Getting Familiar with our New Online Catalog- Primo

The Roosevelt University Library will transition to Primo Library Catalog, a new online catalog system hosted by ExLibris on June 24th.

The new Primo Library Catalog will combine the best features of what our Library patrons have become accustomed to in the current catalog and I-Share system, and in addition, the new catalog system will provide these features through a single-search Cloud-based interface. 

The new Primo Library Catalog will offer the discovery of a wide variety of the Library’s collection of scholarly resources including books, e-journals, e-books, movies, and other digital and print content. In addition, the new system supports Single Sign-on, so RU patrons will be able to use their NetID and password to access their account and request materials instead of a separate password. 

Primo VE went live in September 2020. It is constantly being updated and upgraded.

The new Primo Library Catalog will allow better access and management of the Library’s print, electronic, and digital collections as well as an improved usage and discovery of shared items across all CARLI institutions. 

Other enhanced features will include:

• Quick searching based on Title, Subject, Author, etc.
• A better integration of the Library’s electronic and digital collections
• Advanced searching with Boolean operators and limits for more precise results
• A single, unified catalog to search for items in the university’s Library Catalog or across all of the I-Share Libraries' collections
• A Virtual Browse feature for print books to see what’s related to the book by subject area
• Single Sign-on, so RU patrons can use their NetID and password (instead of a separate login) to log in to 'My Account', request books from any I-Share Library, review what’s checked out, and save favorites

The Library’s current online system was installed over 18 years ago and has become outdated.

This new system better integrates electronic resources and cloud-based technology to allow new items in the collection to be more quickly updated in the catalog for RU patrons to search and request.

The Library’s transition to the new system is in concert with all the other 90 I-Share libraries in the Consortium of Academic Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI) in order to promote cohesive inter-library sharing and discovery systems. Throughout the previous fall, spring, and into the current summer semesters, your Library has prepared patron data and library resources to be seamlessly migrated into the new Primo VE system.