Alliance Terms & Abbreviations

These are some of the commonly used terms and abbreviations across Alliance programs and communities.

Terms

The links for the terms below go to documentation or support pages for the respective platforms, programs, and systems.

  • Alma: a cloud-based platform that provides libraries with a suite of tools to manage the lifecycle of their resources, from acquisition and cataloging to circulation and fulfillment. It is created and maintained by Clarivate | Ex Libris.
    • Alma Analytics: a built-in reporting and data analysis tool within Alma that allows staff to create custom reports, analyses, and dashboards using library data. Locate more information in the Become an Expert series for training from Ex Libris.
    • Alma Digital (Alma Specto): a feature within Alma that allows libraries to manage, store, and deliver digital collections, including electronic course reserves, controlled digital lending, and digital archives and content.
  • Answerland: Oregon’s cooperative virtual reference service; administered by the State Library of Oregon with partner libraries throughout the state.
  • ArchivesSpace: an open-source, cloud storage solution for managing archival collections.
  • Asana: a cloud-based project management platform designed to help teams organize, track, and manage their work.
  • AskWa: Washington’s cooperative virtual reference service; administered by the Washington State Library with partner libraries throughout the state.
  • campusM: a cloud-based student engagement platform providing mobile app and web portal access to university services and information; developed by Ex Libris.
  • Chatstaff: chat reference service for additional hours (24×7, after-hours, and/or backup options).
  • Clio: a web-based interlibrary loan management system that integrates with library systems and offers features for managing the day-to-day operations for interlibrary loans.
  • ConsortiaManager: a tool that helps library consortia organize and manage all their licensing and subscription tasks in one place.
  • CONTENTdm: a digital asset management system that allows cultural heritage institutions to build, manage, preserve, and showcase their digital collections. It provides tools for importing, organizing, and displaying digital materials through a customizable online interface; developed by OCLC. 
  • Digital Commons: a hosted institutional repository and publishing platform, developed by bepress and acquired by Elsevier.
  • DSpace: an open-source institutional repository system that allows preservation of and easy access to all types of digital content, with a focus on serving the needs of digital archives.
  • Esploro: a research information management solution that helps universities and research institutions capture, manage, and showcase their research activities and outputs; developed by Ex Libris.
  • EZProxy: a web proxy server used by libraries to authenticate external users and provide access to electronic resources.
  • GitHub: a platform that allows developers to create, store, manage, and share their code. It uses Git to provide distributed version control and GitHub itself provides access control, bug tracking, software feature requests, task management, continuous integration, and wikis.
  • Hyrax: an open-source repository solution that supports multiple workflows, including the ability to define custom workflows, allowing implementations to tailor how Hyrax meets their deposit, review, and approval needs; maintained and supported by Samvera.
  • ILLiad: resource sharing management software used by libraries to manage interlibrary loan (ILL) and electronic document delivery services; created by Atlas Systems and distributed through OCLC. Locate more information in also Support.
  • Islandora: an open source digital repository system focused on collaborative authorship, management, display, and preservation of digital content at scale.
  • Leganto: a resource list management system for creating, maintaining, and sharing interactive course resource lists; connects the integrated library system (Alma/Primo) with learning management systems. Provided by Clarivate | Ex Libris.
  • LibApps: Springshare’s platform for accessing task-specific tools
    • 24×7 Global Chat Cooperative: chat reference service for additional hours (24×7, after-hours, and/or backup options). Service for LibChat.
    • LibAnswers: a reference support platform that organizes questions into tickets and FAQs; allows staff to collaborate, assign, and manage reference transactions. Includes LibChat (see below).
    • LibChat: a live chat service that allows libraries to provide real-time virtual reference assistance to patrons; includes screensharing, file-sharing, and a customizable chat widget. Part of LibAnswers (see above).
