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The EVMS Brickell Medical Sciences Library on July 1, 2022, adopted a new integrated digital catalog and discovery service to help streamline and improve research and information sharing among users.

OCLC’s WorldCat replaced the 23-year-old SirsiDynix catalog of print resources, the A-Z list of electronic books and journals, the discovery service that searched across all EVMS library resources and the utility (link resolver) that linked findings in PubMed LinkOut and the library’s other databases to EVMS full-text journal content.

“WorldCat has a very intuitive interface that will allow users to search for all books and journals at EVMS regardless of format,” says Richard Wambold, MLIS, Systems Librarian. “Users will also have the option to search at the book chapter and journal article level. The default search looks for EVMS-owned or subscribed resources, but users can choose to search worldwide through the entire WorldCat catalog — the world’s largest library catalog.”

Additionally, EVMS users can log in to WorldCat with their EVMS network credentials to review their accounts, renew items, place inter-library loan requests (while searching worldwide) and more.

Mr. Wambold coordinated this project starting with a search for viable systems and continuing through the months-long migration from the old systems to the new integrated system.

“Other systems vetted included SirsiDynix’s BlueCloud, Innovative and ExLibris,” Mr. Wambold says. “The Sirsi product was eliminated early in the process, since it did not include a link resolver that would link our full-text holdings to PubMed and other core databases. This was a key criterion for the new system.”

According to Mr. Wambold, OCLC ultimately won out for many reasons. It is a nonprofit with more than 50 years’ service to libraries worldwide, its system integrates all of EVMS Library’s services and it is very intuitive for both library staff working behind the scenes and for our end-users.

“As an added bonus the OCLC system was more reasonably priced than the other systems reviewed and the library was already using two OCLC products: Worldshare ILL, which works with our ILLiad interlibrary-loan service, and EZProxy, which allows EVMS students, staff, and faculty to access library and other licensed resources from off-campus,” Mr. Wambold says.

Another important advantage of this system over others is that users at other institutions will be able to see EVMS holdings when they use search engines and websites that have partnered with WorldCat, so unique items such as EVMS student dissertations and theses will be discoverable across the globe.

“EVMS Library staff members are very excited about this new, modern, fully integrated system that will meet the changing needs of EVMS by connecting users with local and global resources through OCLC’s extensive network of libraries — more than 50,000 to date,” Mr. Wambold adds. “It will be much more efficient for users and it provides many behind-the scenes options that will allow the Library staff to be strategic about providing the resources needed at EVMS to meet the educational, research and clinical information needs of its users.”

For more information, please email the Brickell Medical Sciences Library or call 757. 446.5850