Beginning this summer, the University Library at Sonoma State University will join with the other 22 California State University campuses in migrating to the unified library management system OneSearch. The new system will allow users to borrow books and media from any CSU campus, eliminate overdue fines for books and DVDs, and increase the time faculty and students can borrow books to up to one year and one semester, respectively.
"This unified library management system will offer a central catalog that will empower the CSU community to discover and access scholarly content across the system," says Library Dean Karen Schneider. "Longer lending periods and eliminating overdue fines are two of the ways the University Library is supporting the Graduation Initiative."
Faculty will be able to borrow books from the Sonoma State's Library for up to one year, students will be able to borrow books for an entire semester, and the loan period for interlibrary DVDs has been extended to 30 days. The new system also eliminates overdue fines for books and DVDs, however library laptops, materials on reserve, and other high-use items will continue to have overdue fines.
The last day Link+ requests will be accepted is May 26, and the project is expected to be fully implemented by July 10 with the launch of CSU+. Lending and borrowing of print and electronic materials at the local, CSU-wide, and global level will continue throughout the migration period.
A central feature of OneSearch is CSU+, which is an integrated, CSU-managed request system that replaces and improves upon the popular Link+ rapid-delivery service. In 2016, all 23 CSU libraries voted to participate in CSU+, making OneSearch the largest public university resource sharing system in the United States.
"OneSearch makes finding library resources easier, and through CSU+, you have access to materials from all 23 libraries," says Sonoma State University Librarian and OneSearch Migration Project Manager Laura Krier. Previously, she says, only five CSU libraries, including Sonoma State, loaned DVDs at all. Now all 23 libraries will lend and borrow DVDs within the CSU library system.
The OneSearch project is led by David Walker and Brandon Dudley of the Chancellor's Office, with participation from project teams across the CSU. OneSearch is based on Alma, a library management software system from industry leader Ex Libris.
New Features
• Borrow books, eBooks, DVDs and digital materials from any of the CSU's 23 campuses
• No fines for overdue books and DVDs
• Faculty can now borrow books locally for an entire year
• Students can borrow books locally for an entire semester
• 60-day loans for books from other CSU campuses
• 30-day loans for DVDs from other CSU campuses
• Improved University Library website search interface and function