Chicago, IL—July 20, 2011. Ex Libris Group, a world leader in the provision of library automation solutions, is pleased to announce the release of version 8 of the Voyager integrated library system (ILS). Much of the new functionality in this version is the result of continued collaboration with the international Voyager community, which now consists of over 1300 sites.
Highlights of the new Voyager version include the following:
- Global Data-Change module: With Voyager 8, libraries can easily make mass data changes to bibliographic, holdings, and authority records. As a result, cataloging workflows are more flexible, the total cost of ownership is reduced, and the quality of the database is increased.
- Streamlined upgrade process: In a major enhancement to the Voyager Installation Kit, Voyager 8 introduces Client AutoUpdate, a new feature that enables libraries to upgrade Voyager clients to the latest release without requiring a complete reinstallation.
- Improved user experience: Among the enhancements to user experience are a more streamlined authentication process within WebVoyáge and automatic text messages to users' mobile phones for notification about item availability, overdue items, and recall requests.
- Enhanced security: In Voyager 8, the security of your ILS is even greater through the ability to implement new policies for password management such as requirements for strong passwords, the frequency of password change, and expiration control.
- Increased staff productivity: The new release offers a range of enhancements that drive up staff efficiency and improve the quality of the database—as well as improving integration with Primo and other discovery systems.
The institutions that participated in the field testing for Voyager 8 were the Library of Congress, the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the Colorado School of Mines, the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI), three members of the Library Consortium of New Zealand (LCoNZ), Southern Methodist University, the TriUniversity Group of Libraries, the University of Edinburgh, and the University of Strathclyde.
"We are very excited about the launch of Voyager 8," noted Judith Smart, senior library systems analyst/developer at the University of Strathclyde. "After field testing the new version, we are looking forward to making it available to our full team of library staff. In particular, tighter integration with Primo will enable us to offer single sign-on authentication and a smoother discovery experience for users who are accessing library materials via Primo."
"Voyager 8 offers our customer community a wealth of new features that will enhance workflows and simplify tasks while granting libraries greater control over their resources," commented Bar Veinstein, vice president of resource management solutions at Ex Libris. "We're pleased to provide this latest release to our customers, and we are already working on long-term plans for versions 9, 10 and beyond."
About Ex Libris
Ex Libris is a leading provider of automation solutions for academic libraries. Offering the only comprehensive product suite for electronic, digital, and print materials, Ex Libris provides efficient, user-friendly products that serve the needs of libraries today and will facilitate their transition into the future. Ex Libris maintains an impressive customer base consisting of thousands of sites in more than 80 countries on six continents.
Dedicated to developing creative solutions in close collaboration with customers, Ex Libris enables academic, national, and research libraries to maximize productivity and efficiency and, at the same time, greatly enhance the user experience. By empowering users to discover and obtain the information they need, libraries ensure their position as the bridge to knowledge.