DMACC streamlines discovery and staff workflows across campuses

By investing in data cleanup and clear migration policies, DMACC launched a cloud-based system with cleaner records, streamlined workflows, and a smoother experience for students and staff.

OCLC services used:

• OCLC Cataloging and Metadata Subscription
• EZproxy
• FirstSearch
• ILL Fee Management
• WorldCat Discovery
• WorldCat Entities
• WorldCat knowlege base
• WorldShare Interlibrary Loan
• WorldShare Management Services

Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) serves students across multiple campuses, career centers, and programs—from certificates to associate degrees. For Christine Whitney, Director of Library Resources, that scale makes one thing especially important: library systems must be intuitive, efficient, and easy to teach.

When Whitney joined DMACC more than a decade ago, the libraries were using Innovative Millennium. The team soon began looking for a cloud-based system that could improve both the staff and patron experience, especially around discovery and link resolving.

“We’re always trying to limit the number of clicks students need to reach resources,” Whitney said, “particularly when those resources are embedded in a learning management system.”

Prioritizing discovery and interoperability

While evaluating options, the DMACC team focused on discovery services, compatibility with vendor platforms, and tools that support fast access to online content. Full-time staff across the libraries participated in the process and attended vendor demos, bringing perspectives from circulation, reference, and technical services. By virtue of that, the team could look at it holistically.

Streamlining workflows for a small team

Now, after ten years using WMS, Whitney says streamlined workflows have been especially valuable for a small team supporting multiple locations. She also points to improvements in technical services, particularly for serials and periodicals, where check-in and exception handling have become more intuitive.

DMACC’s implementation experience was strengthened by OCLC’s cohort model and the support of an implementation manager. That guidance helped the team move forward with confidence. Today, when questions arise, Whitney says support continues to be timely and reliable.

"I don’t feel like I’m on my own," she said.