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UF Libraries’ Catalog System Change Date Postponed
| April 23, 2003 -- The change in the UF Libraries Catalog (and the underlying library management system) scheduled for May 12, 2003, has been POSTPONED until May 3, 2004. Although progress continues to be made toward implementation by UF Libraries' staff, FCLA (the Florida Center for Library Automation), and Ex Libris, many problems have been encountered that have prevented moving forward at a pace that would allow for a successful switch during summer, 2003. Before we switch from our stable NOTIS/WebLUIS system we want to be sure that steps to insure adequate system performance have been taken. |
The UF Libraries’ Catalog will be delivered through a new computer system that will replace the familiar WebLUIS and “Classic” LUIS system. Following a detailed market review of available library management systems by library staff throughout the State University Libraries, negotiations with Ex Libris (USA) Inc. were completed in early 2002 to purchase their ALEPH 500 system. This will replace the computer system that has been used at UF for nearly 20 years (NOTIS/LUIS). Over a period of the next three years, all of the State University Libraries of Florida will be converted to the new system; UF will be the first to implement it, and two others (University of North Florida, and University of West Florida) will follow shortly thereafter. NOTE: The WebLUIS Search System databases will continue to be available through the WebLUIS Search System platform during this transition (and will continue to be available on some undetermined platform after the library catalogs have been migrated). The other state university library catalogs remain available on WebLUIS until they migrate to the new system.
Some of the features anticipated in the new Library Management System (LMS) are the ability to sort catalog search results in different ways, and to send overdue, item needed, item available, etc. notices to library patrons by email. Library staff processes (e.g. ordering materials, gathering needed statistics, etc.) will also be improved.
The Ex Libris system has been installed at Harvard University, the University of Minnesota, the University of Tennessee, the University of Delaware, and the University of Maryland. MIT, the University of Iowa, Notre Dame University, Boston College, and the entire SUNY (State University of New York) system are also customers.
Converting to a new system is a complex process, and library staff will be busily carrying out the intricate details of data migration and new system configuration; re-training staff to perform their work will be a major activity in the months leading up to implementation.
Updates on progress will
be provided throughout the implementation process on the UF Libraries’
Home Page.