Primo Working Group Special Projects

This page highlights some notable projects and initiatives of the IGeLU Primo WG.

The IGeLU Primo Working Group works closely alongside the ELUNA Primo Working Group in consultation with Ex Libris Primo Product Management, as well as collaborating on various initiatives across IGeLU and ELUNA groups.

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Next Discovery Experience (NDE)

  • Documentation
  • 1. Next UX for Primo VE pages
    • Active: NDE UI Focus Group from July 2023, through 2024
    • Active: NDE Customisation Focus Group for the NDE UI, with core group from January 2024, and extended to full group from October 2024
    • Rollout details
      • Original planning for availability in own Primo VE environment from November 2024, giving six months to prepare for the transition from angularjs to angular, with the General Release in May 2025
      • In August 2024, the first availability was advised pushed back from November 2024 to February 2025
      • In September 2024, the first availability was advised pushed back again to March 2025 and this would only be in Ex Libris testing environment for early adopters. It was also announced at the IGeLU 2024 Conference that some features and functionality particularly for consortia would not be available initially, but would be rolled out in monthly releases through H2 2025, after the General Release in May 2025
      • In March 2025, the General Release was announced pushed back, with gradual access depending on confirmed switchover:
        • Managed General Release: Only available in May 2025 if giving a commitment by March/April 2025 survey of switchover by March 2026
        • General Release (Self-switch): Available in November 2025 for all Primo VE sites
      • Cut-off for switchover: 2-3 years from the General Release (Self-switch) in Nov 2025 ie by Nov 2028
  • 2. Linked Data experience
    • Linked Open Data Focus Group from mid 2023, through May 2024
    • First phase in 2024 within the current New UI, with release of the Related Persons feature in May 2024
  • 3. User engagement analytics
    • Focus Group concluded (see below)
    • Early adopter phase in 2024 – Open call issued in late July 2024, for an early adopter group in September through November 2024
    • Production availability anticipated from the May 2025 Release, as the exclusive Analytics platform for the NDE UI
  • 4. Taking advantage of new AI technology
    • Focus Group concluded (see below)
    • Rollout: The first available was planned for November 2024. At the IGeLU Conference on 9 September 2024 it was announced that this was moved forward and was available for activation in Production as a beta release as of the Primo VE Release Update on 8 September 2024. The beta phase will conclude with the May 2025 Release, with the removal of the label in UI

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Active projects – 2023>

Next Discovery Experience User Interface Focus Group (NDE UI)

  • This group meets monthly with Ex Libris from July 2023
  • All Focus Group members
    • Amy Deschenes, Harvard University
    • Daniel Naas, University of Kentucky – ELUNA Primo WG
    • Jeff Peterson, University of Minnesota – ELUNA Developer community
    • Manu Schwendener, Universität Basel – IGeLU Primo WG
    • Nir Zinger, University of Haifa – IGeLU Primo WG
    • Paul Harding, University of York – IGeLU Primo WG
    • Fabiano Fiero, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland
    • Michelle Eichelberger, State University of New York – ELUNA Primo WG

Next Discovery Experience Customisation Focus Group (for the NDE UI)

  • Technical consultation meetings began in early 2024 with senior experienced members of the Primo Developer community in an NDE Customisation group for the NDE UI – 1st in late January and 2nd in late August, with consultation also during the IGeLU Conference in September
  • Monthly meetings are anticipated from October 2024
  • Live demo and documentation: https://github.com/ExLibrisGroup/customModule
  • Focus Group members
    • Ulrich Leodolter, Austrian Library Network and Service Ltd., Austria – IGeLU Primo WG and senior Primo Developer community
    • Andrea Zech, Free University of Berlin – IGeLU Primo WG
    • Mehmet Celik – KU Leuven LIBIS, IGeLU Steering Committee, Coordinator Interoperability, and senior Primo Developer community
    • Allen Jones – The New School, ELUNA Steering Committee and senior Primo Developer community
    • Jeff Petterson – University of Minnesota, ELUNA Primo WG and senior Primo Developer community
    • Dave Allen – State Library of Queensland, IGeLU Steering Committee Chair
    • Francois Renaville – University of Liège, IGeLU Steering Committee
    • Jason Griffith – University of Kentucky, ELUNA Steering Committee Chair
    • Bruce Sciboz – Swiss National Library
    • Andrew Parker – Brandeis University
    • Bernd Uttenweiler – ETH Library (SLSP consortium)
    • Marta Tichoruk – Jagiellonian University
    • Veerle Kerstens – KU Leuven LIBIS
    • Thomas Guignard – TG Consulting

