Library Catalog System Evolves to Meet Campus Needs

The University Libraries are migrating to a new search, discovery and delivery system. The current library catalog system has been in use, with periodic upgrades, since the Libraries first made the change from card catalogs to an online system in 1992.

This new catalog system will allow students, faculty and staff to search across all University Libraries collections — both online and print — and to access, request, share and save items in one place. In addition, users will be able to:  

• Sign in once to library services, whether to view or renew current checkouts or to access online materials while off campus 

• Easily save searches and records that are favorites to come back to them later 

• Sign up for alerts when the Libraries acquire new materials that match previous searches  

• Find more content by searching outside of the Libraries' collections with one button 

• More easily request materials for viewing in Special Collections through the Aeon system 

• Locate more open access materials that are freely available to all 

Behind the scenes, this new system will allow the Libraries to acquire, describe and make new materials available much more efficiently than with the present system, which was designed at a time when most library collections consisted largely of print books and journals. Alma/Primo also offers enhanced tools to analyze the use of library collections, which will help the Libraries manage collection funds more efficiently to match campus teaching and research needs.   

"We are so grateful to our campus partners at Information Technology Services and to the UA System Workday team for their partnerships on this migration project," said Beth Juhl, web services librarian. "The Libraries interact with systems across campus to deliver our services to students and faculty; assistance from our IT partners is essential to the success of our project."   

The new system, called Alma/Primo, will go live on July 6, 2022. Before that time, watch for opportunities to preview the new catalog and to help customize the new interface.