{"id":2934,"date":"2024-01-04T15:24:27","date_gmt":"2024-01-04T14:24:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/slsp.ch\/history-of-slsp\/"},"modified":"2025-09-03T07:26:44","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T05:26:44","slug":"history-of-slsp","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/slsp.ch\/en\/history-of-slsp\/","title":{"rendered":"History of SLSP"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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History of SLSP<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In the early 2010s, a conversation began in Switzerland’s academic libraries that was to make small but significant waves. Within this community, some pioneers recognised that the existing library networks, six in number at the time, were facing a common challenge: The need to replace their existing library systems in the near future and replace them with new, more contemporary solutions. This realisation was the spark for a far-reaching vision. Why not see this moment of change as an opportunity not only to renew the systems, but also to fundamentally rethink the way we access scientific publications?<\/p>

This gave rise to the idea of developing a platform that would make it possible to access all scientific information in Switzerland with a single login. It was an ambitious endeavour, but driven by the conviction that shared access to knowledge would lead to better research and education, the preliminary project work began. In 2015, the “SLSP Swiss Library Service Platform” project, supported by 15 libraries and co-financed by swissuniversities as part of the P-5 programme, began its work.<\/p>

The project was a collective endeavour from the outset, inspired by the belief that collaborative efforts can improve the way scholarly materials are made accessible. The collective challenge of having to implement new systems made the potential for synergy even more apparent. It was not just about finding a new technical solution, but also about working together to bring about a change in the accessibility of scientific publications.<\/p>

Today, several years later, we recognise the value of these joint efforts. The SLSP has simplified access to scientific publications and shown us how valuable standardisation and collaboration can be.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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2015-2016<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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A feasibility study is being carried out with the participation of nine universities, financed by P-5 from swissuniverisities.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2017<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Following the feasibility study, the decision is made in February 2017 to implement a national library service platform for academic libraries. This is followed by the founding of the non-profit organisation SLSP AG and the invitation to tender for a new library management system. In December 2017, the contract is awarded to the company Ex Libris for the products Alma and Primo as the future library system solution.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2018<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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SLSP commences operations at Werdstrasse 2 in the Switch premises in Zurich. Following successful contract negotiations with the system provider Ex Libris, the “System integration” project with 11 Vanguard libraries starts in September. The experts work on the design of the library system and services in three sub-projects. Over the course of the year, SLSP moves into its own premises at Lutherstrasse 2 in Zurich.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2019-2020<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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SLSP is growing and work on the “system integration” project is continuing. In addition to configuring the system and setting up services such as the SLSP courier, comprehensive training is being developed for library staff. A co-working space is created at the La Serre site in Lausanne.<\/p>

In January 2020, the Consortium of Swiss Academic Libraries office will be integrated into SLSP. The consortium acquires licences for academic resources (electronic journals, e-books and databases) and takes on other services such as licence negotiations with providers.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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07.12.2020<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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After two years in the “System integration” project, around 470 libraries are going live on the new swisscovery platform.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2021<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In its first year of operation, swisscovery was continuously optimised. A lot of energy was channelled into consolidating the platform. However, various projects were also implemented at the request of the libraries. Among other things, additional libraries were added for the first time.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2022<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In 2022, the Alexandria network and its 15 libraries were successfully migrated to swisscocery in April. A total of around 490 libraries are now part of swisscovery.<\/p>

The first SLSP forum for heads of libraries participating in swisscovery takes place in Bern. The aim of the event, which takes place twice a year, is to promote dialogue between the libraries and SLSP.<\/p>

SLSP moves into new office premises at Kasernenstrasse 77 A\/B in Zurich in October and undergoes a reorganisation at the same time: new team leaders are introduced.<\/p>

In November 2022, after almost two years of project work, the resource sharing tool Rapido is put into operation.<\/p>

The Renouvaud network and SLSP move closer together. Libraries of the Renouvaud network in the canton of Vaud are now connected to the SLSP Courier and media can be borrowed across the board<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2023<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Further libraries join swisscovery, including the Aargau library network. SLSP revises its governance and thus strengthens the libraries’ opportunities for participation. With the introduction of a new communication tool, SLSP can communicate with library staff in an even more targeted manner.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2024<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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swisscovery continues go grow. The revised governance is implemented, strengthening the libraries\u2019 participation in SLSP\u2019s developments. The existing service contract is revised and adapted accordingly. The second SLSP Symposium takes place under the motto\u202fUser-centered librarianship: Understanding, networking, improving.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

History of SLSP In the early 2010s, a conversation began in Switzerland’s academic libraries that was to make small but significant waves. Within this community, some pioneers recognised that the existing library networks, six in number at the time, were facing a common challenge: The need to replace their existing library systems in the near […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":14,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2934","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/slsp.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2934","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/slsp.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/slsp.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/slsp.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/slsp.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2934"}],"version-history":[{"count":57,"href":"https:\/\/slsp.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2934\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8342,"href":"https:\/\/slsp.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2934\/revisions\/8342"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/slsp.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2934"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}