Primo: The New Search System at Denison Libraries

Have you ever wondered what it takes to bring a new library system to life? The transition to Primo is more than just a software update. It’s the result of years of planning, coordination, and behind-the-scenes effort involving libraries across Ohio.

At Denison, we’re not doing this alone. We’re working closely with our partners in the Ohio Five (Ohio5): Kenyon, Oberlin, Ohio Wesleyan, and Wooster, and with libraries throughout the OhioLINK consortium to make this transition as seamless as possible.

Why a New System?

Back in 2022, OhioLINK received funding to modernize its library management system. A major investment that impacts 87 institutions and 115 libraries across the state. The library team at Denison jumped in right away, joining statewide planning sessions, testing workflows, and working through the technical details to ensure the new system would meet our campus’s needs.

What’s Been Happening Behind the Scenes?

Library staff have been extra busy lately; here's a sneak peak at what they've been doing:

• Every week, our team has been meeting with OhioLINK and Ex Libris, the company behind Primo, to make sure the new system is ready for launch.

• We’ve been reviewing and reconfiguring data — a lot of data. In fact, we’ve completed over 40 cleanup projects, involving 5.9 million resource records (yes, you read that right).

• Our staff have also been learning the ins and outs of the new system, spending over 180 hours in training to make sure we’re ready to help you navigate Primo from day one.

Working Together Across Ohio5

The migration isn’t just about Denison staying in sync with OhioLINK. It’s a joint effort with our partners in the Ohio5, where we’re working to make sure that no matter which library you’re borrowing from, your experience will feel familiar and connected.

• We’re meeting regularly with librarians from Kenyon, Oberlin, Ohio Wesleyan, and Wooster to align our systems and share insights.

• The Ohio5 Consortium Library Systems team has been providing backend support and design guidance to ensure each Ohio5 library feels prepared to launch Primo.

• And because this is a big change, we’re collaborating on user experience design to make sure the new system is intuitive and easy to use.

Why It Matters

When the new system goes live, you'll get to see the final product formed from all of this hard work. You’ll notice it in how quickly you can find what you need, in how easy it is to access content request materials, and in how seamlessly the system connects you to libraries across the state.

Behind the scenes, we’re still hard at work. Come June 27, we’re ready to show off what we've accomplished.

Questions? We’re Here to Help.

Have questions about the new system or what to expect? Reach out anytime at libprimo-group@denison.edu.