This guide was made possible by the work from other schools who put together fantastic guides. Here are some that we borrowed heavily from:
A new library catalog and changes to several online library services are coming to Thomas Library users in spring 2025. Learn more about this project and how it might affect you in this guide.
| Date | What will happen |
|---|---|
| May 9 | Suggested deadline for OhioLINK and SearchOhio requesting to allow your requests to be processed and sent by lending libraries and to allow a small window for backup requests to be placed before the requesting freeze on May 23. |
| May 23 | OhioLINK and SearchOhio requesting freezes at 5pm on Friday, May 23, 2025. The request button will be removed, and no new requests or renewals can be placed after this time. Checked-out items do not need to be returned early; due dates will be adjusted accordingly. |
| May 27 | Wittenberg items can still be checked out locally to Wittenberg affiliated patrons |
| June 11 | Our new library services platform turns on; the interface will change and we will be adjusting things on the back end. |
| July 2025 | OhioLINK requesting resumes. |
| Later Fall 2025 | We anticipate SearchOhio lending will resume October 27th. Other features and enhancements to the core of the new system will be added, such as Alma Digital and Leganto products. |
OhioLINK received funding from the state of Ohio to migrate all member libraries to a new library services platform. ExLibris Alma/Primo VE was selected as the new platform. The process to migrate began early in 2024 and will continue through the system's go-live in June 2025.
Short answer: Because we are part of OhioLINK, and all OhioLINK libraries are migrating to this new system. Longer answer: Libraries have changed a lot since our existing library catalog software was created years ago. We now manage collections of print and electronic content to support teaching, learning, and research, and we need a more robust platform to do this work.
The new system will provide features and benefits for library users:
It also has a lot of enhancements available on the back-end for library staff, allowing us to provide better patron service to you!
Alma/Primo will replace the current catalog that searches all the physical holdings (books and other printed materials) and electronic resources (e-books, e-journals, and databases) accessible to our library. The interface will look different, but the actual collections included in the search will not change or be disrupted by the migration. Users will have new ways to search across electronic and print collections.
We will go live with the new system June 11th. We are in the first phase of the migration, so other OhioLINK libraries will be migrating along with us and shortly after us. We anticipate most of the disruption will be from 5/23/25 through 7/1/25, impacting Summer term the most.
We will continue to tweak and make enhancements well past our "go-live" date on June 11, as some of the additional features will become available after everyone in Ohio has migrated.
No, you will not have to return items early. You will be able to keep any items that you have checked out, though you are welcome to return any items that you no longer need at any time. Only new requests and renewals are pausing during the transition period, as noted on the Important dates list.
Borrowing and renewals from SearchOhio libraries will take longer to restart because that system is more complex.
OhioLINK requesting will look a little different between May 23 and June 18. The button will be unavailable, but the interlibrary loan request form will still be an option.
Borrowing from SearchOhio libraries will resume in late October. The library will accommodate your needs with other ways to obtain materials during these gaps.
Omni, the search tool used by University of Waterloo and Conrad Grebel University College, is built on the same PrimoVE platform as our new tool. While Wittenberg's branding and connection to OhioLINK will look a little different, many of Omni's features will be a match or similar to our our new system will function.
Members of the library staff are attending weekly meetings for many aspects of this project. Library staff from all OhioLINK libraries are participating - this project affects the entire state. We are completing configuration documents and performing tests of the trial version of our new library services platform to make sure that it working properly. When we discover problems, we report them to project coordinators to seek a solution. We're looking forward to being able to show you the new systems when they're ready. Let us know if you have questions!