What’s happening?
This summer the Library will migrate all of its behind-the-scenes work and data to a new integrated library system (ILS). The new system, Worldshare Management Systems (WMS), is provided by OCLC, a worldwide, member-driven library cooperative, which also provides services such as WorldCat.
The change also means the Library will no longer be a member of the PALS consortium. We will, however, be joining the broad WMS library community, whose local members include Macalester, Concordia Moorhead, the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University.
Will there be an interruption in Library services?
We do anticipate a few days of interruption around our go-live date, tentatively set for July 11. The Library will remain open and we will provide as many regular services as possible. Please note that interlibrary loan will likely been unavailable during late June-early July, however, due to the complexities of switching systems. We will strive to make the ILL downtime as short as possible. Please mark your calendars and plan accordingly.
What should we expect from the new system?
WMS offers a robust research interface and a more streamlined Interlibrary Loan process. Although we are leaving the PALS consortium, we are not leaving Minitex, which already coordinates the bulk of our ILL requests, including lending and borrowing with MnPALS libraries.
If you’d like a sneak peek of what other libraries have done with WMS, explore some of the library catalogs from the colleges listed above. Expect that WMS will provide a better integrated research experience overall both for you and for our students.
What’s the best way to keep up to date on this project?
We will keep the community updated about any issues that may arise, as well as announcements about when the new catalog goes live. Look for announcements on campus email lists and follow the Library’s social media sites for more info.