This summer, Denison Libraries launched something big: Primo, our new library search system.
If you’ve used the library in the past, you’ve likely navigated multiple platforms to find what you needed. Primo integrates all those systems into a single platform for physical collections, digital resources, and statewide holdings.
The move to Primo is about more than convenience. It’s about removing barriers to discovery and access.
With Primo, you can:
- Search across Denison and OhioLINK libraries in one platform
- Access books, articles, and streaming media without jumping between systems
- Track your checkouts, holds, and renewals through a single library card interface
- Get more consistent results with filters and tools that match how you search
It’s more than new technology — it’s our new approach to user experience, teaching, and support. And we’re excited to keep building on that in the year ahead.
A system built for you
We know that even the best-designed system comes with a learning curve. That’s why we’ve built out multiple forms of support:
- The Primo Guide includes quick tips, login help, and tutorial videos
- Liaison librarians are available for one-on-one consultations and for classrooms
- Our team continues to refine system settings based on your feedback
Whether you’re designing a course, starting a paper, or requesting a book from across the state, Primo is built to support your work quietly and efficiently.
Uniting 115 libraries
What we hope will feel like a seamless interface to users is, in fact, one of the most complex library transitions in more than two decades, not just at Denison, but across Ohio.
Primo is part of a statewide migration led by OhioLINK, the academic library consortium that supports 115 libraries at 86 colleges and universities across Ohio. More than two years of planning, collaboration, and testing culminated in the on-time and on-budget launch of the Ex Libris Alma/Primo VE system. Over 800,000 students and faculty in Ohio now benefit from this shared platform.
At Denison, we’ve been deeply involved from the start, actively participating in OhioLINK planning and configuration activities. As part of the Five Colleges of Ohio (Ohio5), we worked closely with our peer libraries at Kenyon, Oberlin, Ohio Wesleyan, and Wooster to shape how the new system supports our communities.
Our staff have been:
- Enhancing indexing and accessibility to improve the search experience
- Collaborating with statewide working groups to ensure smooth implementation
- Designing an interface that works for everyone, from first-year students to faculty researchers
- Participating in extensive testing and training sessions — part of a cohort of more than 20,000 staff attendees — to prepare our team to teach and support you in the new system
This work spanned months of data cleanup, platform testing, systems integrations, and policy decisions. Now that Primo has launched, all you need to do is log in and start searching!
Primo is also part of a larger investment in Ohio’s digital infrastructure. Funded by the Ohio Department of Higher Education, the new system is designed to scale with the future of academic research, connect seamlessly with learning environments, and lower long-term costs through shared innovation.
We’re proud of the work that’s gone into this project— and deeply grateful to everyone who helped make it happen: Denison staff, faculty, students, and our colleagues across the state.
What you see is a search box. What went into it is a statewide, collective achievement.
The result? A better, smarter, more connected library experience — built for the way you learn and work today.
What's Next?
Launching Primo was a milestone, but not an endpoint.
We’ll continue to gather feedback, adjust workflows, and support course integration throughout the year. You’ll see workshops, expanded help materials, and improvements behind the scenes as we adapt the system to meet Denison’s evolving needs.
If you haven’t tried Primo yet, now is the time. If you’ve already started using it and want to share your experience or need help navigating, we want to hear from you.
Contact us: libprimo-group@denison.edu, or reach out to your liaison librarian.