A New-Generation Library Service Platform Is Being Implemented at Lithuanian Education and Research Institutions

More than forty Lithuanian education and research institutions are starting to implement a new-generation library service platform consisting of the "Alma" and "Primo VE" library products provided by the international company "Ex Libris". They will be rolled out at the institutions within two years. The procurement of the platform is carried out by Vilnius University (VU) and funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport as part of the implementation of the Action Plan for the Development of the Lithuanian Science and Studies Information Infrastructure for 2021–2024.

"The new library service platform will provide new opportunities for the Lithuanian academic community to create a joint country-wide electronic catalogue of academic libraries with more than two million bibliographic records, as well as to cooperate globally and exchange publicly available data with the "Alma" and "Primo VE" community (which consists of more than 2,380 libraries worldwide). In addition, it will make it possible to use a modern online user interface also adapted for mobile devices; to easily administer electronic publications; to apply information management protocols and standards that are widespread worldwide" – these benefits of the new service platform are outlined by Arūnas Stašionis, Head of VU Information Technology Service Center and the authorised person of the information system data management of the Lithuanian Academic Electronic Library (eLABa).

The new platform is closely connected with the eLABa information system, which collects and provides library catalogues, science and study documents and their metadata for public access.
Since 2001, the eLABa information system has also been accumulating scientific/artistic publications, abstracts of final theses and dissertations, and full-text documents. Today, it contains almost 600,000 document descriptions.
The eLABa information system is used by 47 Lithuanian institutions (universities, colleges, the Wroblewski Library of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, institutes, etc.). The system users are united by the eLABa consortium, which provides them with methodological, consulting, organisational, and other assistance.
The value of the project is EUR 2,419,427.86, duration – three years.