At the end of the pandemic, Thompson Rivers University Library discovered that some of the temporary processes we developed during the interim were not just beneficial, but also invaluable. For instance, we found that the EDS system modifications, initially used for touchless delivery, continued to add significant value for holds and after-hours pick-ups. The pandemic encouraged us to concentrate on and evaluate core library functions. Similarly, we used critical evaluation of our processes to inform our migration to Folio. We will discuss: How we are simplifying its circulation system by reducing the number of item types, loan rules, and patron types. Why we will be selective in our use of new patron empowerment features in the EDS. Why a system migration is an excellent opportunity to streamline library processes and to examine what a library can do. Why examining fines and loan periods before the migration is essential during the migration. Addressing complex or difficult questions before the upgrade allows you to spend more time training staff and fine-tuning the configuration during the migration.
After months of planning and training our consortium went live on FOLIO in May of 2024. In this session an Assistant Library Director, Cataloger Librarian, and Acquisitions Librarian will share the decisions and preparations that had to be made before the migration, new workflows that were created, and all the “little things” we weren’t expecting to navigate but made it through. Focus will be on preparation of the catalog data, training, folio apps: inventory, users, permissions, lists, finance, orders, receiving, and settings. Most of all we will share why even through the chaos we are happy with where we are now.
The TERMS framework, developed by Jill Emery, Graham Stone, and Peter McCracken, postulates that e-resource resource management follows a recurring lifecycle, from evaluation to licensing to acquisitions to activation and access to discovery to management back to analysis and evaluation. This presentation intends to showcase how EBSCO's suite of products represents and enables the TERMS cycle for libraries. Attendees will leave with a better high level understanding of how EBSCO's products from GOBI to FOLIO integrate together and create a cohesive e-resource ecosystem.
Pam Childers, the System & Web Librarian at Jackson Library, Indiana Wesleyan University, chose to collaborate with EBSCO FOLIO to enhance their integrated library system (ILS). This decision was motivated by the need for a flexible, open-source platform that could adapt to the evolving needs of the academic community. FOLIO's modular architecture and robust infrastructure effectively managed collections, circulation, and user interactions. Additionally, the partnership with EBSCO facilitated seamless integration and support, improving the overall experience for staff and patrons. This presentation will discuss the factors that influenced the decision, the implementation process, and the benefits realized, offering valuable insights for other libraries considering a similar transition.
Join Zorislav Plantak from Andrews University as he shares comprehensive insights from James White Library's transformative journey with the FOLIO library management system, alongside key EBSCO services such as Panorama and Bibliograph. These tools have collectively redefined how the library manages resources, analyzes data, and supports scholarly research, positioning the institution at the forefront of library innovation. Drawing on a year of hands-on experience, Zorislav will explore the significant successes achieved, from improved workflows to enhanced user satisfaction, highlighting specific examples that have made a tangible impact. The discussion will also address the challenges encountered during this period, including technical hurdles, staff training, and user adoption, and how these obstacles were overcome. By examining the lessons learned through this implementation, attendees will gain valuable perspectives on effective strategies for navigating similar transitions in their own institutions. This presentation aims to provide practical takeaways, focusing on both the operational advancements and the areas where further growth is needed, making it an essential session for libraries pursuing modernization.
EBSCO Information Services has steadily grown from humble roots in the 1940’s to one of the largest global businesses focused on libraries. Marshall Breeding will conduct a tour of EBSCO through resources and data sources available on Library Technology Guides, highlighting its impressive history of business acquisitions and product development. EBSCO Industries is a diversified group of companies, including EBSCO Information Systems as its largest enterprise. Owned by the descendants of its founder, Eldon B. Stephens, EBSCO represents a distinctive ownership model that contrasts with other major industry players. The session will cover the trajectory of FOLIO, from its initial announcement in 2016 to a mature product selected by some of the world’s largest and most complex libraries and consortia. EBSCO’s support and investment in open source software is unprecedented in the industry, supporting a product strategy that blends FOLIO components with its own commercial components. This session will provide information and perspective about the factors that have led EBSCO Information Services to its strong position as a successful library vendor with products and services spanning content, discovery, and resource management.
Marshall Breeding is an independent consultant, speaker, and author. He is the creator and editor of Library Technology Guides and the libraries.org online directory of libraries. His monthly column Systems Librarian appears in Computers in Libraries; he is the editor for Smart Libraries... Read More →
Thursday May 1, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm EDT
Ballroom D | Ocean1 Sabin St, Providence, RI 02903, USA
Learn how MARC records are transformed into Linked Data -- and back into MARC -- using the new Linked Data Editor module in the Sunflower release of FOLIO. This session is directed to technical librarians and systems administrators, and will
recap key points from the Linked Data 101 session, from the 2024 EBSCO User Group meeting
walk through the basics of linked data as a technology
explain how MARC records are transformed into linked data (and transformed back into MARC), and
outline the advantages and challenges of deploying linked data for metadata management.
