UCPL will join Missouri Evergreen in October

General News

In October, University City Public Library, along with the rest of the Municipal Library Consortium, will be changing to a new Integrated Library System (ILS)! In broader terms, we are switching our current platform that allows us to do all the library things to a new platform that will still let us do all the library things with some added perks. That being said, in mid-October we will be joining Missouri Evergreen, a consortium of more than 70 library systems statewide.

What does this mean for you as a library user?

  • A new, more user-friendly catalog
  • Access to a combined collection of more than 4 million items
  • Reduced wait times for titles on hold, and much more!

There will be some minor interruptions to service as we make this transition. Some things to note about this:

  • If you have lists saved to your library account, those will not transfer over — Library staff are happy to help you save that information in another format if needed.
  • The catalog and access to your account will be down Monday, Oct. 14 through Thursday, Oct. 17. During this time, you will not be able to place holds, browse the catalog, or get a new library card. You will still be able to check out existing holds and items on the shelf with your library card and online resources should still be active.
  • We will have to reset your catalog pin/password — as of Oct. 17, all current patrons will have their password reset to 1234. We encourage you to update your password, but keep in mind that the new system will only recognize numbers, not letters, in passwords.

The good news is that Library staff will be on hand to answer your questions and ready to help you as we move through this process, and we will be offering classes on how to use the catalog here at the Library.

Overall, we think this is going to be a positive change for the Library and the community, and we think that after a little time, people will be pleased with the end result. 

This project is funded through the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provision of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the Missouri State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.

Thank you for your patience during this transition!

Frequently Asked Questions

Will this change UCPL’s involvement in the Municipal Library Consortium of St. Louis County?
Nope! The whole MLC is joining Evergreen, so patrons across the nine libraries won’t lose any of the MLC-wide resources and will simply gain access to more resources statewide. Check out the full list of libraries in Missouri Evergreen here.

Can I check out and return books while the catalog is down Oct. 14-17?
During that time, you will be able to check out items that are already on the hold shelf or that you find in the library. Make sure you bring your library card with you Oct. 14-17, as UCPL staff will not be able to look up patrons by name. However, no items will be due between Oct. 14 and 17, and we ask that you please hold onto your items until the transition is complete on Oct. 18, as we won’t be able to check anything in until the new ILS is up and running.

Will this change affect my access to Libby, Hoopla, and other online resources?
Nope! Access to Libby, Hoopla, and Kanopy will continue unchanged through the transition period (Oct. 14-17), and while you will need to update PINs once we’re up and running with Evergreen, UCPL staff is ready to help out with any questions that come our way. Even better, access to our online resources will be easier through the new catalog, with fewer clicks and more accurate catalog results!

What about the library app? Will that still work?
Because the app authenticates with your account on our ILS, the current MLC app will stop functioning on Monday, Oct. 14. While we’re still finalizing the new app, we hope to have it available to download from your device’s app store by Thursday, Oct. 17. We’ll make sure to post links on our website, and share information on our social media when we have more information.