The LMP Replacement Project is UBC Library’s initiative to upgrade the system that supports cataloguing, tracking, purchasing and management of library resources from the existing Voyager system to Alma (library management) and Primo (library user interface), which are modern, cloud-based systems that better support digital collections, research, and teaching at both campuses.
The program team is consulting library employees who support and provide training to library users, to help ensure that we configure Alma and Primo in a way that will preserve and enhance the services and functionality that people rely on. UBC Library is also engaging Deans and Faculty representatives about the change.
Share your thoughts! The program team welcomes all feedback from both campuses through our Feedback Form.
The program team is aiming for Summer 2027.
The project is co-led by UBC Library and UBC IT, with executive sponsorship from both UBC Library and UBC IT, with committees and working groups on both campuses to support consultation, collaborative solution design, and comprehensive support and training.
The upgrade will help library employees provide enhanced services to the broader community with unified management of print and electronic resources, fewer manual workarounds, improved analytics, better system integration, and enhanced security. Most library users will notice a clearer, more consistent experience when searching for library materials.
Our existing system, Voyager, has been used by UBC since 2004. It was designed for a print‑first environment and no longer meets operational, digital, or integration needs.
Yes. This migration project impacts both campuses, with training, communications, and engagement tailored to local contexts while aligning with UBC’s system-wide approach.
You can see a video introduction to Primo here: Introduction Video. Please note that our program team may set UBC Library’s Primo up differently, depending on the results of our consultations and our efforts to ensure that Alma and Primo meet the needs of the UBC community.
Primo is a discovery and search tool that enables you to search most of the library’s full text resources from a single search box.
Primo integrates seamlessly with Alma, our new library management system, to provide an intuitive interface for library users. It has been compared to a “Google-like” broader search that works similarly to our current discovery tool Summon. Primo comes with a large set of customizable settings for how library materials can be discovered and displayed.
Our current discovery tools include Summon and the Library Catalogue (also called OPAC). Summon is accessible through the “General” search box on the library website.
The Library Catalogue is accessed via the “Books & Media” search tab on the library homepage.
Primo will replace both Summon and the Library Catalogue with a streamlined search interface for finding library resources.
We are upgrading our search and discovery capabilities with a move to Primo. Primo will replace both Summon and the Library Catalogue with a streamlined search interface for finding library resources.
While Primo is significantly advanced, we acknowledge that any transition away from a familiar set of tools towards a new tool can be disruptive.
Those currently relying primarily on search through Summon will likely find that the transition to Primo is a minor change, with enhanced functionality provided within familiar ways of searching.
Those currently primarily relying on the Library Catalogue’s Books & Media search (the OPAC) for discovery may find the transition to Primo requires more adaptation. We are putting significant work into ensuring that library users are still able to find the resources they need. This work includes broad consultation, careful configuration of Primo and timely communication.
Other direct access points, like licensed indexes and databases, are not expected to be impacted.
We are timing the transition to Primo for Summer 2027 to allow for training and support for the UBC community ahead of the 2027 Fall semester.