    • LibGuides: a content management and curation platform for libraries; guides may be organized by subjects, courses, or topics. LibGuides offers the ability to create and share guides, maintain A-Z lists, and publish blogs. LibGuides CMS offers those same options, plus features to customize, manage, and organize content.
  • LibraryH3lp: a live chat service that allows libraries to provide real-time virtual reference assistance to patrons; includes screensharing, FAQs, and email integration.
  • MarcEdit: a free metadata editing suite that provides integration with a number of OCLC webservices and APIs.
  • Mukurtu (MOOK-oo-too): an open source platform built with Indigenous communities to manage and share digital cultural heritage; the project aims to empower communities to manage, share, and exchange their digital heritage in culturally relevant and ethically-minded ways.
  • Notepad++: a free source code editor and Notepad replacement that supports several programming languages.
  • Omeka: open-source web publishing platforms for sharing digital collections and creating media-rich online exhibits.
    • Omeka Classic: a free, open-source content management system for online digital collections.
    • Omeka S: creates a local network of independently curated exhibits sharing a collaboratively built pool of items and their metadata.
  • Primo: a library discovery and delivery service that allows users to search across a library’s physical and digital collections (books, e-books, journals, databases, etc.) through a single interface. It serves as a unified catalog and search tool.
    • Primo Analytics: a reporting and analytics tool built into the Primo VE library discovery service, based on Oracle Business Intelligence (OBI).
    • Primo Mixpanel: a web and mobile analytics tool used by Ex Libris for reporting Primo usage data for the NDE user interface, based on Mixpanel.
    • Primo Research Assistant: a generative AI-powered tool (using both Retrieval Augmented Generation and a Large Language Model) that enables natural language queries and distills information from selected articles’ descriptions/abstracts; the overview is limited to the top five results as ranked by the tool.
    • Primo VE NDE: the Next Discovery Experience (NDE) for the Primo VE user interface (UI); the transition process from the current UI to the NDE UI will take place in 2026 and 2027, with January 2028 as the sunset date for the current UI.
  • RapidILL: an interlibrary loan service for articles and book chapters; libraries within “pods” respond quickly to borrowing requests from other libraries within their pods. Provided by Clarivate | Ex Libris.
  • Rapido: a resource sharing platform that integrates into a library’s discovery platform; allows borrowing and lending for both nonreturnables and returnables; libraries within Rapido “pods” agree to the same terms. Provided by Clarivate | Ex Libris.
  • RefWorks: a cloud-based reference management service that allows for collection, organization, and collaboration of citations.
  • Relais (Relais D2D and Relais ILL): an interlibrary loan and resource-sharing platform.
  • Samvera: a global community of technologists who create and maintain repository software, including Avalon Media System, Hyrax, and Hyku.
  • Tipasa: a cloud-based interlibrary loan management system; developed by OCLC.
  • Trello: is a visual project management tool that enables teams to ideate, plan, manage, and collaborate together.
  • Ubiquity: provides infrastructure and services to enable universities, libraries and societies to operate Open Access presses
  • WorldCat (WorldCat.org and WorldCat Discovery): a database of information about library collections – a “collective collection;” developed by OCLC. Locate additional support information from WorldCat ontology guidelines and standards.
  • WorldShare: a set of library management applications and platform services built on an open, cloud-based platform; developed by OCLC.
  • Banner: a student information management system (SIS); provided by Ellucian.
  • Blackboard: a learning management system (LMS); provided by Anthology.
  • Canvas: a learning management system (LMS); provided by Instructure.
  • D2L Brightspace: a learning management system (LMS); provided by D2L.
  • Drupal: an open-source content management system (CMS).
  • Hugo: an open-source static website generator.
  • Moodle: an open-source learning management system (LMS).
  • OmniUpdate / Modern Campus CMS: a content management system (CMS); provided by Modern Campus.
  • PeopleSoft: a student information system (SIS); provided by Oracle. 
  • Plone: an open-source content management system (CMS).
  • Sakai: an open-source learning management system (LMS).
  • SiteCore: a content management system (CMS); provided by SiteCore.
  • Squiz: a content management system (CMS); provided by Squiz. 
  • WordPress: a content management system (CMS).

