Help Shape the Future: 2025 CERV Enhancements Cycle
Your Voice Matters in RapidILL’s Evolution
The 2025 CERV (Community Enhancement Request Voting) cycle gives you the opportunity to directly influence the future development of RapidILL. Whether you’ve encountered workflow challenges or have innovative ideas to improve efficiency, this is your chance to submit enhancement requests that could transform how your institution uses the platform. The CERV process ensures that development priorities are driven by real user needs and community consensus. Follow the timeline below to participate in each phase of the enhancement process—from idea submission to final implementation decisions.
| Date | Event |
| By 31 March | Official Launch! Announcement of the 2025 RapidILL enhancement cycle – get your ideas ready! |
| 1 April | Idea Submission Portal Opens – Start submitting your enhancement requests to shape the future of RapidILL |
| 30 April | Final Submission Deadline – Last chance to submit your innovative enhancement ideas for this year’s voting cycle |
| 1-30 May | Review & Refinement Phase – The Enhancements Team evaluates all submissions, eliminates duplicates, determines scope, and ensures each idea is positioned for maximum impact |
| 2-30 June | Primary Voting Round – Your chance to support the enhancements that will most improve your daily workflow and user experience |
| 1-11 July | Analysis & Preparation – The Enhancements Team reviews voting results and prepares top-voted enhancements for Ex Libris assessment |
| 14-25 July | Technical Evaluation – Ex Libris evaluates complexity and feasibility of top-voted enhancements |
| 28 July – 8 August | Collaboration Period – Additional time for clarification and refinement with Ex Libris to ensure enhancement specifications are clear |
| 11 August – 5 September | Final Decision Round – Second voting phase (if necessary) to prioritize which enhancements will be implemented |
Newspaper Publication Dates fix implemented
Dr Lynne Porat, our working group member from University of Haifa, Israel and current chair of the Meli Ex Libris user group ILL Forum, reports the following resolution to an issue related to newspaper publication dates in Alma, relevant to RapidILL:
“I am happy to report that the issue of the incorrect display of Publication Dates in Rapid has been fixed in the February 2025 release.
I tested (date) variations which I found in two databases, and they were received by the Rapid Lender exactly as they were submitted.”
RapidILL Launches Game-Changing Update: Electronic Holdings Now Take Priority
Ex Libris has implemented a major enhancement to the RapidILL service, with the article/chapter routing algorithm now prioritizing electronic holdings over print materials. This landmark update – the first significant change to the routing service in several years – directly addresses the community’s most requested improvement.
Key benefits of the new routing algorithm include:
- Streamlined workflows with reduced staff time for request management
- Faster turnaround times through increased electronic fulfilment
- Enhanced delivery quality with born-digital files offering superior image quality, text clarity, and accessibility features
While most RapidILL members will see minimal changes in lending request volumes, libraries primarily lending from print collections may experience some reduction in requests. Ex Libris will monitor the impact of these changes and share performance data later this year.
This development represents a significant step forward in resource sharing efficiency and demonstrates Ex Libris’s commitment to implementing user community feedback.
For detailed information about the routing algorithm update, visit the RapidILL Knowledge Base
RapidILL Analytics
The working group is currently looking into the needs of the community regarding the use of Alma Analytics for RapidILL data reporting.
Starting with best practice shared by Dr Lynne Porat, our resident Analytics Expert, we are consulting with users, community stakeholders and Ex Libris staff with the aim to produce further guidance and an informal webinar focused on reproducing RapidILL web interface statistics within Alma Analytics. Watch this space!
Looking for new members
The IGeLU RapidILL working group is looking for new members to join us. We’re particularly interested to hear from underrepresented regions, including Mainland Europe, Japan, JULAC, Singapore and Taiwan.
If you’re interested to find out more, please email the Coordinator, Kip A. Darling at: Darlingkip@gmail.com
Enhancements Cycle 2024 Conclusion
The 2024 Enhancements Cycle has concluded. Voting results favoured development aims for sister product Rapido, however many of this year’s RapidILL Enhancement Ideas have been added to Idea Exchange, where voting continues year round.
IGeLU 2025 Conference Update
Mark your calendars! The IGeLU 2025 Conference and Developer’s Day will be held from September 15-18, 2025, hosted by the historic University of Siena in Italy.
The University of Siena, founded in 1240, is one of the oldest universities in Italy and has been a centre of learning for nearly eight centuries. The university is seamlessly integrated into Siena’s UNESCO World Heritage city centre, with many departments housed in beautifully preserved medieval buildings.
Located in the heart of Tuscany, Siena is particularly renowned for its unique artistic heritage. The city’s historic centre is built around three hills, creating a stunning network of winding medieval streets and architectural masterpieces. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to experience the city’s rich culinary traditions, including local specialities like panforte (a traditional Sienese dessert) and the region’s acclaimed Chianti wines.
Further conference details and registration information will be shared as they become available.
Resource Sharing Leaders on Creating a Borderless Community
The IGeLU RapidILL Working Group, led by Coordinator Kip A. Darling, was featured in an article by Ex Libris in Library Journal. The piece highlights the group’s role in fostering global collaboration and innovation in resource sharing. By connecting with library professionals worldwide, the group is helping to break down barriers to accessing scholarly resources.
Read the full article to discover more about the group’s contribution, and other exciting developments in the international resource-sharing community.