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Developments at IOE’s Newsam Library

By ucylr22, on 31 October 2016

IOE DevelopmentsIt was a hectic summer for us here in the UCL IOE Library. We have been transformed, with lots of new improvements and services introduced. We started the new academic year with some real post-merger achievements – notably the use of one card rather than two to access the Library, and one computing account for students rather than two, but here are some of the other highlights:

Our newly configured Welcome Point has modernised our entrance to make a much better impact on the view of the library from the IOE’s main foyer. Note the backlit UCL branding sign on the front panel of the desk as well as the easy identification of the Library by its full name “Newsam Library and Archives”.

Removal of the Issue Desk has really opened up the entrance space and allowed us to reconfigure our self-service machines in a cluster, and we also introduced self-service reservations based upon the model used in other UCL libraries.

As well as having only one computing account to contend with, we have been able to ditch our old troublesome photocopiers and have introduced ISD’s Multi Function Devices (MFDs), which students have taken to like ducks to water.

Yet another major project over the summer was the migration from SirsiDynix Symphony to the Aleph system. This also allowed us to embed our catalogue and resources within Explore, and means that we can now search across all UCL libraries, and our new Explore Access Points replaced our ageing and sluggish Mac catalogue terminals. Last but not least, like many other UCL libraries we now have laptop loans as well.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all those involved in these projects across UCL Library Services. If you are passing, do drop in and see the changes for yourself.

by Bernard Scaife

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