Abate, Laura

Bueter, Ruth

Hoover, Sara

Thompson, JoLinda

English

George Washington University: Health Sciences Research Commons (HSRC)

Joining a Large Academic Consortium: Benefits and Challenges for a Health Sciences LibraryJoLinda Thompson, MLS, AHIP; Laura Abate, MSLS; Ruth Bueter, MLS; Sara Hoover, MLISHimmelfarb Health Sciences Library, The George Washington UniversityBackground:• Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library made the decision to join the Washington Research Library Consortium and migrate from its own ERM/link resolver (360 Resources) and discovery system (EDS), and an ILS shared with the law school library (Sierra) so all GW libraries would be on a shared system.• The Washington Research Library Consortium (WRLC) includes libraries of 9 academic institutions in the DC metro area.• WRLC supported a shared Voyager ILS and online catalog that was used by most member libraries, including George Washington University’s main university library.• WRLC contracted to migrate to Ex Libris Alma & Primo VE in summer 2018.Methods: • Himmelfarb migrated to Alma and Primo VE with the other WRLC libraries over the 2017/2018 academic year.• Migrating ILS, link resolver, ERM, and discovery functions all at once was challenging, especially as the Library Operations unit was not fully staffed as new workflows were being established.Results/Outcome:• Himmelfarb’s users gained Consortium Loan Services which provides 2 day courier delivery of circulating items in most consortium library collections.• Primo provides centralized search and requesting of consortium holdings as well as Himmelfarb collections.• Himmelfarb has less control over quality of metadata in shared records.• Consortium level decision making can be slow and centrally managed configuration changes can have unanticipated impacts.• Himmelfarb staff have developed new relationships with other consortium libraries and participate in decision making through consortium committees and communication forums.• Both negotiation and advocacy skills are required to meet the library’s needs as one of only two health sciences libraries in WRLC.• Storage of 2.9 million volumes & archival boxes• Support for shared Alma and Primo VE platforms• Preservation and digitization • Shared e-resource purchasing and managementMember Libraries:• American University• AU Pence Law Library• The Catholic University of America• Gallaudet University• George Mason University• The George Washington University• GW Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library• GW Jacob Burns Law Library• Georgetown University• Georgetown Law Library• Howard University• Marymount University• The University of the District of ColumbiaHimmelfarb Representation on WRLC CommitteesAlma Coordination Team: JoLinda Thompson (Systems Librarian)Metadata Committee: Sara Hoover (Metadata and Scholarly Publishing Librarian)E-Resources Committee: Laura Abate (Head of Library Operations)Resource Sharing Advisory Committee: Acquisitions and Resource Sharing LibrarianChallenges/Lessons Learned:• Complex, multi-layered structure of resource management platform (Alma) with records in three zones of origin and control; little control of record metadata for Network Zone and Community Zone records. • Network level changes have local impacts (sometimes not wanted!)• As the first consortium to transition to Primo VE, the WRLC discovered many issues requiring resolution from Ex Libris.• As one of two health sciences libraries in the network, Himmelfarb has to advocate for user needs..360 Link & 360 ResourcesPositives/Gains:• Consortium Loan Service – Students and faculty can borrow items from WRLC consortium libraries for free. Items are delivered in 2-3 days.• Consortium physical items and shared WRLC e-resources can be searched in Health Information @ Himmelfarb/Primo.• Alma provides a central platform to manage both e-resources and print.• Network of colleagues at consortium libraries and support from WRLC for troubleshooting issues.Sep 2017: Himmelfarb joins WRLC migration weekly meetingsFeb 2018: Staff training event at American UniversityMay 2018: Third test load in response to data migration failuresJuly 2018: Go Live! Primo & new web page releasedSep 2018: Consortium Loan Service beginsAug 2017: Contract signed with WRLCDec 2017: First test data environment createdApr 2018 : Second test load to sandboxJune 2018: Pre-migration configuration completedAug 2018: Associate Director & Metadata Librarian depart; Sierra & EDS support endsJan 2019: New Metadata Librarian hiredApr 2019: New workflows fully established. LibGuide-based documentation platform completed.

Joining a Large Academic Consortium: Benefits and Challenges for a Health Sciences Library

https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1104&amp;context=libfacpres

Joining a Large Academic Consortium: Benefits and Challenges for a Health Sciences Library

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George Washington University: Health Sciences Research Commons (HSRC)