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SWITCH Library Consortium

What is SWITCH?

SWITCH, which stands for Southeastern Wisconsin Information Technology Exchange, Inc., is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization incorporated by participating Milwaukee-area private colleges in 1989. SWITCH currently has 7 first-class members and 1 second-class member: 

These private colleges serve a diverse student body from traditional age, on-campus students to adult non-traditional students spanning a number of states and countries.

SWITCH facilitates cooperation among its member institutions and investigates, implements, and supports a suite of shared library technologies.

SWITCH implemented its first library automation system in 1991 (Innovative Interfaces being the company).  In June 2015, SWITCH migrated to an open-source platform, Koha, with software support by ByWater Solutions. In January 2019, SWITCH migrated to Ex Libris Alma/Primo.

In addition to overseeing an integrated library system, SWITCH manages an inter-institutional delivery system that runs Monday-Friday.  SWITCH also configures and maintains remote access for all of its members’ electronic, licensed resources.  The organization hosts OCLC’s EZ Proxy web servers on behalf of its Class I members to ensure patron remote authentication.

SWITCH Staff

Katie Utschig: Coordinator of Services – Katie is the contact for office operations, the LSP, staff training, and professional development issues

Jason Palmer: Systems Integration Specialist – Jason is the systems & network administration contact

SWITCH
3401 South 39th Street PO Box 343922
Room FO 237A
Milwaukee, WI 53234-3922