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Ex Libris

Hannah H edited this page Aug 29, 2025 · 35 revisions

ProQuest's Ex Libris specialises in developing integrated library systems and other library software, partnering with academic libraries globally to enhance the discoverability of content from providers like Thoth Open Metadata and individual publishers.

Knowledgebases & Central Discovery Index

Ex Libris achieve this by managing comprehensive Knowledgebases (for collection and title-level repositories) and a robust Central Discovery Index (CDI) for granular metadata management.

This enables the seamless discovery of titles and articles for Ex Libris customers. Direct metadata feeds from providers like Thoth, ensure accurate and timely updates for Ex Libris's extensive library community.

The Knowledgebases (implemented through Alma, SFX and 360KB products) are used by Ex Libris customers to manage their subscriptions and holdings and to enable link resolvers to get the end-user from a search result in Ex Libris discovery products (Summon and Primo) to the item’s full text in the provider’s native platform. Once collections are loaded into the Knowledgebases, each subscribing customer then selects and activates the relevant package or cherry-picks the relevant titles.

The CDI indexes more granular metadata (article and chapter records) and powers Ex Libris discovery products (Summon and Primo) that act as a gateway to academic resources.

Learn more about how Ex Libris products help libraries manage electronic resources here.

Content submission guidelines for the Knowledgebases can be found here, and the CDI here.

Thoth Plus publisher collections are submitted to the Knowledgebases and CDI.

Ex Libris facilitate discovery but do not host full-text content; full-text content is submitted by Thoth to ProQuest Ebook Central for access by subscribing institutions.

Alma for Libraries

Alma is Ex Libris's library management system. The Alma user interface guide can be found here.

The Alma Community Zone (CZ) is a shared, collaborative knowledgebase within the Alma library management system. It contains shared electronic bibliographic records and authority vocabularies. Bibliographic records in the CZ are enriched from providers (like Thoth) MARC records to a merged record. High quality bibliographic records ensure that the library receive comprehensive discovery options and detailed analytics and collection analysis of library holdings. Resources are available for use to all Alma users. The Alma community can update Community Zone catalog bibliographic records.

The Alma Community Collection list can be found here. Thoth Plus publisher collections are submitted to the Alma Community Zone.

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