On Dec. 21, visitors to the University of Nebraska’s library websites will notice big changes.

When users search for books, databases and other research resources through the libraries, they will interact with a next-generation library catalog and discovery tool.

It’s the result of an 18-month effort by the University of Nebraska Consortium of Libraries to upgrade to a new library services platform that touches nearly every aspect of academic library operations.

Claire Stewart, dean of libraries at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, and Richard Leiter, director of the Marvin and Virginia Schmid Law Library, said the success of the program is a testament to the libraries’ commitment to collaboration.

The most visible outcome will be a new interface for identifying and locating research materials. New features include relevancy-ranked results and updated information on how to access items. A major new resource is “Primo Central,” an index that provides easy access to over a billion citations to scholarly materials obtained from various publishers and open-access repositories. With this new discovery tool, users will also be able to easily:

• Save records, searches and search histories

• Add records and searches to a “favorites” cache

• Save records to various citation managers

• Create permanent links to records

• Access materials with a single sign-on

• Request materials via Delivery/Interlibrary loan

• Virtually browse books

“I am really excited about the increased access to articles, open-access materials and other digital resources that are available in our local library collections and scholarly community resources,” said Charlene Maxey-Harris, interim associate dean and institutional lead for the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries. “I know our students, faculty and staff will enjoy customizing their search results with the new tools in Primo VE.”

Students studying in the Adele Hall Learning Commons at Love Library.

The benefits of moving to the next-generation platform will also be enjoyed by librarians and library staff. The system unifies library services and allows libraries to share resources and expertise across all universities in the NU system.

“Ex Libris’ Alma/Primo library services platform will support University of Nebraska Consortium of Libraries in such a way as to allow us to provide better services to the respective (universities) and improve academic and research outcomes,” said Shelley Witte, a project manager with NU’s Information Technology Services.

University of Nebraska Consortium of Libraries has never before collaboratively undertaken a project of this scope and size. More than 85 staff members from across the NU system have participated in the project, including staff from the libraries and Information Technology services.

For more information about the migration to the new Ex Libris system, email Maxey-Harris.