Library Vendors

  • Atlas Systems: develops and supports software solutions for libraries and archives.
  • Clarivate: an analytics company with three business units: Academia & Government, Life Sciences & Healthcare, and Intellectual Property.
  • EBSCO: provides research databases, e-journal and e-package subscription management, book collection development and acquisition management, and library technology, e-books and clinical decision solutions.
  • Ex Libris: develops integrated library systems, resource sharing solutions, digital collection platforms, and other library software; part of Clarivate.
  • OCLC: a library organization that provides shared technology services, original research, and community programs for its membership and the library community at large.
  • ProQuest: provides research databases, book collection development and acquisition management, and library technology and e-books solutions; part of Clarivate.
  • Springshare: develops software solutions for libraries, educational institutions, and non-profits; includes content management, booking and wayfinding, communication, and data analytics.

Abbreviations

Member Institutions

  • COCC – Central Oregon Community College
  • CWU – Central Washington University
  • Chemeketa or ChemCC – Chemeketa Community College
  • Clackamas or ClackCC – Clackamas Community College
  • Clark – Clark College
  • EOU – Eastern Oregon University
  • EWU – Eastern Washington University
  • GFU – George Fox University
  • Gonzaga or Gonz – Gonzaga University
  • LaneCC – Lane Community College
  • L&C – Lewis & Clark College
  • Linfield – Linfield University
  • MHCC – Mt. Hood Community College
  • OHSU – Oregon Health & Science University
  • OIT – Oregon Institute of Technology
  • OSU – Oregon State University
  • Pacific – Pacific University
  • PCC – Portland Community College
  • PSU – Portland State University
  • Reed – Reed College
  • SMU or STMU – Saint Martin’s University
  • SPU – Seattle Pacific University
  • SeattleU or SU – Seattle University
  • SOU – Southern Oregon University
  • TESC – The Evergreen State College
  • UI – University of Idaho
  • UO – University of Oregon
  • UP – University of Portland
  • Puget Sound or UPugS – University of Puget Sound
  • UW – University of Washington
  • Walla – Walla Walla University
  • WPU – Warner Pacific University
  • WSU – Washington State University
  • WOU – Western Oregon University
  • WWU – Western Washington University
  • Whitman – Whitman College
  • Whitworth – Whitworth University
  • Willamette or WU – Willamette University

Alliance Communities

  • Alliance – Orbis Cascade Alliance (please don’t use “OCA”)
  • DUX – Diversity & User Experience
    • ASG – Accessibility Standing Group
    • DCESG – DUX Community Engagement Standing Group
    • DEISG – Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Standing Group
    • UXSG – User Experience Standing Group
  • OSDC – Open Strategies & Digital Content
    • A&M – Archives & Manuscripts service
    • CFR or CFRPNW – Copyright First Responders Pacific Northwest
    • DPTAPG – Digital Preservation Training Assessment Project Group
  • RSF – Resource Sharing & Fulfillment
    • CEG – Community Engagement Group
    • DigPig – Digital Resource Sharing Project Group
    • FSG – Fulfillment Standing Group
    • SSG – Sharing Standing Group
  • SCTS – Shared Content & Technical Services
    • CAT-Force – Collection Analysis Task Force
    • CSG – Cataloging Standing Group
    • ESG – Ebook Standing Group
    • LAWG – Licensing Action Working Group
    • NRSG – Normalization Rules Standing Group
  • SYS – Systems
    • CASG – Central Analytics Standing Group
    • GAIT – Generative AI Training Project Group
    • PRTSG – Primo Release Testing Standing Group

