| PAILS Launches New Integrated Library System |
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On February 25th, four PASCAL member libraries, Benedict College, Columbia International University, Southern Wesleyan University and Voorhees College, began circulating their collections using Millennium, their new-shared Integrated Library System (ILS). These libraries along with Coker College, North Greenville University, and Erskine College comprise a group known as PAILS (Palmetto Academic Independent Library System). The shared ILS system, managed through a partnership between PAILS and PASCAL, leverages PASCAL’s centralized resources, the distributed talents of PAILS’ staff, and a consortium’s thrifty buying power to provide users with a state-of-the-art library experience. In addition to the enhancing each library’s cataloging, serials and acquisitions processes, utilizing the Millennium platform provides patrons with a new OPAC and will facilitate the libraries’ participation in the PASCAL Delivers statewide borrowing system. Users from the PAILS libraries will gain access to 9 Million items from the other PASCAL member libraries. In return, the seven PAILS libraries will contribute 500,000 titles to the Union Catalog. While still in the early stages of implementation, each school is now using Millennium for cataloging and circulation. Coker College and North Greenville University are set to begin their migration on March 3. Erskine College will complete the group’s implementation with a circulation and OPAC launch in May. Of particular note is the inclusion of Columbia International University. While CIU’s Fleece Library had provided an OPAC for its patrons in the past, the library is now using an automated circulation system for the first time. The implementation team, comprised of librarians from each school, and PASCAL Millennium systems experts Tim Parker and Victor Jenkinson have done a great job!
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