In this session, learn how linked data connects information across interrelated library resources so they can be easily discovered in your collection. Linked data uses ontologies, which are essentially the linked data schema for how information is related to each other, to create these networks. Attendees will understand how EBSCO applies knowledge graph analytics through use cases. They will also understand how to leverage their own linked data to identify duplicate resources, if an author’s affiliation
As a smaller institution with limited resources, Douglas College library has to rely for its reporting needs on tools provided in Folio and by Ebsco: Circulation Log, Lists app, API queries and Panorama. Collecting Reserves statistics ended up being one of the most challenging tasks for us, with our data in Panorama not aligning with what we had in the Courses app. Besides other circulations stats for the annual report needed some extra massaging. In this session I’m going to share some of the changes that needed to be made on our side and in Folio/Panorama that helped us to get the needed data for the internal and external library reporting.
An experimental FOLIO backend module, edge-ai, utilizes Large Language Models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT and Claude to automate the creation and enhancement of inventory records and other workflows using Apache Airflow. This presentation will demonstrate the functionality of edge-ai, incorporating feedback from cataloging and other staff regarding their experiences using LLMs in their work.
The Five Colleges use a variety of FOLIO integrations to extend and enhance FOLIO. This includes integrations for reporting, automated user loads, and tools to enhance staff user creation, batch changes and custom reports. We will talk about the reasons we have employed these integrations, the tasks they assist us with and challenges we have faced.
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.
Join us for a session on the latest developments in FOLIO, highlighting the new features and improvements in Ramsons (Winter 2024) and Sunflower (Spring 2025) releases. This session will delve into metadata management and lists enhancements designed to enrich user experience, streamline library workflows, and enhance system performance. FOLIO product owners will provide a live demonstration, illustrating the practical applications and benefits of these updates. Attendees will learn about: • Key improvements in the Ramsons and Sunflower releases • Enhanced functionalities and user interface updates
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.
When it comes to libraries in the University System of Georgia (USG), we tend to do things together and that ranges from small institutions, comprehensive regional universities, to the big R1s like University of Georgia. This isn’t our first rodeo with a large consortial migration. We did it in 2017 with Alma, 2019 with OpenAthens, and in 2025 all USG libraries will migrate to FOLIO. This presentation will focus on how these libraries and GALILEO work together to share knowledge and create a cohesive shared bibliographic environment.
Oklahoma State University (OSU) Libraries recently leveraged API technologies to develop a middleware tool that enhances library operations. This tool provides integration services between FOLIO and OSU’s student information system, generating reports and offering both scheduled and unscheduled bulk editing capabilities. Redbud Reports securely accesses FOLIO APIs, gathers and filters relevant data according to user preferences, and presents it in a user-friendly format, covering overdue items, user-related information, circulation, and inventory details. This presentation will demonstrate how consortium members submit report requests and specifications, highlighting the collaborative development process between librarians and developers. We will also provide an overview of the reporting system and its processes, discussing its functionality and the benefits it brings to member libraries.
Worcester State University wanted an ERM to better manage its electronic resources. While implementing the FOLIO ERM stand-alone in fiscal year 24, we discovered something extra in the acquisition module. We will share what we discovered during the implementation process as we learned what the Acquisition could do to help manage multiple aspects of the library's budget.
Join us for an engaging session where we explore the work eReserve Plus has done in developing a FOLIO application that's transforming library services. eReserve Plus has been leading the way in integrating advanced technology to streamline library operations and foster the integration of library resources into the learning environment. Their FOLIO app is a comprehensive solution for managing electronic reserves, improving accessibility, ensuring copyright compliance and fostering collaboration among library staff and patrons.
We'll take you through the features of the FOLIO app, such as its intuitive interface, powerful copywrite compliance capabilities, and seamless integration with existing library systems. Additionally, we'll share insights into the development process, including the challenges we faced and the strategies we used to overcome them.
This session is perfect for anyone interested in the future of library technology. Come discover how eReserve Plus's FOLIO app is setting new standards in library management and learn about the potential benefits it can bring to your institution.
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.
This session will describe one institution’s experience migrating from VuFind to Locate and will provide the roadmap for future development of the Locate discovery OPAC.
