron Burns, EBSCO vice president of global software services, in a prepared statement. "Making these apps available through Orbit means libraries can now browse a wide variety of apps and extensions to perfectly fit their library’s discovery needs. We recognize that many libraries don’t have the resources or technical ability to implement and maintain apps. For these libraries, EBSCO will host and maintain all apps so our customers can focus resources and efforts elsewhere.”

More information is available at orbit.ebsco.com.

About the Author

Joshua Bolkan is contributing editor for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe. He can be reached at [email protected].

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