NEWS RELEASE

East Carolina University News Services

For immediate release

Contact:  Dawn Wainwright, Joyner Library

Telephone:  (252) 328-4090

Date:  05/29/09
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ECU Libraries join forces to provide a single catalog search tool

GREENVILLE, N.C. (5/29/2009) The East Carolina University Libraries, J.Y. Joyner Library and William E. Laupus Health Sciences Library, unveiled a new integrated library system, Symphony, on May 21.   

The move to Symphony allows library users to search the catalogs of both libraries at once, a tool that has been the single most requested library catalog feature in recent years.

Symphony will improve the internal productivity of the ECU libraries and enhance their capabilities to serve both campuses as well as the greater community. The online catalog contains more than 1.7 million bibliographic records, over 2 million item records (many print or electronic), and approximately 80,000 user records, including records from ECU and Elizabeth City State University.

An added bonus is that University students, staff, and faculty will only have one library account with both libraries. Non-ECU users will be able to purchase a yearly area resident card to access both Joyner and Laupus libraries for $35.

Integrated library systems are the lifeline of libraries since they touch on all areas:  ordering of materials, cataloging, providing access to the library users, and finally circulation of library materials. The transition to Symphony culminates months of preparation by library faculty and staff.  

Symphony is a product of SirsiDynix, a leader in strategic technology solutions for all types of libraries.

The ECU libraries are part of the Eastern Carolina Network created by the General Assembly in 1982. This network also includes Elizabeth City State University.