For more than three years, the entire team at the Joint Documentation Service (SCD) has been preparing for this transition, which will enable users to search not only the physical collections and online resources of UTBM but also those of ENSMM, UFC, and UB. SéMaFORT will enhance the user experience by streamlining shared library accounts.

This Shared Library Management System (SGBm) project, initially spearheaded by the Bibliographic Agency for Higher Education (ABES), follows on from the framework agreement signed in 2015 by UTBM. It is thus part of the national movement to share library information management systems, alongside some thirty institutions in higher education, research, and innovation.

In addition to a significant commitment of time and effort from SCD staff, this represents an investment of just over 47,000 euros for UTBM, plus an annual subscription fee of 31,000 euros paid from the University’s own funds. Ex-Libris was selected to develop this new tool.

• A powerful search engine:
  • More results (access to physical resources and, new this year, online resources)
  • Simplified result sorting (multiple filters available)

• Simplified access to online resources:
  • Results from online resources to which UTBM subscribes
  • Results from Open Access resources

• Centralized management from the reader account:
  • Tracking Outstanding Loans and Online Renewals
  • Reservation Tracking

• Additional features:
  • Virtual Shelf (overview of the physical materials held by UTBM on the topic being researched)
  • Shopping Suggestion