Author: Kara Krekeler

As of Oct. 17, University City Public Library, along with the rest of the Municipal Library Consortium, changed to a new Integrated Library System (ILS)! In broader terms, we switched our 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, we joined 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!

As with any transition, there are some glitches and hiccups as we get used to the new system. Some things to note about this:

• We had to reset your catalog pin/password — as of Oct. 17, all current patrons had 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.
• At the moment, it’s not possible to register for a new library card online, though this is something we hope will be available very soon. When it is available, we’ll link to it on our homepage, under the “online catalog” menu option.
• The catalog link for Library Hours isn’t working yet. However, our hours are posted on our home page, which is linked via the “library website” option on the catalog page.

The good news is that Library staff is on hand to answer your questions as we all get comfortable with the new catalog, and we will be offering classes on how to use the catalog here at the Library. Please call us at 314-727-3150 or email reference@ucitylibrary.org with any questions you may have.

Overall, we think this is 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

Does this change UCPL’s involvement in the Municipal Library Consortium of St. Louis County?
Nope! The whole MLC joined 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.

Will this change affect my access to Libby, Hoopla, and other online resources?
Nope! Access to Libby, Hoopla, and Kanopy is actually easier with the new catalog, with fewer clicks and more accurate catalog results. However, you will need to update PINs, as they were reset during the migration to Evergreen. As always, UCPL staff is ready to help out with any questions that come our way.

What about the library app? Does that still work?
Unfortunately, no. The old MLC app stopped functioning on Monday, Oct. 14. The new app can be found in the Apple app store and the Google Play store. You can also search “Missouri Evergreen Discovery” in either app store to find and download the app.

UCPL cardholders now have free access to the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal online editions using your library card! Both newspapers require a free account to log in, but once you’re in, you have 24 hours of access to the New York Times, and 72 hours of access to the Wall Street Journal.

Trouble logging in? Contact the UCPL reference librarians at 314-727-3150 or email us at reference@ucitylibrary.org.