Abbreviations by Alliance Program Area

  • General
    • KPI – Key Performance Indicator
    • OOTB (also OTB) – Out of the Box
  • Diversity & User Experience (DUX)
    • A11y – Accessibility
    • ACR – Accessibility Conformance Report
    • CDI – Central Discovery Index
    • CERV – Community Enhancement Requests and Voting (formerly known as NERS, New Enhancements Request System)
    • CMS – Content Management System
    • DEI – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    • HECVAT – Higher Education Community Vendor Assessment Toolkit
    • ILS – Integrated Library System
    • LMS – Learning Management System
    • NDE – Primo NDE (Next Discovery Experience)
    • SILS – Shared Integrated Library System
    • UX – User Experience
    • VE – Primo VE
    • VPAT – Voluntary Product Accessibility Template
  • Open Strategies & Digital Content (OSDC)
    • ARK – Archival Resource Key
    • AS – ArchivesSpace
    • AW – Archives West
    • EAD – Encoded Archival Description
  • Resource Sharing & Fulfillment (RSF)
    • AAR – Annual Account Reconciliation
    • CDI – Central Discovery Index
    • CDL – Controlled Digital Lending
    • CERV – Community Enhancement Requests and Voting (formerly known as NERS, New Enhancements Request System)
    • FURs – Fulfillment Unit Rules
    • GTI – Global Title Index
    • ILL – Interlibrary Loan
    • ILS – Integrated Library System
    • NCIP – NISO Circulation Interchange Protocol
    • NDE – Primo NDE (Next Discovery Experience)
    • SILS – Shared Integrated Library System
    • TOU – Terms of Use
    • VE – Primo VE
  • Shared Content & Technical Services (SCTS)
    • Bibs – Bibliographic records
    • CDI – Central Discovery Index
    • CERV – Community Enhancement Requests and Voting (formerly known as NERS, New Enhancements Request System)
    • CM – ConsortiaManager
    • FRBR – Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records
    • GES – General Electronic Services
    • GTI – Global Title Index
    • HECVAT – Higher Education Community Vendor Assessment Toolkit
    • ILS – Integrated Library System
    • MARC – Machine-Readable Cataloging
    • NARs – Name Authority Records
    • NDE – Primo NDE (Next Discovery Experience)
    • PCC – Program for Cooperative Cataloging
    • SARs – Series Authority Records
    • SILS – Shared Integrated Library System
    • TOU – Terms of Use
    • VE – Primo VE
    • VPAT – Voluntary Product Accessibility Template
  • Systems (SYS)
    • 2FA – Two-factor Authentication
      • MFA – Multi-factor authentication
    • API – Application Programming Interface
      • REST – Representational State Transfer
      • SRU – Search/Retrieval via URL
    • AWS – Amazon Web Services
    • CDI – Central Discovery Index
    • CERV – Community Enhancement Requests and Voting (formerly known as NERS, New Enhancements Request System)
    • CMS – Content Management System
    • DevEnv – Ex Libris Primo Development Environment
    • GES – General Electronic Services
    • GTI – Global Title Index
    • ILS – Integrated Library System
    • LMS – Learning Management System
    • NCIP – NISO Circulation Interchange Protocol
    • NDE – Primo NDE (Next Discovery Experience)
    • NISO – National Information Standards Organization
    • OTP – One-time Password
    • RFID – Radio Frequency Identification
    • SIS – Student Information System
    • SILS – Shared Integrated Library System
    • SSO – Single Sign-On
    • TOU – Terms of Use
    • VE – Primo VE
    • VPN – Virtual Private Network

Organizations Outside the Alliance

  • AALL – American Association of Law Libraries
  • ACRL – Association of College and Research Libraries
  • ALA – American Library Association
  • ARL – Association of Research Libraries
  • CCoP – ELUNA Consortial Community of Practice
  • DPLA – Digital Public Library of America
  • ELUNA – Ex Libris Users Group North America
  • ExL – Ex Libris
  • ICOLC – International Coalition of Library Consortia
  • IGeLU – International Group of Ex Libris Users
  • ILA – Idaho Library Association
  • ILAGO – Information Literacy Advisory Group of Oregon
  • NWACC – NorthWest Academic Computing Consortium
  • NWALDS – Northwest Academic Library Directors Symposium
  • NWHeat – Northwest Higher Education Accessibility Technology Group
  • OCLC – Online Computer Library Center
  • OLA – Oregon Library Association
  • OSDLG – Oregon Statewide Database Licensing Group
  • OWEAC – Oregon Writing & English Advisory Committee
  • WACTCLC – Washington Community and Technical College Library Consortium
  • WLA – Washington Library Association