Summit Catalog Changes Coming

The price of the software running the Summit system that allows you to borrow from academic libraries in Washington and Oregon increased substantially, making it impossible for the Summit member libraries to afford. The contract with the software vendor expires on 31 December and the Libraries will switch to a new product.

If you use Summit, you need to know:

• Beginning November 21, material checked out in the current system will have a progressively shorter loan period or renewal.
• All material checked out in the current system must be returned by December 12.
• Requesting through the new Summit system will begin December 1, 2008. These books will have a four-week loan period. There will continue to be shorter loans for some materials, such as CDs and DVDs.
• Renewals are not yet possible in the new system. If you need an item longer than four weeks, you will need to place a request for another copy, or return the item and re-request it. Enabling renewals is a high development priority for the new system.
• Materials you have requested will not appear in your library account until they are received by the library.
• You will still be able to visit member libraries to check out books in person (e.g., Seattle University, Seattle Pacific University, Portland State University, etc.). This will require verifying your UW status at the other library. This verification process will also enable you to request that books from other member libraries be delivered to the member library of your choice (for example, books from the UW can be delivered to Portland State for pickup by a UW student).

We recognize that the ability to request items through Summit is a service that is valued very highly by UW users. UW Libraries and Summit staff are working to ensure a smooth transition between the old and new systems, but there may be a few bumps along the way. If you have problems or questions, please contact the Libraries through this link.

Get updates on the system through this link.