OCAD University Library and the Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL) are pleased to announce that Omni, an online academic search tool, is coming to OCAD U.
The new resource is set to go live in two stages: first with the launch of the new OCAD University Library campus specific catalogue by Spring 2022, followed by full integration with the 17 other Ontario university libraries by end of Summer 2022.
“We are enthusiastic about our participation in Omni and creating opportunities for our academic community to utilize this important search tool in support of teaching and learning,“ said Tony White, OCAD University Librarian. “We are confident that students and faculty will find this to be a tremendous asset supporting research and scholarship across the university.”
Omni will replace the current OCAD University Library online catalogue, providing direct access to OCAD University's local collections and streamlined access to a vast collection of diverse, high-quality academic research resources across the collections of the other 17 participating university libraries. This will greatly expand access to research resources for students and faculty, with greater ease and efficiency, in support of creative practices, and research goals.
“Being a part of Omni not only allows others to explore OCAD University’s unique resources in arts and designs, it also helps us improve work efficiency by sharing cataloging records and managing both print and electronic resources in one cloud-based platform,” said Katie Lai, OCAD University Assistant University Librarian.
The shared catalogue is one outcome of OCUL’s Collaborative Futures project which seeks to develop a shared vision of future access to library resources across Ontario’s academic libraries – a vision that articulates new possibilities and builds on a decade-long history of collaboration and cooperation.
“The Omni collaboration is just one of the ways that Ontario’s university libraries are working together to strengthen information services to our learning, teaching and research community. OCUL is excited that OCAD University is joining our existing partners to deliver this service,” said Michael Vandenburg, OCUL Interim Executive Director.
OCAD University joins a number of participating university libraries including:
- Algoma University
- Brock University
- Carleton University
- University of Guelph
- Lakehead University
- Laurentian University
- McMaster University
- Nipissing University
- OCAD University
- University of Ontario Institute of Technology
- University of Ottawa
- Queen’s University
- Trent University
- University of Waterloo
- Western University
- Wilfrid Laurier University
- University of Windsor
- York University
About OCUL
OCUL is a consortium of Ontario’s 21 university libraries and an affiliate of the Council of Ontario Universities (COU). OCUL enhances information services in Ontario and beyond through collective purchasing, a shared infrastructure for digital information, collaborative planning, advocacy, assessment, research, partnerships, communications, and professional development. Omni is the latest example of how OCUL works together to the benefit of Ontario’s university community. For more information, please visit the OCUL website.