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Bringing Our Library Services Platform Into the Future

As a member of the OhioLINK consortium, Ohio Wesleyan University Libraries will be upgrading its library services platform during the months of June and July 2025. The new enterprise software will be used to manage day-to-date operations (searching, borrowing, lending, statistics, etc.) as well as help users find and access the information they need for teaching, learning, and research. It includes our library catalogs (CONSORT, OhioLINK and SearchOhio), our discovery service (Summon or "All" search), and more. 

Overview of Service Impacts from March 1 - June 27, 2025

OhioLINK and staff from all member libraries, including OWU, have been hard at work behind the scenes for the last year and a half to prepare for this major transition. This spring and early summer, our systems will experience some necessary technical freezes to complete the final transition. These have been timed in such a way to cause minimal disruption to end users and library services. OWU staff are actively working with OhioLINK and member colleagues on workarounds to make this migration as seamless as possible. For your cognizance, we want to bring attention to the following system freeze dates and their impact on services for Spring and Summer semesters.

 

May 23 - June 26, 2025: OhioLINK Borrowing Pause

OhioLINK borrowing and lending will pause beginning at 5pm on May 23, 2025 until the end of June. SearchOhio requests (from public libraries) will pause at the same time but resume a bit later in the year than OhioLINK.  

 

Impact to users and workarounds

  • The "Search OhioLINK" button in CONSORT and "Request" buttons in OhioLINK will disappear during this time. We are removing links to the OhioLINK catalog on our home page as well. 
  • Patrons can instead use our ILL service to request materials. Given this service tends to take longer than OhioLINK requesting, we encourage users to place as many requests for summer as possible before May 23rd. CONSORT borrowing will remain an option as well from May 23rd until June 10th.
  • Renewal of OhioLINK items will not be possible during this time period. You will need to return your items and request after the new system is live or via our ILL service.

 

June 10 - 25, 2025: CONSORT Borrowing Pause

CONSORT lending will pause June 10th, and the green request buttons will be removed from the CONSORT catalog at that time.

You can still checkout items from OWU, but it will require manual checkout and return by library staff. 

Impact to users and workarounds

  • Users are encouraged to rely on local OWU physical items, electronic resources, and request via our ILL service from June 10th through June 26th.
  • Renewals of CONSORT items will not be possible after June 10th and should be returned and re-requested after June 26th or requested via the ILL service
  • There will be a pause in receiving notifications of checkouts/returns on your patron account.
  • Library users may contact libraries@owu.edu at any time to inquire about the status of their account or materials. 

 

June 25, 2025: OWUSearch Goes Live

This will be the first day for full use of the new library services platform for public users. 

Impact to users and workarounds

  • Both the CONSORT local catalog and Summon discovery interface will be replaced by OWUSearch, a single search interface for all OWU and OhioLINK collections.
  • Library staff will be working on making changes to LibGuides and the library website during implementation and go live to reflect all necessary changes. This will be a our first priority to get links updated as quickly as possible for use moving forward, especially for summer school courses. 
  • After that staff will focus on creating instructions and directions for navigating the new systems. They will be available to provide guidance on general use as well as help faculty with link updates for Blackboard, syllabi, etc. 

 

June 27, 2025: OhioLINK Services Resume

On this date, OWU patrons will again be able to request resources from other OhioLINK schools in the new OWUSearch platform. 

Please note that there will be no separate CONSORT or Five Colleges of Ohio-level borrowing with the new system. The new setup will ensure that we find your items at the closest location available so you can receive your requests as quickly as possible. 

 

Other Migration FAQs

Why are we making this change?

The new LSP will offer stability and security, reducing the chances of security threats and loss of service or improvement that comes with aging software. It not only updates our system but will provide many additional features for users as we well as efficiencies to library operations and workflows. Some notable improvements include:

  • Better management of digital library resources, which makes up a growing portion or our library resources.
  • Integration with Blackboard to more easily integrate library or open education resources into courses. (This part of the transition will go live in early 2026, after the main migration of summer 2025).
  • Allowance for closer collaboration between OhioLINK member libraries.
  • Transition to a cloud-based product which allows for better remote work and help options. In addition, it will allow for more regular and automatic updates reducing the burden on campus system experts and systems.
  • A more intuitive user experience, including an app for mobile devices.
  • Expanded search capabilities, personalization and tracking of requests.
     

Will we still have access to the same resources as before?

Yes. OWUSearch will replace the current catalog that searches all the physical holdings (books and other printed materials) and electronic resources (e-books, e-journals, databases) accessible to our library and campus. 

The interface will look different, but the actual collections will not change. Users will have new ways to search these collections and the library will provide training for doing so closer to the "Go-Live" date.

It is important to note, however, that CONSORT will be going away. Instead, users will be able to scope searches to OWU and other OhioLINK locations. The CONSORT libraries (Denison, Kenyon, Wooser and OWU) will still continue working closely with each other. 
 

How much is this change costing OWU?

Amazingly, nothing. OhioLINK procured capital funding to upgrade all member systems together, with no additional cost to members. There are also several new tools as part of this package that might end up saving us money over time. 

 

When can I see the new system?

Library staff are working with their colleagues to discuss help documentation, training and more. Updates will be provided as they become available.