Japan's NII Upgrades Academic Library Systems for 2023 Launch
Japan's National Institute of Informatics (NII) is updating the country's academic library systems. The new NACSIS-CAT/ILL, also known as NACSIS Webcat+, will maintain current functionalities while adapting to new international standards. Hitachi Solutions is developing and maintaining the new system.
The project is based on 'The Vision on Future Scholarly Information Systems (2019)' by the Future Scholarly Information Systems Committee. The new system will replace the existing one, offering enhanced interlibrary loan services between Japanese libraries and academic institutions. It will adapt to new international standards such as Resource Description and Access (RDA) and BIBFRAME.
The new NACSIS-CAT/ILL will use OCLC's Controlled Bibliographic Service (CBS) as its base, supporting MARC record exchange with user libraries. For electronic resource management, Alma by Ex Libris will be employed. The new systems aim to improve and optimize university library operations, facilitating digital transformation of access to academic resources. Libraries across Japan will be able to access content and license information of electronic resources through the new electronic resource management system.
The new electronic resource management service is set to be released in 2022, with the new NACSIS-CAT/ILL expected to launch in 2023. These updates aim to modernize and streamline Japan's academic library systems, improving access to resources for institutions and users alike.
