Library alliance gives access to millions of titles

On June 18, 2013, Western Libraries began the process of replacing its previous catalog and database interfaces with a new integrated discovery layer known as “OneSearch.” OneSearch is designed to return search results from the catalog, databases, journals and other collections, regardless of material format.

Western Washington University, along with the University of Washington and several other institutions, was in the first group of Orbis Cascade Alliance members to launch the new system. Additional member institutions will also make the transition during the next 16 months.

Western Libraries are proud to be on the cutting edge of this transition, recognizing the tremendous opportunity they have to impact the development of what will become a very powerful search tool. And, because of Western’s partnership with the Alliance, the campus community will have access to exponentially more materials and research options once the migration is complete. This shared library system will give users access to 8.8 million titles and more than 26 million resources that are held by the Orbis Cascade Alliance members.

“In the 21st century, very few academic libraries can afford to acquire all of the scholarly materials being produced,” said Mark I. Greenberg, Western's dean of Libraries. “By partnering with the 37-member Orbis Cascade Alliance's new integrated library catalog, Western Libraries will be able to provide access to a much wider variety of scholarly materials, thereby increasing the research potential for our faculty and students.”

This migration involves significant changes and will include some bumps along the way, but Western Libraries are excited about the improved experience it will bring to their users once the new system is fully tested and implemented. They encourage the campus community to provide feedback about OneSearch, and they also want to remind everyone that they are available to help people get to know the new system.

If you have any questions about OneSearch, there are a number of helpful resources available online. You also have the option to “chat” online with a librarian from the comfort of your own home or office, or of scheduling a personalized instruction session at the Research and Instruction Services Desk. Likewise, dates for drop-in training sessions are coming soon. For more information, go to the Research and Instruction Services webpage, or call 360-650–2836.