University Libraries announces upgrades to service platform

Ohio University Libraries is excited to announce the change of its Integrated Library System (ILS) to Ex Libris Alma. The switch comes with the progression to move University Libraries toward a more user-focused approach and the connected system of OhioLINK’s network and membership of academic libraries.

Hanna Schmillen, assistant dean for research and education services and subject librarian for health sciences, spoke about the delight of this newly welcomed change and what it means for University Libraries, as the current system is over 20 years old.

She explained that there will be a new “discovery layer” that will replace Articles Plus and ALICE, and the Libraries will now be joining the new shared platform catalog with the other Ohio academic libraries in the system to make it more seamless to make requests. With this new flow and useability, the various libraries will work together and have a shared comradery of guidelines and connectedness.

Seth Sisler, head of acquisitions and collections services, wrote that the new system, Ex Libris “Alma,” will allow the Libraries to better manage materials and make them discoverable.

“In terms of design and capability, Alma is much more modern, versatile and customizable than our current system,” Sisler wrote. “It was designed to manage a modern library collection with a wide variety of electronic and physical resources, whereas our current system was designed around the print-centric collections of past decades.”

Items to note related to the transition

It’s important to note that while this transition occurs, University Libraries will be unable to add new materials to the Libraries’ catalog and fulfill requests for new materials in the month of April, and there will be limitations in what can be added through May and June. It’s recommended to staff, faculty and students to have their purchase requests in by March 17, 2025 if they may need any materials for the summer semester.

However, electronic subscriptions such as online articles, eBooks, videos and databases will be available throughout the process. Any requests for holds or a need for materials through Interlibrary Loan and OhioLINK will also work and be fulfilled up until May 23 through June 25. Users may still request new items during the projected period but there will be a delay.

During this changeover, all Articles Plus and ALICE website permalink URLS will also be switching. Because of this, any permalinks that may be in a faculty’s Canvas, Blackboard, syllabus, etc. will look different after the transition to Alma. All website links will “break” and be unusable after June 25, 2025, so it’s important to note and be prepared to get the new permalinks after the change in library system has occurred.

University Libraries is here to help during this time of transition.

University Libraries will be offering a “permalink seeking service” that will allow faculty to put in requests on a first-come first-serve basis to receive help in replacing all the existing website links that will no longer be available after the switch to Alma on June 25. This will help take some of the stress and burden off those who may have many permalinks that need changed over. More details about the of the permalink seeking service will be available in late March.

Sisler mentioned that the shift in systems as well as the hold on material requests will be challenging to the work done at the Libraries, but there will always be support.

“We’re still here to help and serve the OHIO community,” Sisler wrote.

For more information, contact Sisler or Schmillen.