SILS News – Apr. 10, 2020

Date: Apr. 10, 2020
Title: SILS migration phases explained

Dear colleagues,

SILS Phase 4 is officially underway! Below is an overview of our migration timeline for the next 18-months, divided into three phases. The phases and timeline were defined by Ex Libris. The dates listed represent our best estimates and are subject to change.  For updates and more, please stay tuned to the SILS-News email list.

Onboarding Phase: March – May, 2020

During the onboarding phase, implementation teams are formed and key tasks carried out in preparation for migration. Key tasks for this phase include:

  • Prepare sandbox environments
  • Complete initial implementation and migration forms
  • Choose vanguard institutions
  • Complete the Getting to Know Alma training (While Implementation Coordinators are required to complete the training videos, all UC Libraries employees are encouraged to check them out).

Vanguard Phase: June – November, 2020

A subset of our 10 campuses will carry out a test migration as a proof of concept. The vanguard campuses will not make decisions for the 10 campuses and CDL; rather, the lessons learned from this Vanguard Phase will be shared broadly and the experience will inform the implementation decisions that we make as a system, during the next phase of work. Key tasks for this phase include:

  • Prepare data for migration (vanguard institutions)
  • Build and test vanguard institution zones and shared network zone
  • Test data load in August 2020
  • Review of test environment, data and policies
  • Lessons learned shared

While a subset of campuses will participate in the Vanguard Phase, work is occurring  throughout all phases of the migration by all campuses, including policy and practices coordination and training and outreach activities. 

Implementation Phase: December, 2020 – July 2021

The implementation phase is when the UC Libraries all migrate to the SILS. The phase concludes with a “go-live” to production, when all campuses have migrated from their current systems to Alma and Primo and are working “live” in the new SILS environment! Key tasks for this phase include: 

  • Prepare data for migration (all institutions)
  • Test data load in early 2021
  • Review of test environment, data, and policies in spring-summer 2021
  • Go-live on July 27, 2021!
  • Final checks and testing in August 2021

The SILS cohort is hard at work and making excellent progress on the onboarding activities. The vanguard institutions will be announced by the end of April. If you have any questions or comments, please contact the SILS project co-managers at AskSILS-L@listserv.ucop.edu.

Best,

The SILS Working Group

Chris Shaffer, University Librarian & Assistant Vice Chancellor, UC San Francisco (Co-Chair)
Günter Waibel, Executive Director & Associate Vice Provost, California Digital Library (Co-Chair)
Ben Alkaly, Communications Manager, UCLA (Chair, Communication Operation Leads)
Donald Barclay, Deputy University Librarian, UC Merced
Christine Barone, Collections Project Coordinator, Southern Regional Library Facility (Project Co-Manager)
Peter Brantley, Director of Online Strategy, UC Davis
Todd Grappone, Associate University Librarian for Research and Development, UCLA
Sarah Houghton, Discovery & Delivery Director, California Digital Library
Salwa Ismail, Associate University Librarian for Digital Initiatives and Information Technology, UC Berkeley
Cathy Martyniak, Director, Southern Regional Library Facility
Erik Mitchell, Audrey Geisel University Librarian, UC San Diego
Caitlin Nelson, Product Manager, California Digital Library (interim project lead until SILS Service Manager is hired)
Aislinn Sotelo, Program Director for Metadata Services, UC San Diego
Lena Zentall, Discovery & Delivery Associate Director, California Digital Library (Project Co-Manager)

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SILS mission: Transform library services and operations through innovation and collaboration

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