Enable Full Support for Custom Meta Tags in the <head> of Primo VE Views to Improve SEO
At present, Primo VE only allows institutions to configure the <meta name="description"> tag within the <head> of the HTML. Other essential metadata elements — such as <meta name="keywords">, <meta name="robots">, or custom meta tags for open graph and social media optimization — cannot be added or controlled through the platform’s configuration interface.
While it is technically possible to include additional meta tags through the customization package, these elements are inserted into the <body> rather than the <head>, and therefore are not recognized by web crawlers. This limitation significantly reduces the ability of libraries and academic institutions to optimize their Primo VE discovery views for search engines and improve organic visibility.
Enhancing SEO capabilities within Primo VE is particularly important for institutions that rely on open discovery to increase access to academic, research, and heritage resources. Allowing administrators to define comprehensive metadata in the <head> would make it possible for search engines to properly index and display discovery views, leading to broader discoverability and engagement.
We propose that Ex Libris extend the SEO configuration options in Primo VE to include the ability to define and manage additional meta tags within the <head> section of the HTML. Ideally, these settings would be configurable per institution or per view, much like the current main.description field. Examples of useful additions include:
<meta name="keywords" content="">
<meta name="robots" content="">
<meta property="og:title">, <meta property="og:description">, and other Open Graph tags
This enhancement would bring multiple benefits:
Improved organic ranking and visibility of library discovery portals in major search engines.
Greater institutional autonomy to implement customized SEO strategies.
Enhanced alignment with open access and digital scholarship initiatives that depend on online visibility.
Better integration with current web standards and practices for discoverability and metadata management.
Given the growing importance of digital visibility in higher education and research communication, this enhancement should be considered a high priority. It would empower libraries to position their Primo VE discovery environments as accessible, well-indexed, and SEO-optimized gateways to knowledge.
Diego Méndez
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