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About FOLIO @ MSU

About FOLIO @ MSU

Summary: Local pages and links to external FOLIO documentation to assist any staff learning about the platform and its functions.

Overview

FOLIO is an open-source, community project of the Open Library Foundation (OLF). It is a collaboration of libraries, developers, and vendors to build an open-source library services platform (LSP). FOLIO is an acronym for the Future of Libraries is Open. Michigan State University Libraries is partnering with EBSCO to participate in the community-driven development of the new LSP as a part of our land-grant mission that calls on us to contribute solutions and innovations that make a positive difference locally and globally. 

MSU chose FOLIO as our LSP in early fall 2020. Migration of Acquisitions took place in July 2021. Full migration took place as of June 30, 2022.

Contact Info/Issue Reporting at MSU Libraries

Issue

Contact

FOLIO or EDS down, abnormally slow, or have lost functionality affecting users.

  • Contact Discovery Services directly at 517-353-8700.  Emailing will potentially result in longer response times.

  • DS will open a ticket with EBSCO.

  • DS will send an email message via LibStaff describing the problem and announcing that it has been reported.

  • When the problem is resolved, an all-clear email is sent.  If problem resolution takes a long time, updates will be sent as received from EBSCO

Questions with Folio impacting a specific feature(s)

  • Use when only one or two units use the feature and it has no effect on patrons.

  •   For EDS, check the FOLIO/EDS Known and Reported Issues document to see if the issue has already been reported and/or if there is a workaround.

  • For Folio, consult the open cases list in EBSCOConnect

  • If the issue is not documented, follow these steps:

    • Are you using Chrome? (If not, try using Chrome. It is the only officially supported browser for FOLIO.)

    • Does the problem persist after clearing your browser's cache and cookies?

    • Is the issue replicable in an Incognito window?

    • Is the issue reproduced when using a different record?

    • Is this issue happening to others at your service point?

  • If the issue persists after following the above troubleshooting steps, please contact your designated unit rep to submit a case to EBSCO Connect on behalf of your unit. 

    • Public Services - branches/units will contact the Head of Circulation (Kati Shedd).

    • Tech Services – (Contact the Unit Head most likely to use that app.  For example, Finance to Lisa Smith; Data Import to Joshua Barton)

    • Circulation - Kati Shedd

    • Electronic Resources - Ranti Junus

EDS behavior/issue not affecting overall use

  • If EDS is showing an issue/error or not behaving as you expect it to, please also report the issue using the FOLIO/EDS Feedback Form.

Questions on Upcoming System Functionality

The FOLIO Community relies heavily on the input of the FOLIO Special Interest Groups (SIGs).  Many questions can be explored or asked at these meetings.  See the listing of SIGS: https://wiki.folio.org/ . The AD for Collections and Technical Service will be able to contact EBSCO directly for some issues. 

Adding new users and/or permissions

MSUL User Management Working Group manages requests and changes. Submit requests at: LIB.DL.UserMgMtWG@msu.edu. 

Enhancements

If there is an enhancement or feature you'd like to see in FOLIO, please email Autumn Faulkner (autumn@msu.edu) or Erin Weller (ferriser@msu.edu). Additionally, anyone is welcome to participate in FOLIO Special Interest Groups (SIG’s) where many enhancement requests generate and originate. Anyone can comment on JIRA tickets but ranking will be done by the AD of Digital Initiatives or Collections and Technical Services. 

Learn About FOLIO

The Folio Wiki holds documentation about the FOLIO project in general, information about FOLIO governance and community, documentation on FOLIO development, ways to get involved in FOLIO Special Interest Groups (SIGs), as well as specific information on FOLIO functionality.

FOLIO Communication Spaces

The FOLIO community uses wiki for documentation, Jira for issue tracking, Github for code sharing, and Slack. To learn more about these spaces and how to access or join, visit the Communication Spaces wiki page

FOLIO Governance

FOLIO’s governance model distributes responsibilities and decision making amongst three councils: Community, Product, and Technical. Membership on councils are selected and voted upon by community participants. MSU currently has two staff members on councils: Autumn Faulkner (2025-2027) on FOLIO’s Product Council and Shawn Nicholson (2024-2026) on FOLIO’s Community Council.

TS Task Forces

Several task forces were formed to implement FOLIO at MSU, two of these task forces had oversight over migration efforts in Technical Services.

Task Force

Dates Active

Charge

Members

Documentation, reports, etc.

Cataloging & Metadata (CMTF)

2020-2022

To serve as the direct and primary contact with FOLIO/EBSCO staff for questions, comments, concerns for issues in the realm of metadata migration.

Janet Baldwin, Joshua Barton (Chair), Autumn Faulkner, Dao Gong, Tim Kiser, Lucas Mak, Emily Sanford, Tim Watters (Library of Michigan)

Acquisitions (ATF)

2020-2022

To maintain targeted communications with FOLIO/EBSCO during the migration phase. The Taskforce shall articulate needs and recommend solutions and programs to meet those needs to optimize Acquisition workflows and policies.

Kim Wiljanen (Chair), Lisa Smith, Susan Smith (Library of Michigan), Devon Davidoski (past chair and former member)

 



Contact

Joshua Barton

Team

Technical Services

Updated

November 2025

Created

January 2021