EzProxy server migration

Abstract

In the summer of 2016 members of Lehman College Library along with CUNY Office of Library Services implemented the change from a local campus proxy server to a consortium hosted server for off campus database access. This transition changed the off campus log in feature and switched from a user name/password to a 14 digit library barcode with no password. The new log in feature made it essential that all patron library barcodes be activated when the ID cards were issued. This process had to be organized through a joint effort by Library faculty, Campus IT representatives, Public Safety and members of CUNY OLS. Student information being transferred from several separate locations were established by using a secure method of delivery and monitored that the data was uploaded correctly. The Library database list consisted of 183 products from 54 different vendors and all had to be coordinated with the new server change. These challenges were anticipated and making the change during the summer allowed for a smaller number of users to experience issues instead of switching during the Fall or Spring semesters. We plan to go over our procedure, show statistics, and discuss best practices for institutions changing servers and off campus database access.