Primo VE NDE UI for I-Share

Revised: July 30, 2026

Background
Timing
CARLI NDE UI Testing and Known Issues
Mixpanel Analytics
Other CARLI NDE UI Information
Ex Libris NDE UI documentation
Some Frequently Asked Questions

Background

Ex Libris has been developing the Next Discovery Experience for Primo, called NDE. This new interface will replace the Primo VE Views that all I-Share libraries currently use. 

The NDE has four components:

  • "A new, sleek, intuitive user interface" (UI) with improved functionality and accessibility
  • More integration of Linked Open Data to "reveal connections" between topics. Some aspects are available now in Primo VE and will continue into the NDE UI
  • AI-based Research Assistant to help users with search queries--this is available now in Primo VE and will continue in the NDE UI--and "Ask Anything" Natural Language Search
  • A new user engagement analytics tool for libraries called Mixpanel coming with the NDE UI to help libraries "track and optimize the discovery experience" that will replace the existing Oracle-based Analytics for Primo; it is a similar interface to Google Analytics.

Timing

Beginning in November 2025, the NDE UI was made available to all customers for testing and planning; however, please note that the NDE UI may not yet have all functionality included in it. Ex Libris continues to add missing features and work on fixing known issues.  For more information on future development and known issues with NDE UI, please see the links below under the heading Ex Libris NDE UI Documentation.

CARLI will thoroughly test all consortial features related to I-Share requesting and borrowing to be sure everything works as expected for I-Share. I-Share libraries should not go live with NDE UI until CARLI has announced that our testing is complete and that we have confirmed all necessary functionality for I-Share is present. CARLI has identified several issues with NDE UI listed below.

I-Share libraries can tentatively plan to go live with NDE UI after July 1, 2026, though CARLI staff feel that summer 2027 may be a better target date to allow for more time for Ex Libris to solve issues and make improvements to the system.

I-Share libraries should plan to migrate to NDE UI no later than January 2028 because Ex Libris has indicated that they will no longer support other versions of Primo as of that date.

Prior to going "live", I-Share libraries can release and provide an NDE View as a "beta" interface to users alongside your existing Primo VE View if you would like to have them available simultaneously for feedback, user testing, or instructional purposes.

CARLI NDE UI Testing and Known Issues

CARLI is currently testing consortial functionality relating to I-Share requesting and borrowing. We have identified or are testing the following issues with the NDE UI so far and have opened Cases with Ex Libris:

  • While testing that the aforementioned issue was fixed in the July update, CARLI staff found that requests in ABA scenarios (when a User from Library A requests an Item from Library B for pickup at Library A) can not be placed when Item Availability settings where Mandatory and Visible. Requests in other scenarios (ABC, ABB, AAB) work successfully. CARLI filed a High Priority Case with Ex Libris on June 26, 2026; this issue is now planned to be fixed in the August 2, 2026 release rather than in December 2026 as Ex Libris originally estimated.
  • In the Requests lists of the "All Institutions" view of the user's library account in Primo VE NDE UI, requests are displaying twice though the user only placed one request. This may lead users to cancel requests out of fear that they placed the request twice, but in fact, this will cancel the only actual request. CARLI has a Case open with Ex Libris about this and it has been sent to Development. Ex Libris plans to fix this in November 2026 release, but timing is subject to change.

If you have any questions about these or additional issues to report, please contact .

These previously "known issues" have been Resolved:

  • Fixed in the July 2026 software release: The Automatic Item Availability checking function on the consortial I-Share Request Form was not automatic. Users must click the "Check Availability" button first to manually check for available items. The error message being displayed if the user does not check for availability manually is erroneous and misleading. This feature is used by most I-Share libraries to prevent users from placing requests in Primo VE for items that do not exist or that are not available to them.

Mixpanel Analytics

The current Oracle-based "Access Analytics (Primo)" access through Alma will be replaced with a new third-party product called Mixpanel. 

CARLI has already chosen the Centralized model for Mixpanel and we will be setting up Mixpanel accounts for all I-Share institutions. Individual I-Share institutions should not complete the form offered by Ex Libris in its NDE documentation or file a Case with Ex Libris for this.

CARLI will prioritize Mixpanel configuration for those institutions who have indicated on the recent "CARLI Primo NDE UI Implementation Questionnaire" based on the date that they plan to 'go live'.

Other CARLI NDE UI Information

CARLI Primo VE NDE UI Implementation Basecamp - Staff from any CARLI member library are welcome to join CARLI's Basecamp Project about Primo VE NDE UI to share information and discuss NDE issues with your peers! Please send a request to to be added.

Primo VE NDE UI: What's Next? webinar - CARLI Discovery Primo VE Committee event held on April 15, 2026 to share information about the Primo VE Next Discovery Experience (NDE) UI.
Recording (30 mins.)
PPT Slides

Primo VE NDE UI: Share, Learn, and Ask - CARLI Discovery Primo VE Committee event held on June 17, 2026. It was not recorded. Selected notes from this session are posted in the Basecamp.

