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PALS – Library Technology in MN

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Home > About > Our History

Our History

1977-78: Dr. Garry Hays, Chancellor of the Minnesota State University System (MSUS), establishes the Advisory Committee on Library and Media Services  

1979: The state university board, the university presidents, and the university library directors make the joint decision to proceed with a project that would focus on the automation of library systems, establishing PALS as an organization 

1984: PALS library software is operational 

1995: Creation of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) https://www.minnstate.edu/board/docs-summaries/1996/december-history.html  

1996: MnSCU works with the University of Minnesota to seek funding from the Minnesota Legislature to obtain a new automated library system 

1997: The Minnesota Legislature awards funds to the Minnesota Higher Education Services Office (HESO) to acquire and implement a statewide library system 

1998: PALS assumes support responsibilities for the worldwide libraries running the PALS software, previously supported by Ameritech Library Services (aka Dynix) 

2001: A contract for Aleph, a product of Ex Libris, is signed in 2001 

2006: MnSCU signs an enterprise-wide contract with RightNow Technologies, a customer relationship management software 

2006: The MnPALS libraries and the PALS Office complete implementation of the Aleph software in May 

2008: The VuFind beta release of what would become MnPALS Plus is announced at the April Reference Work Day. MnPALS Plus, A Web 2.0 experience for library users, officially became available on August 15 

2010: PALS implements the Evergreen Open Source software for the East Central Regional Library System in May 

2013: Southwest Minnesota State University and Minneapolis College of Art and Design join with PALS as development partners for the Islandora Project

2015: PALS announces that it will no longer support Evergreen after June 30 

2016: RFP process for new integrated library system to replace Aleph begins 

2017: The MnPALS Libraries choose Alma/Primo VE, a product of Ex Libris 

2017: Vanguard Libraries Implementation begins 

2019: Planned go-live is January 29, but due to a statewide snowstorm, go-live is delayed for some. The final library goes live with Alma and Primo on February 1

2019: Transition of LibData, LibStats, and SubjectsPlus from St. Cloud State to PALS 

2021: CLIC Consortium libraries join MnPALS 


PALS

Minnesota State University, Mankato
3022 Memorial Library
Mankato, MN 56001
Phone: 507.389.2000

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Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (Minnesota State) is a system of two- and four-year colleges and universities.
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