Primo VE NDE UI for I-Share

Revised: April 15, 2025

This page is a work in progress and will be updated as new information becomes available. Please check back regularly and send any questions to . 

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 into the NDE UI
  • 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.

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.

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.

CARLI NDE UI Testing

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:

  • The Automatic Item Availability checking function on the consortial I-Share Request Form is NOT currently automatic. Users must click the "Check Availability" button first to manually check for available items. Furthermore, 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.
  • Users can place I-Share requests for items that are not available. User requests may initially be successful in Primo VE but then immediately canceled by Alma, making for a frustrating user experience.
  • 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 to users cancelling requests out of fear that they placed the request twice, but in fact, this will cancel the only actual request.

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

Other CARLI NDE UI Information

Primo VE NDE UI: What's Next? - 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

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.