Primo BO to VE Feature Alignment Project

  • This project was agreed with Ex Libris in May 2023 and ran through April 2024, to Report submission. The project is now in a phase of consultation with Ex Libris for delivery of highlighted priority items
  • Primo BO to VE Feature Alignment Project Report, submitted to Ex Libris 30 April 2024
  • WG/s updates to the Primo community
    • 15 May 2024 – ELUNA Annual Meeting presentation by Corinna Baksik (pptx)
    • 18 June 2024 – ANZREG Conference presentation by Stacey van Groll (pptx + recording)
    • 10 September 2024 – IGeLU Conference presentation by Stacey van Groll (pptx + recording)
    • October 2024 – Dachela INUG Conference presentation by Ulrich Leodolter and Andrea Zech
  • Group members (IGeLU Primo WG and ELUNA Primo WG)
    • Stacey van Groll, University of Queensland (Co-lead) – IGeLU Primo WG
    • Corinna Baksik, Harvard University (Co-lead) – ELUNA Primo WG
    • Anne Pepitone, University of Washington – ELUNA Primo WG
    • Andrea Zech, Free University of Berlin – IGeLU Primo WG
    • Jeff Peterson, University of Minnesota – ELUNA Primo WG
    • Nir Zinger, University of Haifa – IGeLU Primo WG
    • Noémie Ammann, ETH Library – IGeLU Primo WG
    • Ulrich Leodolter, Austrian Library Network and Service Ltd. – IGeLU Primo WG

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Previous projects

  • Aha Implementation – 2023-2025
    • This project is an extension of the earlier Enhancements Task Force, and active 2023-2025
    • Key events: Migration of submissions from the prior NERS platform occurred May 2024, the new CERV process and portals officially launched October 2024, the NERS platform was shut down in November 2024, and the Primo enhancements cycle ran on CERV for the first time in March 2025
    • IGeLU Primo WG representatives
      • Stacey van Groll, University of Queensland – WG Coordinator
      • Nir Zinger, University of Haifa – Enhancements Coordinator
  • CDI Enhancements Trial – 2024-2025
    • This initiative is an extension from the earlier CDI Advisory Group, with a two year trial in 2024 and 2025
      • Note: It was determined not to run the second year of the trial
    • IGeLU Primo WG representatives
      • Stacey van Groll, University of Queensland – WG Coordinator
      • Nir Zinger, University of Haifa – Enhancements Coordinator
  • Primo Engagement Analytics (Mixpanel) Focus Group – 2024
    • This group ran March through end of December 2024, meeting monthly with Ex Libris
    • All Focus Group members
      • Davin Pate, University of Texas at Dallas – Analytics CoP (ELUNA)
      • Paul Harding, University of York – IGeLU Primo WG
      • Andrea Zech, Free University of Berlin – IGeLU Primo WG
      • Susan Bond, University of Toronto
      • Daisy Nip, University of California – Analytics CoP (ELUNA)
      • Joan Kolarik, Drexel Institute
      • Maya Amichal, Weizmann Institute – Analytics CoP (IGeLU)
      • Laura MacNeil, University of Edinburgh
  • AI-powered Research Assistant – Beta Program Focus Group – 2024
    • This group ran from late June 2024 through August 2024, in an intensive 8 week program
    • IGeLU Primo WG members on the Focus Group
      • Mark Kluzek, University College London
      • Gaith Bader, University of New South Wales
  • IGeLU website transition, and Primo Minutes availability – 2022
  • Enhancements Task Force and Survey Report – 2021-2022
  • Support Portal Merge ProQuest/Ex Libris Feedback Focus Group – 2021
  • SIWG/WG Governance Task Force – 2020
  • Central Discovery Index development and rollout – 2019-2021
  • Primo Public Services Subgroup – 2018-2019
  • Customer Contributions to Knowledge Centre Pilot Group – 2018
  • Inaugural Primo Central Index Enhancements process – 2015
  • Primo Version 4 Early Adopter Program – 2012
  • Transition from Pivotal to NERS – 2010-2011

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Primo Working Group

IGeLU Chair’s Reports – Primo Working Group

See the Primo Working Group section in the yearly IGeLU Chair’s Reports for further details on Primo WG activities and efforts on behalf of the user community: