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Library Services

Library Search Project

Library Search Project
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Library Services will be launching a new library management system and discovery platform in March 2026. This will replace multiple legacy systems and offer a simplified and modern user experience, for both staff and students. 

We will replace the current Library Services Platform products, Sierra and Encore, for new products, Alma and Primo.  

Replacing the systems offers us the opportunity to provide an intuitive search platform, Primo, for students and staff to search, find, and access library resources easily, and which meet accessibility requirements.​​ The administrative staff facing side, Alma, will allow us to provide better insight into engagement of resources and will enable better tracking of subscriptions, licences and usage data.  

 

Our current Library Search product, Encore, is going out of full support in December 2025, and therefore we need to migrate to a reliable, supported and secure platform.  

We are currently completing the transition to our new library system.

Academic staff requesting purchasing of new print items has been paused as we transition to the new system. Purchasing will resume from April onwards.

Please see below for further details.

  • Training on how to use the new Library Search is now available for booking:

Explore Library Search

  • If you would like to export your saved articles, please check our FAQ here .

  • From 30 April 2026, the redirect from the old Library Search (Encore) URL, search.library.qmul.ac.uk, will no longer work, as this service is being decommissioned. Please bookmark the new Library Search URL for future use: https://librarysearch.qmul.ac.uk/ 

 

 

Whilst there will be minimal downtime to accessing resources online, all Queen Mary staff and students are entitled to free membership of Senate House, at any time of the year. This enables you to access their library study spaces, borrow books and use their online resources. Information available here: https://www.qmul.ac.uk/library/finding-resources/using-other-libraries/  

Important project updates will be delivered via University wide emails and via Library news items, available here https://www.qmul.ac.uk/library/library-news/  

Library staff will be available to offer advice and support during the transition, and we will continue to provide updates and more information on our website. 

If you need help or support during the transition, we can be contacted by email, library live chat or in person at any of our library sites.

Email: library@qmul.ac.uk 

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