2025 EBSCO User Group

In many libraries, inherited data can often be disorganized, outdated, and difficult to access, creating major challenges in day-to-day operations. As UTM's new ERM Librarian, Ronne Jones Cox inherited a FOLIO inventory that included many duplicates of e-package titles and eBook Collections. She worked with EBSCO Library Services Engineer Christine McClure to clean up this chaotic data and transform it into a more efficient collection for staff and patrons alike.

This session will delve into the collaboration between a new library school graduate and a vendor rep to tackle these challenges head-on. We will explore how we partnered to clean up chaotic data, transforming it into an easily accessible, efficient system for staff and patrons alike.

The session will also highlight the use of technology and best practices in organizing vast amounts of data, making it easier to retrieve, update, and maintain it by using key strategies implemented, including data standardization, inventory auditing, and system integration, as well as the importance of clear communication and mutual goals between vendors and libraries.

This presentation will offer practical insights for libraries facing similar issues, with actionable takeaways on how to effectively manage inherited data and turn it into a well-organized, findable resource.

In August 2024, Emporia State University successfully migrated from Sierra/EZproxy to FOLIO/OpenAthens while simultaneously upgrading to the new Discovery Search platform. Join us to learn about the preparation and migration process, along with valuable insights and best practices for ensuring a smooth and successful transition to FOLIO and OpenAthens.

Widener University libraries consists of 3 libraries, each on a separate campus – the main campus is in Southeastern Pennsylvania, with two Law School campuses, one in Delaware 20 minutes from the main campus and the other in Pennsylvania, about 2 hours away.
We migrated to FOLIO from III’s Sierra ILS, after many years with the same library system. We expected that there would be a rather sharp learning curve with many changes to our workflows as we moved to FOLIO.
As part of the standard FOLIO migration we met weekly with our wonderful IPM team, meeting often amongst ourselves, via Teams and Zoom. Many of the librarians and staff have never met one another in person, but after many months of regular meetings as well as training sessions, we grew comfortable working together.
At some points in the migration there were unexpected hiccups, times when the migration team didn’t stop to hit us over the head and tell us we needed to see our data differently. I would like to focus on some of these hiccups, to hopefully help the next wave of new FOLIO libraries save time and effort.

Discover how MOBIUS has revolutionized patron account management in FOLIO with an innovative automated process.
In this session, we’ll explore how MOBIUS transitioned from Sierra’s scheduler software to FOLIO while maintaining compatibility with existing file formats. Instead of requiring libraries to overhaul their workflows, we developed a seamless solution that converts text files of patron data into JSON format, enabling integration with FOLIO’s mod-user-import API.
Key Highlights:
• Automated Integration: Our solution leverages the mod-user-import module to create and update user records daily. The script runs automatically at 1:00 AM, importing patron data for 50 libraries, with scalability for additional libraries as requested.
• Comprehensive Web Interface: Empower help desk staff with tools to:
o Monitor metrics and review import history.
o Identify failed records and manage patron groups.
o Configure email notifications for import outcomes.
• Technical Implementation Insights: Learn about the use of the POST /user-import endpoint to streamline user data imports.
• Detailed Metrics: See how MOBIUS provides robust metrics on user import outcomes, ensuring transparency and efficiency.
Why Attend?
This session demonstrates how automation can enhance efficiency while maintaining flexibility for participating libraries. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of how MOBIUS ensures FOLIO’s patron management processes remain robust, transparent, and user-friendly.

How does a consortium of 60+ libraries based on a shared ILS platform and a resource sharing system handle disruptive change? Perhaps more importantly, why would you do this in the first place? In many ways it is like turning a battleship. Also, many of these new and essential products are either in development (Locate and OpenRS) or are architecturally new (FOLIO ECS) so providing feedback and testing is all part of the mix. Large, diverse, and geographically dispersed, how do you help lead your membership on his new adventure, so they engage with you throughout the process, so they feel like they have an ownership interest in its success? Come and learn from us on what went right, what went wrong, and what we would do differently during our 2-year odyssey into the brave, new world of open-source software.

Learn how FOLIO Enhanced Consortia Support is evolving to meet the requirements of a wider variety of system models. Gain insights and offer feedback on specific enhancements being made in the following areas: Administration and authorization, inventory and authority control, Circulation, bulk editing and reporting, and acquisitions.