Bringing together attendees from across our customer base, the day centered on a shared goal – finding better ways to work, demonstrate value, and stay ahead of growing demands. Despite disruption caused by a strike on London’s Tube network, a virtual attendance option ensured everyone could still take part.
From the outset, the atmosphere was relaxed and collaborative, creating the ideal setting for practical learning, open discussion, and real-world problem solving.
A key theme throughout the day was making better use of existing tools. The session on recent features and 2025 updates showed how small workflow changes and smarter configuration can deliver meaningful time savings and reduce manual effort.
Planning Ahead with the Product Roadmap
The roadmap session gave attendees a clear view of what’s next – and how to prepare.
Highlights included:
- Expanded reporting capabilities, including deeper OPAC usage insights
- Improvements to user experience and interface flexibility
- New AI-focused developments planned for 2026
- Workflow enhancements such as scheduled reporting and recurring requests
These updates sparked valuable discussion around reducing repetitive tasks, strengthening reporting to stakeholders, and scaling services without increasing workload pressure.
Attendees explored challenges within their own organizations and learned how others are approaching similar issues – gaining practical insights they can apply immediately.
Our Masterclasses
The masterclass sessions led by Robert for Liberty Digital, and Jacob for illumin, brought this to life with hands-on demonstrations across both products.
Robert focused on the visual and functional flexibility of Liberty Digital’s OPAC, demonstrating how libraries can tailor the system to better suit their workflows and community needs.
While Jacob focused on automating request workflows in illumin and using analytics to highlight team contributions.
The Value of Community
Our expert support team combines library experience with IT know-how to deliver help that actually helps.
- Ask the right questions to get to the best solution
- Provide clear, step-by-step instructions
- Share videos, guides, and training materials
- Work closely with developers to bring you new features
Beyond the sessions, the conversations stood out. Attendees shared ideas on AI, digital resource management, and resourcing challenges, while also raising practical enhancement requests.
Discussions included improving subscription visibility, enabling bulk updates, and reducing manual handling of electronic resources – clear priorities for teams looking to save time and reduce friction.
As with previous UGMs, these peer conversations delivered just as much value as the formal agenda. The welcoming environment made it easy for attendees to connect, exchange ideas, and learn from one another.
Looking Ahead
Our 2026 London session reinforced the importance of staying connected, sharing knowledge, and continuously improving how library and research teams operate. A sincere thank you to everyone who attended and contributed, and our hosts for the day.
With strong engagement, practical insights, and valuable discussion throughout, the London UGM once again highlighted the impact of bringing the community together.
For the latest updates on events, visit the Softlink IC website or explore our Events page. Explore how Liberty Digital and illumin can help you improve efficiency, demonstrate value, and stay ahead of growing demands – get in touch or join our next event.