Save The Date: The next event will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026 at 2pm.

Ex Libris NDE UI documentation

Next Discovery Experience User Interface - Overview of the NDE UI

Overview of the NDE Interface and Configuration - Describes the interface and how to customize each section, including labels and the options on each tab of the View Configuration. 

NDE UI Customization - Best Practices - Branding, color themes, landing page, using the Customization Package, creating search boxes, headers and footers

Available Features, Functionality and Release Plan for NDE UI - Future planned development in quarterly releases; Accessibilty information; Features not scheduled for NDE development

Primo VE Roapmap Highlights: 2026-2027

Ex Libris Known Issues List for NDE - Anyone can search the list of Known Issues; no login required.

NDE UI: All Resources in One Place - Links to every NDE-related webinar recording and document from Ex Libris

Primo VE NDE Administration Certification Program - I-Share library staff who administer Primo VE are strongly encouraged to become a Certified Primo VE NDE Administrator. 

Some Frequently Asked Questions

When can libraries access NDE UI?

  • All customers have access to Primo NDE UI now.
  • Libraries can create a test NDE View for testing and planning alongside their existing “production” Primo VE View.
  • I-Share libraries should not "Go Live”" with NDE UI until CARLI has announced that all consortial functions are working.
  • If this is new information to you and/or you haven’t started yet, don’t panic! You have time…. See Timing section above.

Can CARLI assist my library to implement NDE UI?

  • Yes, CARLI staff can assist libraries with the implementation of NDE UI, if needed.
  • CARLI sent out a survey to all I-Share Libraries in June 2026 asking for each library’s tentative plans and target "go live" date.  Answers to this survey are non-binding.
  • Contact  with any questions.

Does my library have to switch to NDE UI?

Yes. Moving to NDE UI is not optional. Some benefits include: 

  • "new, sleek, intuitive user interface" –Ex Libris
  • Improved Accessibility
  • According to the Primo Roadmap (Ex Libris): "UI enhancements and non-critical fixes will be applied to the NDE UI rather than to the original UI. This prioritization ensures that efforts are focused on the interface that will serve all Primo VE customers going forward."

Can libraries test and make changes to NDE UI before going live?

  • Absolutely, this is strongly encouraged!
  • You can "Duplicate" your existing Primo VE View.
  • The current Primo VE View interface and the NDE UI View interface can exist side-by-side.
  • Libraries can present the NDE UI as a "beta" interface to users in addition to the current UI.
  • You may have more than one NDE UI View for testing.

Will the URLs, permalinks, and search boxes change in NDE UI?

  • During testing, before “go live,” such links will necessarily be different.
  • Once your library has gone live with NDE UI as your primary Primo interface, all traffic, including URLs, permalinks, and searches from external search boxes, will be automatically redirected to the NDE UI.

Can we copy configurations from the current View to NDE UI?

  • Yes, if you "Duplicate for NDE" your existing Primo VE View, most configurations will be copied from that View into the new NDE UI View. There are a few exceptions and some new configuration options.
  • There are also several new configuration options available only in NDE UI that you will want to evaluate and make decisions about for your library.
  • However, you cannot copy any customization made with the Customization Package in the current Primo VE View to NDE UI.

How will NDE UI affect the Primo Customization Package?

  • Current Primo VE Customization Package that allows for custom images, colors, the Primo VE HTML-based homepage, CSS, and JavaScript add-ons cannot be migrated “as is” to NDE UI.
  • Some previous customizations may be obsolete due to new Configuration options:
    • Color theme options available “to help ensure accessibility through proper color contrast, visible focus indicators, and consistent styling”
    • Landing Page customization within configuration (new in May 2026 release)
    • Option to collapse Other I-Share Libraries section now in configuration
    • Select Vendor Add-ons
  • Custom colors, CSS, and JavaScript are still possible in a new Customization Package for NDE UI.
  • Note: there is no Primo Studio for NDE UI. According to EXL, most functionality has been transferred to Alma configuration.

Will all I-Share libraries go live on NDE UI at the same time?

No, each I-Share library has the freedom to decide when to implement. CARLI’s recommended timeframe for most I-Share libraries to go live on Primo NDE UI is summer (May-August) 2027 to give Ex Libris more time to solve issues (see Known Issues above) and make improvements to the system; however, CARLI will not prevent any I-Share library from going live earlier on the library's preferred timeframe. CARLI believes each I-Share library knows its circumstances and users best when making this decision. Each library will have a different level of tolerance for change and functional issues in the discovery interface, but it is assumed that every library will perform its own local testing and investigations of features and functionality before choosing to go live with Primo VE NDE UI.