RDP Library is moving to a new platform!
Answer
Red Deer Polytechnic Library is excited to announce that, on May 1, 2025, there will be a new way for students, faculty, and staff to search for and find library resources.
Our new platform will be a modern, cloud-based solution in which to manage our resources (print materials, e-books, articles, streaming videos, etc.) and records (members) and provide services to our students, faculty, and staff.
Why is RDP Library Moving to a New Platform?
For 3 decades, RDP Library has collaborated with the NEOS Library Consortium to maintain a shared catalogue, enabling the exchange of resources, collections, and processes among Member Libraries. That system was made for the print era and is not best equipped to handle modern library resources, records, and services.
Due to the evolving needs of NEOS Member Libraries, this arrangement is no longer practical. In 2023, NEOS Member Libraries, including RDP Library, began to explore different options.
A Request for Proposal (RFP) was distributed, which resulted in RDP choosing OCLC's WorldShare Management Services (WMS) as our new platform. The King's University Library, Keyano College Library, and Northwestern Polytechnic Library, all NEOS Member Libraries, also participated in this RFP, enabling better pricing for all. See the media release for more information.
Important Dates
This transition is a complex process and the work has already begun. As the project evolves, there will be changes to existing library services and processes:
November 28, 2024 - Changes to your Library membership and privileges (ongoing until May 2025)
November 28, 2024 - Changes to the "Place Holds" Function in the Library Catalogue (ongoing until May 2025)
December 2, 2024 - Changes to Interlibrary Loan
December 20, 2024 - Removal of NEOS catalogue link
April 2025 - Temporary suspension of borrowing of RDP Library materials (late April, estimated to last 1-2 weeks)
May 1, 2025 - Removal of OneSearch catalogue
May 1, 2025 - Launch of new RDP Library Platform!
After May 1, 2025 - Changes to Permalinks used in Blackboard
For more information, contact:
Project Lead / General Questions
Mary Dallas: mary.dallas@rdpolytech.ca
Project Manager / Technical Questions
Tara Gunsch: taralyn.gunsch@rdpolytech.ca
Questions from Other Libraries regarding Interlibrary Loan and Resource Sharing
Barb Mahoney: barbara.mahoney@rdpolytech.ca
Questions from RDP Faculty about Finding, Using, and Linking Library Resources
Sona Macnaughton: sona.macnaughton@rdpolytech.ca
