Preserve Local and Institution-Specific Data During Migration to a Network Cataloging Environment

During the fall of 2015, the Augusta University Libraries began the process of implementing Ex Libris’ nextgeneration library management solution, Alma. This process is occurring in various phases, with the initial steps being data clean-up and migration. As part of the migration process, cataloging records that are currently created and maintained by both university libraries will be migrated into a collaborative Alma network zone comprised of 29 institutions in the University System of Georgia (USG) consortium. The network zone will allow for collaborative cataloging among multiple libraries. One of the main challenges for Augusta University, however, was finding a way to preserve the libraries’ local data which included medical subject headings (MeSH) used by the health sciences library. This paper addresses the challenges faced and strategies employed by Augusta University Libraries to ensure local information was migrated from the existing Ex Libris’ Voyager traditional integrated library system (ILS) into Alma.