Locate is a relatively new discovery option for FOLIO. Upon its original roll-out, Locate included a clean design and sophisticated real time availability and patron empowerment features. Since its original rollout, Locate has seen dramatic enhancements, including search improvements, result list enhancements, item view additions, and numerous new patron empowerment features. Upcoming enhancements include semiannual releases, additional patron tools, subject browse, and call number browse enhancements. Come hear from the EBSCO Discovery Product Manager for Locate about the future direction and roadmap of this discovery option.
In addition, learn of one institution’s experience migrating from VuFind to Locate. Skidmore College was an early adopter of FOLIO and used VuFind as its “classic catalog” for several years prior to the development of Locate. Skidmore fully implemented Locate in early 2025. Migration tips, suggestions, and real-world feedback will be provided.
Join me for a walkthrough on accessing and utilizing data from FOLIO through its APIs and PostgreSQL database. I'll begin with how to set up and use the FOLIO APIs and move to accessing raw data through PostgreSQL including utilizing tools such as DBeaver.
Building on these basics, I'll delve into real-world applications by showcasing several projects undertaken at Smith College Libraries. Examples such as:
Collection and Purchasing Reports: Utilizing PostgreSQL queries to create reports that visualize collections and purchasing data, including automating ACRL statistics.
New Materials Browsing: Enabled patrons to browse new books and videos combining EDS APIs with FOLIO data.
Enhanced Course Reserves: Access to Course Reserves through the FOLIO API.
Equipment tracking: Simple equipment tracking utilizing FOLIO's inventory APIs and real time availability tracking to give students a clear picture of what is available.
These examples will illustrate how raw data access can improve library services. Attendees will gain practical insights and actionable knowledge to apply in their own institutions, making the most of FOLIO's robust data capabilities.
Ever wonder about that box with the word ‘Package’ next to it, when setting up a new Order/PO Line in FOLIO? What does checking the box let you do when creating a new Order/PO Line? What are all the flavors of Package POLs? Hear from Dennis Bridges, the PO for Orders and all things FOLIO Acquisitions, about the original vision for the feature design and from Sara Colglazier, a fully implemented FOLIO user since 2022, about why it is one of her favorite FOLIO things–even if she cannot quite come up with 32 flavors, she will share a wide variety of use cases. Finally, together, let’s discuss and brainstorm ideas for shaping future development of the Package PO Line.
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.
I am the Executive Director of MOBIUS, a multi-type (mostly academic) 501(c)(3) library consortium for 80 libraries in Missouri and contiguous states. We have a shared ILS and will go live with FOLIO and OpenRS in May 2024! I currently serve on the leadership of the Open Library... Read More →
Being developed with an API first mentality, FOLIO offers all aspects of functionality via API. This means that data can be created, read, updated and deleted (CRUD) using API; not just with FOLIO's UI. Working with FOLIO's API can be intimidating at first; however, freely available tools can make it a lot easier. In this session we will introduce you to FOLIO's API, some helpful tools, a few lessons learned from our mistakes, and the nuts and bolts behind some real-world examples. FOLIO's API can do things that the UI cannot; bring your wish list and we'll brainstorm some solutions.
As a community-driven system, FOLIO thrives on engagement with its adopters. Join our panelists as they share their experiences with FOLIO pre-release testing and bug-reporting (Bugfest), highlighting the value of participating in this community event. Presenters will discuss how to stay informed about FOLIO development and release schedules, including key communications to watch for and how to prepare for an upgrade. They will offer practical advice, with real-life examples, on how FOLIO libraries can make the most of their dry-run environments, utilize training and other resources, and seamlessly integrate new and enhanced functionalities into everyday processes. Additional topics will include scheduling downtime, reporting issues, steps for upgrading to a new release, and where to find further information.
Attendees will learn firsthand how engaging in these processes ensures early issue detection, thorough staff preparation, and smooth upgrades, allowing the library to fully leverage FOLIO’s new features and improvements.
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.
Participants will learn the necessity of developing multiple workflows, recognizing that no single approach will be perfect, and that flexibility and continuous improvement are key. The session also addresses practical considerations, such as adapting calendar management to better serve diverse student populations, including those with early or late check-outs and part-time schedules. Additionally, it highlights the critical need for data cleansing before migration, including addressing common errors like misspelled names and managing order record fields effectively. This talk will provide attendees with practical insights and actionable strategies for navigating an ILS transition, particularly those moving from Sierra to FOLIO. By sharing lessons learned and best practices, we aim to empower institutions to optimize their systems and better serve their communities.
